Different Types of Yoga

Kundalini practice concentrates on awakening the energy at the base of the spine and drawing it upward. In addition to postures, a typical class will also include chanting, meditation, and breathing exercises.

Power Yoga is essentially yoga with brawn. It's the American interpretation of ashtanga yoga, a discipline that combines stretching, strength training, and meditative breathing. But power yoga takes ashtanga one step further. Many of the poses (also called postures or their Sanskrit name, asanas) resemble basic calisthenics -- push-ups and handstands, toe touches and side bends -- but the key to power yoga's sweat-producing, muscle-building power is the pace. Instead of pausing between poses as you would in traditional yoga, each move flows into the next, making it an intense aerobic workout.

Restorative Yoga: In a restorative yoga class you'll spend long periods of time lying on blocks, blankets and yoga bolsters - passively allowing muscles to relax.

Sivananda Yoga: Like Integral Yoga, this traditional type of yoga combines postures, breathing, dietary restrictions, chanting, scriptural study, and meditation. The popular TV yoga teacher Lilias got her start practicing Sivananda Yoga.

Svaroopa Yoga: New students find this a very approachable style, often beginning in chair poses that are comfortable. Promotes healing and transformation.

Viniyoga: This is commonly used as a therapeutic practice for people who have suffered injuries or are recovering from surgery. It is a gentle, healing practice that is tailored to each person's body type and needs as they grow and change.

Vinyasa: Focuses on coordination of breath and movement and it is a very physically active form of yoga. It began with Krishnamacharya who later passed it on to Pattabhi Jois.

White Lotus Yoga: A modified Ashtanga practice developed by Ganga White which is combined with breathwork and meditation.

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Learning Meditation

Welcome to Learning Meditation. I hesitate to use the word meditation. To me, as well as many others, the word "meditation" conjures up the picture of a bearded man sitting cross-legged in front of an entrance to a cave or high on a mountain top. Climbing the mountain and reaching him is part of the arduous journey toward self-fulfillment, self-improvement. Once we find him we ask, "What is the meaning of life?" or "How do we achieve peace in ourselves and our lives?" This all-knowing man tells us the answers are "inside ourselves" and tells us to go and contemplate. I don't know if that answer was worth the journey!
Well, I am not a wise man on a mountain. I am just like you -- involved in life and work, seeking more serenity and calm in my life. I am still learning to do it better, using meditation as a guide on my journey. I invite you to take this journey yourselves. I invite you to use meditation to find the answers to your questions
              

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Pranayam

                                         
                                  
                                What is Pranayama ?
Tasmin sati svasaprasvasayor-gativicchedah pranayamah—“Regulation of breath or the control of Prana is the stoppage of inhalation and exhalation, which follows after securing that steadiness of posture or seat.”
This is the definition of Pranayama in the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali.
‘Svasa’ means inspiratory breath. ‘Prasvasa’ means expiratory breath. You can take up the practice of Pranayama after you have gained steadiness in your Asana (seat). If you can sit for 3 hour in one Asana, continuously at one stretch, you have gained mastery over the Asana. If you are able to sit from half to one hour even, you can take up the practice of Pranayama. You can hardly make any spiritual progress without the practice of Pranayama.
Prana is Vyashti, when the individual is concerned. The sum total of the cosmic energy or cosmic Prana is Hiranyagarbha who is known as the floating ‘Golden-Egg’. Hiranyagarbha is Samashti Prana. One match stick is Vyashti (single). The whole match box is Samashti. A single mango-tree is Vyashti. The whole mango grove is Samashti. The energy in the body is Prana. By controlling the motion of the lungs or respiratory organs, we can control the Prana that is vibrating inside. By control of Prana, the mind can be easily controlled, because the mind is fastened to the Prana, like the bird to the string. Just as the bird that is tied to a post by a string, after flying here and there, finds its resting place in the post, so also this mind-bird after running hither and thither, in various sensual objects, finds its resting place during deep sleep in the Prana.

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What are the different types of mediation?

There are various methods and styles of mediation: Evaluative, Facilitative and variations, such as custodial mediation.

Facilitative mediation is the best known style of mediation in which the mediator serves as a neutral and assists the parties in reaching an agreement. It is process oriented and parties direct the outcome.
In an Evaluative mediation session, the mediator assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the parties' case and proposes options to settle the dispute. Unlike binding arbitration the parties are not bound by the mediator's insights or predictions.
As mediation evolves, so do the various approaches and methods. It is becoming more commonplace to engage the services of an expert to participate in mediation for complex litigation matters. The expert may be a trained mediator and assist in facilitating the mediation as a co-mediator, or may participate in the mediation in order to clarify technically complex matters. New to family law mediation is the practice of combining a lawyer mediator with an experienced psychiatrist/psychologist/custodial evaluator, generally as a co-mediator. Custodial mediation stems from the notation that it is far more beneficial for the child(ren) at issue in a dispute, for the parents to work collaboratively to define the new parenting roles that the dissolution of a marriage requires

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Meditation

Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit.
Meditation is generally an inwardly oriented, personal practice, which individuals do by themselves. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation. Meditation may involve invoking or cultivating a feeling or internal state, such as compassion, or attending to a specific focal point. The term can refer to the state itself, as well as to practices or techniques employed to cultivate the state.
There are dozens of specific styles of meditation practice; the word meditation may carry different meanings in different contexts. Meditation has been practiced since antiquity as a component of numerous religious traditions and beliefs.
A 2007 study by the U.S. government found that nearly 9.4% of U.S. adults (over 20 million) had practiced meditation within the past 12 months, up from 7.6% (more than 15 million people) in 2002.
Since the 1960s, meditation has been the focus of increasing scientific research of uneven rigor and quality. In over 1,000 published research studies, various methods of meditation have been linked to changes in metabolism, blood pressure, brain activation, and other bodily processes. Meditation has been used in clinical settings as a method of stress and pain reduction

Six Branches of Yoga

 Hatha Yoga or Yoga of Postures
Hatha Yoga is perhaps the path of Yoga you are most familiar with since this is the most popular branch of Yoga in the West. This branch of Yoga uses physical poses or Asana, Breathing Techniquesor Pranayama, and Meditation to achieve better health, as well as spirituality. There are many styles within this path - Iyengar, Integral, Astanga, Kripalu, and Jiva Mukti to name a few.
If what you want is a peaceful mind and a healthy body to go along with it, Hatha Yoga may just be the path for you.

Bhakti Yoga or Yoga of Devotion
Bhakti Yoga is the path most followed in India. This is the path of the heart and devotion. Yogis who practice this branch sees the "One" or the Divine in everyone and everything. Bhakti Yoga teaches a person to have devotion to the "One" or to Brahma by developing a person's love and acceptance for all things.

Raja Yoga or Yoga of Self-Control
Raja means "royal". This path is considered to be the King of Yoga and this may be due to the fact that most of its practitioners are members of religious and spiritual orders. Raja Yoga is based on the teachings of the Eight Limbs of Yoga found in the Yoga sutras.

A Raja Yogi sees the self as central, and as such, respect to oneself and for all creation are vital to this path. They achieve self-respect by first learning to be masters of themselves.

If you wish to learn discipline, then Raja Yoga would perfectly suit that need.

Jnana Yoga or Yoga of the Mind
Jnana Yoga is the path of Yoga that basically deals with the mind, and as such, it focuses on man's intelligence. Jnana Yogis consider wisdom and intellect as important and they aim to unify the two to surpass limitations. Since they wish to gain knowledge, they are open to other philosophies and religion for they believe that an open and rational mind is crucial in knowing the spirit.

Karma Yoga or Yoga of Service
Karma Yoga is the path of service for in this path, it is believed that your present situation is based on your past actions. So by doing selfless service now, you are choosing a future that is free from negativity and selfishness. Karma Yogis change their attitude towards the good and in the process, change their souls, which leads to a change in their destiny.

Tantra Yoga or Yoga of Rituals
Perhaps the most misunderstood of all the paths, Tantra Yoga is about using rituals to experience what is sacred. Although sex is a part of it, sex is not the whole of it since this path aims to find what is sacred in everything we do. Tantra Yogis must possess certain qualities like purity, humility, devotion, dedication to his Guru, cosmic love, and truthfulness among other things.

There are still a lot of misconceptions about Yoga, for instance, Yoga being a religion. Yoga is not a religion. It is more of a set of techniques for us to find spirituality. In fact, Yoga is being practiced by a lot of people from different religions like Christians, Jewish, Buddhists, and Muslims.

Another misconception is that Yoga is an exercise, a way for us to keep fit. It is partly true, but if you think that Yoga is just that then you are greatly mistaken. Yoga develops the body since a weak one is a hindrance to spiritual growth. It does not simply focus on the physical but on the mental and spiritual aspects as well.

INDIAN VEDIC ASTROLOGY

                         





Astrologically, yoga refers to the planetary combinations and their special results, which affect the life of an individual. In traditional Indian ephemeris, known as Panchangam, yoga is also the name of a particular division of time, which are 27 in number. This time-division is different from the asterisms, which are also 27 in number.

Find below a list of such yogas arranged in alphabetical order for your convenience.

ADHI YOGA

An auspicious planetary combination formed by benefices in the 6th, 7th and 8th houses from the Moon sign while Mercury is not combust and Jupiter does not form Sakata yoga. It makes an individual polite, trustworthy, affluent and capable of defeating his adversaries

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AKHAND SAMRAJYA YOGA

A planetary combination producing a long life of affluence formed by Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius or Taurus as Ascendant, making Jupiter rule either the 5th or the 11th house in a natal chart.

AMAR YOGA

An auspicious planetary combination formed in two ways,(1) all cardinal houses occupied by all malefic, or by all benefices. Here, the native owns landed property and real estate, and in the latter case, he becomes rich and affluent; (2) Sun in Aries or in Leo occupies the Ascendant, or any other cardinal or trine house while Moon is in exaltation or in its own sign, i.e., in Cancer or Taurus, and Jupiter and Venus occupy the 8th or 12th house in the natal chart. This yoga nullifies all evils in the horoscope.

AMARAK YOGA

A planetary combination formed by the lord of the 7th house placed in the 9th house, and the lord of the 9th in the 7th house while both these planets are strong. It bestows to the native long arms, big eyes, knowledge of law and religious scriptures. His wife is faithful to him and he leads a pure and moral life.

 

ANAPHA YOGA

A planet other than the Sun occupying the 12th house from the Moon constitutes Anapha yoga. Mars in this position makes the person powerful, self-controlled and a leader of persons engaged in undesirable activities. Mercury makes him proficient in oratory, and absorbing conversations, and skilled in social arts. Jupiter makes the native a serious-minded, righteous person spending money on charity. Venus makes the person a womanizer yet respected by persons in authority. Saturn leads to disenchantment, and the nodes, to perversity. The Moon under the yoga bestows well-formed organs, good manners and self-respect

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ARA SAURI YOGA

Planetary combination between Saturn and Mars. It produces serious afflictions.

ARDHA-CHANDRA YOGA

A planetary combination under which all planets occupy consecutive houses leaving the intervening cardinal houses vacant. The individual under this combination is happy, handsome, and is provided with much ornaments, gems and jewels.

ARISTHA YOGAS

Planetary combinations producing misfortune. These combinations nullify auspicious results and produce hardships. Some of these combinations are:

(i) Malefic associated with the 6th, 8th and 12th houses or their lords; (ii) Malefic aspects on a weak Moon (iii) Sun, Mars, and Saturn in the 5th house (iv) Mars, Saturn, or Sun in the 8th house (v) malefic aspect on weak Ascendant lord, Sun or Moon (vi) Sun, Mars, Rahu and Saturn in Ascendant (vii) exchange of signs between Jupiter and Mars (viii) Mars and Saturn in the 2nd house while Rahu occupies the 3rd house (ix) Rahu in the 4th, and Moon in the 6th or 8th house x) Mars in the 7th, Venus in the 8th and Sun in the 9th house (xi) Malefic in the 7th and 12th houses (xii) Jupiter, Sun, Rahu and Mars occupy signs of malefic Planets while Venus is in the 7th house (xiii) lord of Ascendant associated with a malefic or flanked by two malefics, and a malefic positioned in the 7th house (xiv) Saturn in the 8th house, Moon in Ascendant, or Venus and Moon in the 6th or 8th House (xv) Moon and Mercury in the 6th or 8th house.

ASHTA LAKSHMI YOGA

When Rahu is in 6th and Jupiter in Kendra this is formed. Wealthy conseendition and happiness is

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AVATARA YOGA

A planetary combination formed by (i) the Ascendant occupying a cardinal Sign,and Venus and Jupiter in 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th houses, and (iii) Saturn in exaltation. The combination bestows spiritual blessings uplifting the individual's mind and heart enabling him to attain mystic awareness and inner wisdom. He becomes an erudite and deep student of religious and esoteric literature with psychic susceptibilities. The combination also bestows high status in society, renown for meritorious deeds and pilgrimages to religious and historical places.

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