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

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 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.

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.

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.