Why Choosing Kaivalya Yoga School to Learn Yoga will be the Best Decision of Your Life!

"Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path... exactly where you are meant to be right now... And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love." ~ by Caroline Adams

I can live by every word that is mentioned in the quote above. Life is what we make of it and when we practice getting connected with the divine presence then a magnificent journey begins to unfold which rolls out a series of miracles, leaving us awestruck towards the wonder that life is.

Something similar happened to me when I began my journey of Yoga in a small but one of the most spiritual cities in India, based on the lap of The Great Himalayas. Little did I know before the onset of my journey to Rishikesh that my life was going to change forever, and of course for good.

If you are thinking of learning Yoga in India then continue reading this post, I have left a part of  my heart in Rishikesh because of the warmth and the love, Kaivalya Yoga School filled my heart with.

My heart is brimming with joy and my soul is embracing the glory I experienced at Kaivalya Yoga School.

Every teacher pours their heart out while communicating the lessons of Yoga and as they say that “Best teachers teaches from the heart and not from the book”, I can now vouch for the truth this quote beholds.

At Kaivalya Yoga School, I understood the real meaning of Yoga and was able to articulate that how yoga helps in changing lives, Yoga is a journey and not merely a form of exercise. I was taught the most traditional form of Yoga which the sages have transformed to the modern day Gurus and the best part about the training was that the teachers at Kaivalya Yoga School are not only willing to share the well of knowledge they are sitting on but are also helping the students in becoming more mindful and enlightened.

If you want to leave the world by making it a little better place to live in, then learn Yoga which is not twisted or distorted to suit the modern day scenario but is taught the way it was some 200 years back. If each one of us practices Yoga the way they teach in Kaivalya Yoga School then I am sure we will leave behind a more happy, healthy and peaceful world.

OMG! The Best Relaxation, Meditation Technique Ever!

"If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath."
- Amit Ray, Om Chanting and Meditation Mental balance and placidness might be realized by the annihilation of stress and outrage. “If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.” – George Burns

Fear truly underlies both stress and outrage. Nothing is picked up by stress and outrage, however on the opposite much vitality is squandered by these two sorts of lower feelings. On the off chance that a man who worries much and is bad tempered, is actually not living in the present and is thinking too much all the time. Be cautious and insightful. All pointless stresses can be evaded. The unwinding of the muscles responds on the brain and conveys rest to the psyche. The unwinding of the brain conveys rest to the body too. Body and brain are personally associated. Body is a form arranged by the psyche for its delight.
“Doing something positive will help turn your mood around. When you smile, your body relaxes. When you experience human touch and interaction, it eases tension in your body.”
― Simone Elkeles, Return to Paradise
Sit for 15 minutes in a casual and simple agreeable position. Close your eyes. Pull back the brain from outside items. Still the psyche. Hush the percolating considerations. Surmise that the body is like a coconut shell and you are completely not quite the same as the body.
Believe that the body is an instrument in your grasp. Recognize yourself with the all-swarming Spirit or Atman. Envision that the entire world and your body are drifting like a bit of straw in this boundless sea of Spirit. Feel that you are in contact with the Supreme Being. Feel that the life of the entire world is throbbing, vibrating also, throbbing through you. Feel that the sea of life is tenderly shaking you on its boundless chest. At this point open your eyes. You will encounter gigantic mental peace, mental force and mental quality. 
To know more about meditation please follow us at http://kaivalyayogaschool.com/

PRACTICE AND FEEL THIS!

All is OM - Hari Om.

The whole universe is the syllable Om.
Everything that was, is, or will be is, in truth Om. All else which transcends time, space, and causation is also Om
 ~ Mandukya Upanishad

Watch Video on Yoga Nidra for Peaceful Sleep

Watch Video on Yoga Nidra at Kaivalya Yoga School. Yoga Nidra is a special relaxation technique which has a deep effect on the body, the energies and the mind. Visit http://kaivalyayogaschool.com

Bakasana Crane Yoga Pose

Bakasana or the Crane pose is a balancing asana that aids concentration, balance and nervous coordination. This asana strengthens the back, hip and leg muscles, improves blood circulation and gives a beneficial compression to the abdominal organs. Watch and learn bakasana, crane yoga pose through videos by Kaivalya Yoga School.

Paschimottana Asana (Seated Forward Bend Pose)

Paschimottan means fully stretched spine. In this asana, the back will be stretched completely to bend forward, so it is called Paschimottana. This asana plays an important role in reducing obesity and pot belly. By doing this asana, the spinal cord will become more flexible. For women, it corrects irregular menstruation and cures all the diseases relating to monthly periods

Student review: 200 hrs Yoga TTC

We love to teach you Yoga, We love to spread the light of knowledge of yoga for beginners.
Everybody who learnt in Kaivalyayoga School, Give us some review, We like to show you.

Why should you choose career as Yoga Teacher?

We all are born in this world with a purpose. And this purpose is closely linked with helping one another. All religious scriptures teach us to ‘love thy neighbour’. Choosing a career in Yoga helps you to achieve this. Through Yoga you help yourself first, you heal yourself first. And exactly this is why Yoga is the best way to fulfill your life purpose. A Happy & Healthy individual can do anything, even change the world. A Yoga teacher brings Yoga in the lives of fellow humans and helps them live life in a different way, without stress. This is a high virtue job. The more lives you impact, the happier & more fulfilled you feel.

Why should you choose career as Yoga Teacher?

A Yoga teacher gets to meet so many new people, each with their own stories. It is an exciting work prospect for any human being. We human beings are ‘Social Animals’, right?

This is why, the career of Yoga Teacher has a high potential of Self-Growth and Self-Development. An individual is a sum of its experiences. The more people you meet, the more stories you hear, the more you learn about them & consequently, yourself.

Yoga Teacher

The world is awakening. More & more people are gravitating towards Spiritual practices like Yoga. Worldwide, new Yoga Studios & Yoga Schools are opening up to initiate youngsters & senior citizens into Yoga. Consequently, there is a need for a large number of well-trained Yoga teachers. Doesn’t this give rise to the possibility of a career in Yoga being satisfying income wise?

To sum it all up in one line, the career of a Yoga teacher is one that is spiritually as well as socially uplifting. We at Kaivalya Yoga School is trying to achieve the same level where we can uplift the true meaning of Yoga & Guru.

Wait for yet an Interesting post on another topic which we would choose just for you, if you want to know the importance of detox yoga, just stay tuned with us.

Importance of Detox Yoga

To begin with, let us understand what Detox Yoga is. Detox yoga includes Yogic techniques to cleanse the body, mind & soul of the toxins accumulated through air, food, water & thoughts.
We are born with a cleansed body after living on a liquid diet for 9 months. Over the years, we accumulate a lot of toxins in our body & mind from the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and the thoughts we think. These toxins translate into diseases and illnesses in our physical and energy bodies.

• In order to achieve freedom from these toxins, detoxification is required whereby a proper diet and body exercise through Yoga movements purge out the toxins.
• Detox Yoga targets the three body systems that are predominantly responsible for purging out toxins from the body – the digestive, circulatory & lymph systems.

1. The digestive system digests the food we eat, absorbs the nutrients and eliminates the toxins as solid wastes.
2. The circulatory system circulates blood & oxygen throughout the body & eliminates cellular wastes.
3. The lymph system moves fluids & minerals all over the body & eliminates extra fluid & nutrients.

Through a combination of Yogasanas & Yogic Breathing, Detox Yoga brings the body into equilibrium and this helps eliminate the unwanted toxic waste products from the body.
When the body is balanced, toxins and harmful microorganisms cannot survive within it. Due to the beneficial effects of Yoga techniques on the mind, the thoughts are also cleansed, clarified and concentrated.
Detox Yoga is therefore, a holistic approach towards eliminating toxins from the mind & body. With the mind & body in equilibrium, can the soul stay behind?
I hope & wish that you might have liked this very interesting yet informative blog, so just stay tuned for one of the very one of its kind of topic, that is How to do Detox Yoga with amazing video. so that you can do it very easily at home. We will explain there

• Proper alignment
• How to start?
• How to take Position?
• How to come out from that position?

Join us to learn detox Yoga With proper position.

Why & How to do Detoxification?

Now days in our busy running life, everybody is getting trapped in a habit of wrong eating habits. We love eating mouth-watering street foods or fast foods whenever we are out or at home with our friends or family members, aren’t we? But we never think how these mouth-watering food habits are affecting our body. These foods habits are not only packing us on pounds they are making our body internally weak as well which we don’t even realise while eating.

I don’t say that you should completely avoid these food, everyone like eating outside food and I love too. But while eating outside you should always check that the place from where you are eating is maintaining proper hygiene and you are detoxifying your body as well. Hygiene is the word which everyone is aware of but detoxification? Do you know what is it and why it is important for our body? Let me take you to the depth of it.

Whats is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the process of cleaning the impurities from the blood which are in the form of toxins stored and processed in our internal organs. Our body takes in lot of pollutants through our skin, air and unhealthy foods. Our body organs are designed in a way that they release the pollutants from our body with the help of kidney, lever, lungs etc. Pollutants comes out of our body in the form of sweat also, hence it is said that we should drink at least 2-4 litres of water every day which helps us to flush out all the toxins from our body.

Why we should do detoxification-

Let me also bring forward some of the key benefits we see by detoxification on our body –

1) Internal Organs - This process helps to do complete body cleanse which make our internal organs like kidney, liver, intestines, bowel movement, colon to function properly.

2) Healthier Skin - It makes our skin healthy which results in much brighter and clearer skin which helps you to get rid of acne prone skin. It is anti-ageing, which makes you look much younger.

3) Energy Boost - It gives you a new level of energy to your body and increases your metabolism which keeps you active all through the day.

4) Weight Loss - The biggest problem which everyone is facing these days is obesity and this process is the best way to remove all impurities and shed extra pounds from our body.

5) Immune System - If internal organs in your body are functioning properly and able to absorb nutrients properly from your intake, it automatically makes your immune system strong which keeps you away from the diseases in longer term.

Other than the above mentioned key benefits there are many other benefits which keep us healthy with this process like mental peace, healthier hairs, lighter feeling, life style change, positive and clearer thinking, improved digestion etc.

By now I think you must have understood that this method of “Detoxification” can do wonders to our body but all you need is dedication for it. Now again a question arise here is how can we avail all the above mentioned benefits and how is the detoxification done?

How to do Detoxification

Shatkarma detoxification

Other than the proper water intake, regular physical exercise or daily yoga practice is another form which helps us to detoxify our body. Yoga is known as one of the best exercise which you can include in your daily routine. Yoga does not only known as exercise it’s kind of meditation which pulls out the mental stress out of your body and generates happy vibes inside the body. 

Yoga is the best exercise which creates harmony within our body, soul and mind. Yoga helps to your body to remove the toxins in natural and effective way. You all must be wondering how this can be done only by performing few postures of yoga. Actually, the power of breathe which everyone has, can help one to detoxify the body pollutants.

Pranayama which means control on your life force, is the most powerful breathing exercise and also a type of meditation which helps to breathe out the toxins which has built in our system over the period of time. Pranayama like Kapal Bhati, Anulom Vilom, Bhastrika are some of rhythmic breathing exercise which helps our internal body organs to work in much effective way which detoxify the body in natural in way and also helps in building our stamina, immune system and mental strength. 

Yoga aasans which includes various stretching and meditative positions are also known for their health benefits. Poses like Trikonasana, Paschimottasana, Utrasana are best known for relieving from digestive problems and the poses Pavanmuktasana and Matsyendrasana are known for the gastrointestinal problems.

Pranayama and yoga asanas both together can bring you with all round fitness, loss of extra pounds on body, mental peace, patience, better immunity, positive attitude towards life, improved flexibility, good posture, high energy level, natural glow, harmony among body, mind and soul and many other benefits. Yoga is not restricted at home only it can be done while travelling, in office or at vacations

You just need carry a light weighted yoga mat with you or if you can’t carry it or you are short of space to move your arms or legs you can perform the breathing exercises on your seat. Yoga is best known for relaxing your body and mind which keeps you fit during the journey.

Including 20 minutes to 1 hour yoga session in an effective way, evolving good eating habits, taking proper sleep, in-take of enough fluids, including fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet etc. can help in best detoxification to your body. Once you are in the habit of healthy living you can’t stay away from yoga even for a single day. 

For better results, one should involve themselves in yoga practice on daily basis. Yoga is known as the never-ending process, the deeper you go in to the practice, the best benefits you can find out of it along with best of yourself.

Wish you a healthy life… Happy Practicing and cleansing!!!

I hope you are enjoying my posts & articles, for some more Interesting, please be stay tuned with me for very important  topic- Yoga for Pregnant Women.

Yoga and Meditation - What is the difference?

Most of us, fail to understand the vast difference between Yoga and Meditation. What we consider many times is that meditation is yoga. However, this is a complete wrong understanding. For all those who fail to understand or aren’t aware about this difference, let us help you by giving a brief understanding about these two terms.

So beginning with Yoga. This is an ancient tradition that has been practiced since many years. Derived from a Sanskrit word, Yoga means Union. It is a connection between the soul of an individual and God or you say Spirit. Yoga is an art to achieve this state of union.

Difference between yoga & meditation

If one wants to achieve this union, he must follow the eight limbs of Yoga. These are the basics of Yoga to achieve union. They are as follows:

1. Yama or the Do’s that once is expected to follow.
2. Niyama or the Don’ts are the things that an individual is restricted from doing
3. Asanas or Positions: if one wishes to achieve the union, one must be aware about the various asanas in Yoga.
4. Pranayama or control of breath must be practiced every day.
5. Pratyahara or Sense withdrawal is not getting affected by any internal or external influences
6. Dharana or Concentration is a must to achieve union.
7. Dhyana or Meditation is gaining awareness
8. Samadhi or Spiritual Ecstasy is achieved through Dhyana or Meditation

Now the seventh limb of Yoga, Dhyana is Meditation. Yes, meditation is a part of Yoga. Meditation is a state of awareness and mindfulness. It is practised to help you bring a control to your body, mind and thoughts, to calm and relax your body and to help you control your breathing. It is achieved when your mind is serene and free from any kind of agitation.

Yoga for pregnant woman

Pregnancy is a major life event in any women’s life. It transforms her physically, mentally, spiritually & socially. The nine months of pregnancy are accompanied by a roller coaster ride of hormones & emotions for a woman.

In addition, due to the accompanying changes in her body, she brings about many lifestyle changes at a personal & familial level. Yogasanas & Pranayamas prove to be beneficial for pregnant women as they help her cope with the mental & Physical transformation that pregnancy ensues. They also help a woman in preparation to endure the pain associated with childbirth. Some of the Yoga practices that can prove beneficial for pregnant women are as follows.

Yoga for pregnant woman

1. Sukhasana: Also known as the easy-sitting pose, Sukhasana entails sitting on the ground with legs stretched out followed by gradually folding & tucking the left leg inside the right thigh & the right leg inside the left thigh. Keeping the spine erect & hands in your lap, deep relaxing breaths can be taken to calm the mind. It is a comfortable pose and useful while performing pranayamas & meditation. It is also useful for meditators who due to stiffness in hips cannot sit in Padmasana.

How-To-Do-The-Sukhasana

2. Butterfly Pose (Ardha Titali Aasan &Poorna Titali Aasan): The butterfly is a very comfortable and useful pose for pregnancy. It prepares the woman for delivery.

Butterfly Pose

The Ardha titali Aasan or the half butterfly pose can be done by stretching out your feet in any sitting posture, slowly bending one of the feet & gently resting it on the other thigh. This is followed by gently raising the knee towards the chest and lowering it towards the floor to the lowest possible distance.

The Poorna titali Aasana or the full butterfly pose can be done by outstretching feet in a sitting position. Keeping the spine straight, bend the knees gently in a way that feet are togehter. Then, bring the soles of the feet together and join them. Comfortably, attempt to bring the soles close to the groin. Holding your feet with both hands, make sure that the knees are pointing at the opposite direction. Then, press the knees slowly towards the floor. you can comfortably continue your practice. Ensure that you are pressing your knees softly. Do not make any sudden and harsh movements. Touching the floor is not essential, ensure your safety & comfort at all times. Then, slowly press your knees up and repeat again.

3. Neck exercises: Neck exercises can help relieve the additional stress on the neck due to the increased body weight during pregnancy. To perform a neck stretch, sit up straight in a supportive chair. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, then gently tilt your head to one side and let it slowly drop toward your shoulder. Raise the shoulders to meet the head is not required. Holding for three to six seconds, switch sides. Repeat three or four times. Gently bring your head forward, letting the chin relax on the chest. Roll the cheek to the right toward the shoulder, without any force and hold for three to six seconds. Switch sides and repeat.

Neck exercise for pregnant woman

4. Ujjayi Breathing: Also called “the psychic breathing”, this Pranayamas practice is useful in increasing the length of your breathing . To breathe using Ujjayi, breathe in and out deeply through the nose.When you breathe in, contract your glottis muscles and there will be a hissing sound. As you breathe out, release the contracted glottis muscles.

Ujjayi breathing

5. Bhramari Pranayama: Practice of the Bhramari Pranayama during pregnancy strengthens the endocrine system and aids in childbirth. To perform Bhramari Pranayama during pregnancy, sit in the Sukhasana, close the eyes and breathe deeply. Next, close the ears lid or flaps with the thumbs. Place the index fingers on your eyes, middle fingers at the sides of your nostrils, ring fingers just above the upper lip and the little fingers just below the lower lip.

The inhalation and exhalation will be through the nose , concentrate the mind in the third eye area between your eyebrows. When you exhale, keep the mouth closed and breathe out through the nose while making a humming sound of honeybee. While performing this Pranayama, experience being connected to all the positive energies of the universe.

Bhramari Pranayama

The inhalation and exhalation will be through the nose , concentrate the mind in the third eye area between your eyebrows. When you exhale, keep the mouth closed and breathe out through the nose while making a humming sound of honeybee. While performing this Pranayama, experience being connected to all the positive energies of the universe.

6. Cat Pose: This pose helps relieve back pain during pregnancy. To perform it sit on your hips and place hands directly under the shoulders. While inhaling look up between the eyebrows, while gently raising the head. While exhaling, round the back bringing the chin towards the chest. Press the hands on the floor and push the centre of the back towards the ceiling enhancing the roundness of the back.

Cat Pose

7. Mountain Pose: The mountain pose helps to maintain the posture & in concentration during pregnancy. Stand with your feet hips distance apart on the ground (this can be assumed by placing the two fists between the feet). Place the feet so that the outer edges are parallel. Feel your feet support your body. Stand with the pelvis slightly tucked so that there is a slight engagement in your belly, and avoid sticking your bottoms out (thereby putting strain on your lower back).

Tadasana

Imagine the two shoulder blades reaching towards one another on the back, creating strength in your upper back as well as opening up the chest. Align the head by holding the chin parallel to the floor and slightly back to create one straight line moving from your back all the way up through your neck. Let the arms come down by the sides, palms facing inward, or reach your arms up to the sky (if it’s comfortable) for extra strength and power.

In addition, yogasanas & pranayamas like Trikonasana, Veerbhadrasana, Shavasana, YogNidra and Anuloma- Viloma can also be practiced during meditation. Yoga is a great way to balance the stress in the body & mind and help a woman cope with all the changes that pregnancy entails. The practice of Yoga also strengthens &prepares a woman for child birth.

In the end, I would like to advice, that always do yoga in the presence of a certified yoga instructor or first learn properly under the guidance of a competent teacher & then you can do it yourself as well.

4 Yoga Pose to Boost Your Confidence

Hi Yogis & Yoginis,

You think sometime why i am not so confident in front of people? In a room you are so so confident.

Here i am giving you a solution to boost your confidence. Yoga, Yes yoga can boost your confidence. We are experienced about this, You should try this at once. And now question is How?

How can Yoga boost my confidence? You might be presently asking this question yourself. Well there’s nothing Yoga cannot do & boosting self-confidence is no exception. Yoga includes numerous tools to help raise a person’s vibrations from the lower energies of self-doubt to the enlightening energies of self-faith and confidence.

Some of the main yoga poses that really help in boosting self confidence are:

1. The Tree Pose (Tadasana): You can never go wrong if you trust this one to remove the doubts. To do this, stand straight , inhale till a count of six and then exhale for a count of ten. Follow up with two repetitions of this deep Inhale and deeper exhale this way. Then, gently raise both arms over the head, and rise on the toes.

The palms should face forward. Balancing the body weight, stretch all back muscles as gently as possible. Kindly do not exert. Inhaling & exhaling deeply, continue this pose for two more breathes.

Finish by gradually easing back on the feet.

Tadasana

2. The Warrior Pose III (Virbhadrasana III): This advanced Yoga pose strengthens the back, shoulders, Legs and Ankle. It improves posture and agility. Start by putting your hands on the hips. Bring the left knee into the chest and extend the left leg to the behind, parallel to the mat. Press into the right foot while controlling the left toe towards the floor to square the hips.

Extend the arms down to the length of both sides. Lift up through the muscles in front of the right thigh and squeeze into your abdominal muscles. Feel the strength within. When the Asana starts seeming challenging, bring the focus back to the breath. Without exerting out, hold on to the pose as long as comfortably possible.

warrior-3

3. The Eagle Pose (Garudasana): Firmly dig in all four corners of the right foot and bring the left knee up into the chest. Bend the right knee and wrap the left knee over the right. Both legs will subsequently cross at the shins. Make a T-shape with your arms and wrap the left elbow underneath the right. If that seems too much, let opposite hands hold opposite shoulders.

This pose strengthens the legs & calves and stretches the shoulders, upper back and hips. It improves balance and helps relieve sciatica & rheumatism.

Garudasana

4. The Chair Pose (Utkatasana): Utkatasana brings in a sense of ease & balance in the body. It helps alleviate the lack of self-esteem. In Mountain pose with the feet together or hips a width apart, inhale the arms forward parallel to the floor with the palms facing down. While exhaling bend the knees, squatting down. Reach the hips down and back as going to sit on the edge of a chair, bringing the body weight to the heels of the feet.

Utkatasana

Do not bring the hips lower than the level of the knees. Ensure that the knees are pointing straight ahead. Press the shoulders down and back and attempt to arch the spine. Relaxing the shoulders down and back, reach out through the finger tips. Stare at a point on the wall or floor ahead of you to balance. Breathe and hold for 3-6 breaths.

Day 1- 30 Day Yoga Challenge – Let’s get started

How important is our body? How well do we take care of it? In this day 1 of the yoga challenge, we tell you some basic yoga techniques. So without much adieu, let’s start.
The first pose that we would like to teach you’ll is

1. Ujjayi Pranayam:

Sit in a crossed leg position.
This technique requires you to breathe through your throat instead of a nose.
Narrow your throat and inhale through your throat to make a hissing sound and then exhale.
Benefits

1. Boosts focusing the power of the mind.
2. Helps in sinus and cataract.
3. Helps those in singing field.

Hope you are now feeling relaxed with this, the next pose we would like to tell you’ll :

2. Apanasana(Wind-relieving pose):

Lie down on your back with feet together and hands by the side of your thighs.
Inhale and raise you left leg, exhale and bring your left knee towards the chest & press the thigh on your abdomen.
Breathe in again and as you exhale lift your head and chest of the floor and touch your chin to your left knee. Hold and take a few breaths.
Now slowly inhale and exhale and release from this position to the spine position.
Repeat this procedure with the right leg as well.

Benefits

1. Strengthens the back.
2. Helps in digestion.
3. Reduces belly fat.
4. Massages abdominal muscles.

The next pose is a very interesting pose called the cat pose, let’s see how it’s done,

3. Cat Pose:

Knee on the floor, such that your back forms the table top, and your hand and legs form the legs of the table. Look ahead.
As you inhale to raise your chin and a little bit of body, and as you exhale drop your chin to your chest and relax your body.
Hold this pose for a few seconds and release.

Benefits

1. Loosens up the spine and makes it flexible.
2. Also, has and indirect effect on the organs of the lower abdomen.

So now that you have learned the cats pose, let’s go the cow pose

4. Table Pose:

Table pose is very similar to cat pose the only difference being that instead of your chest facing towards the ground, the chest needs to face upwards and your hands and legs forming the legs of the table.

Benefits

1. Help strengthen your core.
2. Also, makes the spine stronger.

So now that you have learned the cat and table pose, let’s go the cow pose

5. Cow Pose:

Sit in crossed leg position, right leg over the left leg .Side your knees together in front of you, put the right knee directly on top of the left knee.
Inhale and raise your right hand over the head and bend the right elbow. Reach behind the back with the left hand and clasp the fingers of both hands.
Hold the posture as long as you can hold the inhaled breath.
Exhale slowly and repeat the posture reversing the arms and legs.

Benefits

1. Stretches your hips, thighs ,ankles ,chest and shoulders.
2. And now the last pose that we have for you’re in this day 1 is the most relaxing pose called shavasana,

6. Savasana

In this pose you are supposed to lie down flat on your back with hands stretched on your side ,legs stretched forward.
You need to feel each organ from head to toe is relaxed and calm and at ease. Stay in this position for 5 min.

Benefits

1. Calms down brain and helps in relieving stress and mild depression.
2. Reduces fatigue and insomnia.

So this ends our day 1 challenge, hope you’ll are feeling energized, see you’ll on Day 2, 30 Day Yoga challenge.

Day 2 – 30 Day Yoga Challenge

Adho Mukha Svanasana

After performing asanas for Day 1 of the 30 Days challenge of Yoga, Namaskar for day 2.

Day 2 is about performing ‘Adho Mukha Svanasana’ or downward facing dog face And this pose is not just for dog lovers.

1. Begin with coming into table top position (Tip: keep the table top (back) flat. Don’t slouch.)
2. Place your hands with jazz fingers slightly wider than shoulder width. Note, that the feet should be hip width apart.
3. From the table top position, exert pressure on your fingertips & lift your hips up.
4. Now stay in this position with your face looking into your navel. Take long deep breaths and feel the muscles churning. Repeat the asana for two or three times

It feels rejuvenating, isn’t it? It surely feels like walking bare- foot on a beach and living in the moment.

No matter how funny this position sounds, but this pose will surely leave with abundant energy #EnergisedLikeNeverBefore. And even flexible hamstrings. (Style tip : summer is still not over to tuck all those shorts away)

The posture improves circulation of blood. And while it is pumping more blood in your body, it is helping your body cells grow, giving you a healthier and pink tone skin. Say yes to wonderful, like-magnetic selfies.

Like the unconditional love of a pet (read dog), it renders immense calmness to your mind. Just like fitness mantra these days “Calm mind, Strong body” this asana helps to achieve just that in few minutes.

It is not that lifting dead-weights in a gym can only give you the strength. Don’t be bewildered but this one-stop asana encourages you not to look beyond it. The pressure exerted on the arms and shoulders while performing this asana, helps to give them the requisite strength.

Above all of this, this pose helps to fight the insomniac tendencies which a lot of us tend to suffer from. Thanks to the stress lurking around in our lives.

Stay regular and tune in every day to reap the benefits a healthy body and even a healthier mind with this 30 days yoga challenge. Let this month be #HelloLife

10 Yoga Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About

Maybe you’re a beginner or must be practicing yoga for quite some time now. You might think you are well versed with this ancient tradition and have a good knowledge about the same, but there is much more to this ancient art of practicing exercises that many are unfamiliar with. Yoga always surprises us with its benefits and usefulness. There is so much to this ancient tradition that many are still unaware of.

So we came up with a few interesting facts about yoga that we bet you had no clue about.

1. It is followed by EVERY religion.
Yes. Yoga is in sync with every religion. Very few know that the Patanjali yoga sutra was done in Arabic. Many religions follow this ancient tradition and is practiced worldwide.

2. Yoga hasn’t become a trend setter just recently
Yes. It’s not gaining popularity just because we recently started celebrating International Yoga Day or because we read a lot about this form of exercise often these days. It is a study of mind and mantras and has been practiced since many years. Globally yoga has received a very good recognition since many years.

3. Yogis & Yoginis you think are unhygienic are the most hygienic
Yes. They might look unclean because of the pale clothes worn by them or the unshaven beard. But the fact is, they are the ones who are the most hygienic people practicing yoga. They follow the Ayurveda philosophy of staying clean and tidy. It includes taking a bath EVERYDAY! Applying oil all over the body and face and using a dry brush for detoxifying purposes.

4. You need to make certain lifestyle changes.
So practicing Yoga everyday might surely help you, but to receive the benefits to the fullest yoga alone won’t help. You’ll need to start making changes in your food habits and the routine which you follow.

5. It is the best stress-buster
Yoga can help you de – stress. A few minutes of yoga can help you release all the stress and will make you feel energetic and more focused in your work.

6.  It improves your relationships
Because a calm and serene mind is always happy and contended. Practicing yoga also increases your patience and your ability to understand things. It improves both your personal and professional relationships.

7. Makes you look fab from flab
Yoga helps you shed those extra kilos. There are many asanas in Yoga that helps in reducing weight. Surya Namaskar and Kapalbhati, Pranayama are very effective for reducing weight.

8. It reduces menstrual cramps
There are certain yoga postures that help in reducing the menstrual cramps. The Cat and Fish and Cobra pose are few of them.

9.  It improves fertility
This is because practicing yoga helps a lot in reducing stress. Many doctors recommend couples to opt for yoga who are trying to conceive.

10. Anti-ageing benefits
Yoga improves the entire functioning of your body and strengthens it from the core. It detoxifies your body and releases all the toxins from from the body and hence provides anti-ageing benefits.

It has unending list, to know more facts, just be with us.

Benefits of Supported Shoulder Stand

The Many Benefits of Supported Shoulder Stand:

The supported shoulder stand (Salamba Sarvangasana) is a type of a supported inversion yoga asana that benefits every part of the whole body right from the head till the toes. This is one asana that most of us practice frequently during our childhood & it is a huge contributor in keeping our energy & happiness levels up during that phase of our lives.

To practice it, lie down on the floor with your arms on the floor, palms down and bend your knees towards you. Flip off your legs overhead so that the back is off the floor. The shoulders remain on the floor and you use them to balance your entire body. Make sure that your shoulder blades are tucked in underneath you and that your elbows are close together. This can be done by interlacing the fingers underneath you and pulling the shoulders and elbow together. Simultaneously, bend your arms at the elbow and bring them in to support your back, with your fingers facing up towards the ceiling. Use your pelvic floor muscles to help support your neck and back.

Beginners can come into half shoulder stand by placing your knees on the forehead. For the complete pose extend the legs up towards the sky, while supporting the back. Eventually, the body should be at a 90-degree angle to the floor with the balls of your feet pointing towards the ceiling. Hold for at least 20 breaths, breathing in and out through your nose.

To release the supported shoulder stand, extend the legs back over your head and roll out of it slowly and gradually. Once the whole spine is flat on the floor, you can release the feet back down to the ground.

The Salamba Sarvangasana inverts the body and consequently facilitates blood flow to the upper part of the body. This way it improves brain function and perception. It also helps reduce anxiety & depression. It also infuses the abdominal region with freshly oxygenated blood. This greatly benefits the digestive & urogenital organ systems. Increased blood flow in the lungs rejuvenates them & improves their function and this helps alleviate the symptoms of and eventually heal respiratory tract ailments.

The heart expends a considerable amount of energy pumping oxygenated blood and sending it to the leg areas. This supported inversion pose relieves the heart of this strenuous activity for the duration of the pose & consistent practice of this Yogasana strengthens the heart muscles.

This yoga asana also helps see life in a completely new light as it turns everything in this physical body to its head.

It also helps relieve the symptoms of menopause. It is useful in reducing fatigue and alleviating insomnia. It is a therapeutic yoga asana for asthma, infertility, and sinusitis.

However, certain conditions dissuade the practice of this Yogasana. These include Diarrhea, Headache, High blood pressure, Menstruation, Neck injury. If you are an experienced practitioner of this pose, it can be performed during pregnancy. However, as a beginner, do not initiate the practice of this Asana after you become pregnant.

Asanas which form the Backbone of Hatha Yoga!

In continuation to our last blog-post on asanas and their effect on our bodies, we will now discuss the yoga postures which form the very backbone of yoga, they have been practiced since ages by the seers and many yoga gurus, Yogi Swatmarama, the author of Hatha Yoga Pradeepika have also talked about these asanas in detail in his book. This article will be more pictorial for the better understanding of the poses.

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika illustrates that there are around 84 asanas , the most important ones which form the very core of Hatha Yoga are as follows :

1. Padmasana also called as lotus position where one sits cross-legged with feet placed on opposite thighs, this asana is the primary pose and is practiced on the onset of every yoga class with hand falling off the knees and thumb touching the middle finger.Ideal for practicing pranayama or meditation

2. Bhadrasana , also called as Gracious pose, Bhadra in English means Auspicious and asana means pose, this pose is practiced with knees separated while keeping the toes in contact with the floor. Bhadrasana is known to activate the root chakra or mooldhara chakra.

3. Simhasana, also known as Lion pose. This asana is practiced by kneeling down the floor with knees apart,the toes of the feet remain in contact with each other and palms of the hands are put between the knees, resting the body on the arms completely, then inhaling through the nose and exhaling out the mouth by forcing the tongue out, eyes remain wide open and is focussed on the ceiling ,usually the mouth is opened to roar like a lion, that’s why it is named as lion pose. It’s supposed to balance the throat chakra.

4. Siddhasana, like padmasana this asana is used for practicing pranayama or yoga, Siddha means perfect/best and asana means pose, therefore best-seated position. The heel presses the perineum while the sole remains flat against the inner thigh. The body sits atop the heel.

The above four asanas are the most important asanas which one needs to practice before delving into the deeper depths of yoga.

How to Turn your Stress from 100 to 0 by Practicing these Five Simple Yoga Poses!

The value of this sequence of relaxation poses cannot be overemphasized,they must be done in advance than and after the yoga session and at any time when the body turns into worn-out. The asanas in this group seem very easy and handy in the beginning, but to do them correctly is a little complicated because the anxiety in all the muscle companies of the frame must be consciously released. The muscles usually seem to be absolutely comfortable but, tightness nonetheless remains. Even throughout sleep, relaxation is elusive. The asanas of this group provide the body the relaxation it so longly wishes. Consistent postural abnormalities put extra stress on the muscle tissues of the back which hardly get hold of correct relaxation within the traditional supine role.

The stress of any kind is not good for the body and Yoga is the only form of art which heals the body not only at the physical level but digs deeper to the cellular as well as emotional level, which is essential for holistic healing.

Let’s get that stress out by simple practicing of the below-mentioned asanas :

1) Savasana : I have mentioned about this magical asana in my earlier posts as well, Savasana ,unwinds the entire psycho-physiological framework. It is advised to practice it before rest; before amid and after asana rehearse, especially after element works out, for example, surya namaskara; and when you feel physically drained. It creates body mindfulness. At the point when the body is totally casual, the consciousness of the mind expands, creating pratyahara. It is also called as corpse pose , one just needs to lie down in corpse position and let your mind enter the state of meditation by simply focusing on the breathing. Unwind the entire body and stop all physical development. End up being mindful of the characteristic breath and permit it to end up cadenced and loose.

2) Advasana : This is a very simple asana but requires a lot of focus to not let the mind wander,lie on the stomach. Extend both arms over the head with the palms facing downward The brow is supposed to lay on the floor. Unwind the entire body in an indistinguishable path like savasana. On the off chance that there is trouble breathing or a feeling of suffocation is encountered, a pad might be set under the mid-section. Relax in a common and cadenced manner. The quantity of breaths might be included as savasana while tenderly pushing the guts against the floor.

Advasana is highly recommended for people with slipped disc or stiff neck

3) Jyestikasana : Lie level on the stomach with the legs straight and the brow laying on the floor. Interlock the fingers and place the palms on the back of the head then again neck. Permit the elbows to lay on the floor. Unwind the entire body and get to be mindful of the breathing procedure as depicted for savasana. Breathe Naturally and rhythmically. Feel the mitigating warmth of the palms liquefying without end the pressures in the neck and related ranges.

This asana is useful for every single spinal dissension particularly cervical spondylitis and hardened neck or upper back.

4) Makarasana : It is also called as (crocodile posture) Lie level on the stomach. Raise the head and shoulders and rest the button in the palms of the hands with the elbows on the floor. Keep the elbows together for a more professed curve to the spine. Isolate the elbows marginally to assuage abundance weight on bite the dust neck. In makarasana the impact is felt at two focuses: the neck and the lower back. On the off chance that the elbows are too far in front, pressure will be felt in the neck; on the off chance that they are attracted excessively near the midsection, strain will be felt more in the bring down back. Alter the position of the elbows so that these two focuses are similarly adjusted. The perfect position is the point at which the entire spine is similarly casual.

This asana is exceptionally compelling for individuals experiencing slipped plate, sciatica, or some other spinal issue. They should stay in this asana for augmented time frames as it empowers the vertebral section to resume its ordinary shape and discharges pressure of the spinal nerves. Asthmatics and individuals who have some other lung afflictions should practice this straightforward asana routinely with breath mindfulness as it permits more air to enter the lungs.

5) Matsya Kridasana : Lie on the stomach with the fingers interlocked under the head. Twist the left leg sideways and convey the left knee near the ribs. The right leg should stay straight. Swivel the arms to one side and rest the left elbow on the left knee. Rest the right half of the head on the law breaker of the right arm, or somewhat assist down the arm for more solace. Unwind in the last stance and, after a few time, change sides. This position takes after a fluttering fish. This asana empowers digestive peristalsis by extending the digestion systems and evacuates obstruction. It diminishes sciatic torment by unwinding the nerves in the legs. Individuals with spinal pain, for whom the act of forward twisting asanas as is most certainly not prescribed, may rehearse matsya kridasana as a counterpose after in reverse twisting asanas. In the later months of pregnancy, lying on the back may bring about weight over major veins and piece the course. In such conditions, this stance is perfect for unwinding, dozing or honing yoga nidra. The bowed knee and the head might be upheld on a pad for advance solace. This asana additionally redistributes overabundance weight around the waistline.

Hasta Utthanasana

Hasta utthanasana is the second and the 11th step of the sun salutation series of asanas.

Position: Raise and extend both arms over the head. Keep the arms isolated, bear width separated. Twist the head, arms and upper trunk in reverse.

Breathing: Inhale while raising the arms.

Mindfulness: Physical – on the extend of the belly and development of the lungs.
Spiritual – on vishuddhi chakra.

Mantra (Optional): Om Ravaye Namaha, greetings to the sparkling one.

Benefits: This pose extends all the stomach organs and enhances digestion. It helps in toning the arm and shoulder muscles, conditions the spinal nerves, opens the lungs and expels overabundance weight. It extends and conditions the muscles of the guts. It grows the mid-section and the rib confine bringing about a full admission of oxygen. It helps in using the lung limit to its full capacity.

Pranamasana

Pranam implies welcome and asana is a stance. Pranamasana is the stance of supplication or greeting. It is likewise the beginning and completing stance of the asana arrangement Surya Namaskara or Sun Salutation. This stance is one of those superbly basic ones that can be rehearsed effortlessly at wherever and minute in time. It is exceptionally valuable for getting you back to focus when you get a handle on a tad bit of adjusting or just needing some additional inward food.

• Position : Keep the eyes shut. Stay standing upright with the feet together. Gradually twist the elbows and place the palms together before the mid-section in namaskara mudra, rationally offering respect to the sun, the wellspring of all life. Unwind the entire body.
• Breathing: Breathe normally, inhaling and exhaling through the nose.
• Mindfulness:  Physical – on the mid-section region.
  Spiritual-on anahata chakra.
• Mantra (optional): Om Mitraya Namaha, greetings to the companion of all.
• Benefits: This stance sets up a condition of fixation and tranquility in preparation for the practice to be performed.