Boga Yoga

It probably shouldn’t take the casualty of these economic times to help us distinguish between the real and the unreal. Who we are, what we need, and everything that has defined us on the outside becomes easily stripped away.

Remembering that I am not the job I do, the home I live in, or the role I play as mother, sister, or brother may be difficult to separate from. Remembering that I am not the mind that problem solves, calculates, or traces endless lists of things to do, may be difficult to quiet. So many things to so many people, but these are just the roles I play. I am not defined by these roles, and my value is not defined by those who have assigned them to me.

Our true self is “that which cannot be burned by the fire, water can not wet it, and wind cannot blow it”. It probably shouldn’t take 20 sun salutations to settle us into a zone where we can move inward, but eventually we find a place where we feel the peace. I recognize that there are many reasons I hit the yoga mat, and they begin with the simplest of poses. Standing in mountain pose, the lesson in challenging times is clear. Stand as a mountain, “a mountain stands in storms and hail without getting affected.”

It was the first Saturday in May, otherwise known as Kentucky Derby Day when I decided to make my first novice bet at the track and pick a few winners. I reviewed photo finishes, previous winnings, pedigrees, owners, and even jockeys blogs.

So as to best spread my risk, I placed bets on seven well researched horses, convinced my chances were excellent and my winnings secure. The only thing I was missing was a chilled Mint Julep in my right hand, and a dramatic piece of millinery on my head as I waited with nervous anticipation for the race to begin.

“Good grief!” I thought as a favorite stumbled. “Oh no!” I exclaimed as another horse I crossed off my short list of nine, headed to the lead. Where were my sure things?! They were all tied up in a pack racing with each other to the finish. All but one horse. The $9,500 horse trailered from New Mexcio who’s owner hobbled on crutches to complete the pre-race parade to the gate.

“Mine that Bird” was bumped, and left dead last in the breakaway heat. No one was watching, but somewhere in the view from the back there was a greater opportunity. A path presented itself, and as in the yogic lesson “It is the space between the bars that holds the Tiger”, the jockey and the horse saw the space open along the rails and blazed their path to the finish.

No matter where find yourself in the scheme of things in this world, cultivate your awareness. Even at odds of 50/1, the path to your higher self will expose itself and all your preparation will be rewarded.

Think of Virabhadrasana I (Warrior 1) and the lesson of the warrior who was given a thousand hands, and a thousand weapons - not to kill the enemy, but to kill the weaknesses inside of him. We strive to rise above our worldly bodies, our worldly challenges, our worldly achievements, and our worldly possessions. To separate ourselves from our attachments, and the fruits of our efforts. We remind ourselves that we are higher than our mind, body, and emotions. To do your best, and let the rest happen.

Our true essence, our spirit, is not defined by what we do for a living, how we feel at the moment, or the lifestyle we have made for ourselves. Our highest self, is independent and free from all of those screenplays, roles, and props.

This Independence Day celebrate your journey to your higher self. Feel your energy spiraling, moving through all the colors of the chakras, and bursting like the fireworks. See your spirit reigning over all else, in all it’s majesty, all it’s color, and all it’s beauty. Picture the bright explosion of that spirit high in the heavens, sending sparkling little lights of kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, and love back down to the earth to bless us all.

There exists a lighter side of life. A life where we clean out closets, shed clothes in the summer, release emotions from the past, and form less attachments to things in general. Sometimes it is not an easy process, other times it feels like a wonderful cleansing. However it happens, our ability to let go creates space for new things, new thoughts, new ideas and new feelings. In that space there is a freedom. A freedom to choose, a freedom to explore, a freedom to contemplate, debate, and decide what really feels good. What really feels right. In that space we evolve.

Releasing is so important to our growth, and it is equally important to do it with kindness, and gentleness. Let go with grace and gratitude, a final honor for what you leave behind. As the clutter clears in your room, your heart, and your soul, a new light finds a place. In that light, and that moment of clarity, the path to your next great joy seems to find you, and all because you made room for it.

So long seems the winter, dark and cold it often feels like an endless journey counting the days until the spring. Yet winter is a restorative season, restorative postures focus our energy inward, preparing us to evolve and blossom when the sun hits. Our bodies awaken and extend, our spirits renewed with the joy and hope of the coming season. In our yoga practice we think of the extension in triangle, and the graciousness as we bend gently to offer a flower to the Lord.

Spring is the season of growth, and expression. The fifth chakra, also known as the throat chakra or Vishudda governs our creativity, expression, and communication. Just like the flowers and the trees blossom and share their colors and beauty, so too should we extend our voices, our talents, and our wisdom. The quote from Nelson Mandela below validates the importance of reaching beyond ourselves, despite whatever fears or insecurities we may have, and sharing that which makes us special with the world. In turn, the world releases it’s barriers and shares it’s gifts with us.

“Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God; your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people premission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Nelson Mandela

April rain streams down upon us and we reflect on of all the renewing and cleansing properties of water. Water as a nourishing element provides the opportunity for growth, but only to the extent we are prepared to absorb it. Water as a cleansing element can wash away old habits, thoughts and patterns in our lives. Water as an energy force gently moves us forward, guiding and navigating our path. It finds it’s own way, and no earth or obstacle can block it for long.

Water governs the second chakra or Svadhisthana. Here water is a passionate energy force. It is the force of our feelings, our desires, and of movement. The sciences have taught us that two thirds of our body is made up of water, and so we find ourselves in a constant internal wave of change, and evolution. In the womb, water is our nurturer. In our tears, water is our comfort. Like a lake we can be still, balanced, and content. Like the moon pulls on the ocean and forces the tides, we move with the force of a wave toward our desires. No doubt we are as we flow, and we are best when flowing to our source.

A regular yoga practice definitely heightens our awareness of what feels good, and what feels right. With each session we strive to find our “edge” - that zone that finds us somewhere between comfort and challenge. That place that stretches us to the next level. Sometimes we need to move a little differently to get there, and other times we simply need to think a little differently to get there. In between there is that feeling of being a little bit stuck, just going through the motions that were once comfortable, but now somehow monotonous. That feeling of “I really need to get off the merry-go round, or I’m going to be sick”. We oscillate, somewhere between our future and our past.

Yoga teaches us to strive for non-duality. We cannot think in the past, and move toward the future at the same time. My favorite lessons from my first yoga teacher were to “look to the future with courage”, and “look to the past with acceptance”. It is either that acceptance of the past that helps us move forward, or that courage to take a brave step into the future that sends us on back on our journey.

When it’s time to grow, it can be time to go, time to learn, time to accept, or time to take the extra step. When we decide to start preparing the backpack of essentials for the journey ahead, we remind ourselves that the first most important step to put forward is our intention. Tell the universe what you hope, what you plan, what you intend, so the path might be opened for you. Clear your mind of the non-essentials so that you are aware enough to see it when it is laid out before you. Put forward your best effort, “but don’t be attached to the results”. Be brave, be joyful, be gentle with yourself. You will get there.

As we enter the seasonal winds of March, we are reminded of the mental and physical goals of the yoga practice. Observation of nature, and trees in the wind show us the importance of the combination of being solid in our roots and our core, while having the ability to bend and be flexible. The survival of every tree through the winds and the storms depends on that strength, solidness, and root system. Without flexibility in the wind, or the under the weight of the ice, their branches and trunks would snap. Without strong roots, the whole tree would blow away.

Our practice of pranyama or breathing exercises raises the breath and energy from our lower chakras through our core to help to strenghten us. Our standing postures root and ground us, while from our twists to triangles, we learn to bend and reach higher at the same time. Just like in tree pose, we learn to balance…. even when it means there is only one leg to stand on.

We strive to achieve the same combination in our minds and spirits. The ability to be strong in our values but flexible in our thinking. Remaining limitless in our perception of great possiblity, while practicing acceptance of our current levels of achievement. We learn to be flexible and flow with change, draw strength from our core values and roots in adversity, still reaching ever higher toward our future aspirations. It is that combination of physical and mental strength, flexibility, and balance we gather from the traditional yoga practice that becomes our key to healthy survival, and success among the daily challenges of the modern world.

Yoga is synonymous with fitness. This is because yoga is interested in a holistic outlook on the entire body and how fitness should be incorporated into exercise. This is because yoga is about, mind, body and spirit, but yoga is also synonymous with health and fitness.

Anyone who has been taking yoga classes for any amount of time will probably tell you they feel much more fit then they did before taking yoga classes. This is because of the holistic ideals behind yoga and how the holistic side of yoga actually creates a fit body from head to toe.

- Yoga Fitness:

Fitness yoga is the discipline of strength training through core exercises. This can range from focusing on very specific parts of the body or focusing on a more holistic approach that includes the entire mind and body. Either way will get you fit, and it is probably good to have a combination of the two if you are serious about using yoga postures to keep fit.

- Power Yoga:

Power yoga definitely belongs in the fit category of yoga practice. Power yoga is a form of yoga that uses the yoga body postures, but in an accelerated succession of these postures. This will allow the body to strengthen very quickly, and stay very fit, but as you might have guessed, this type of yoga takes time and practice to master. This is because there are many yoga positions that must be mastered so you can do the yoga poses in a smooth succession.

- Staying Fit with Breathing:

One of the key features of yoga, whether it is yoga for meditation, strength or fitness or all three, is that yoga is about breathing. That is to say you need to breath properly while completing the different yoga poses. This is an added benefit to staying fit with yoga, because yoga will actually help you to breath more properly while doing other exercises as well, and will remind you to breath properly throughout the entire day, promoting fitness.

- Some of the Different Types of Yoga Fitness Include:

- Ashtanga Yoga is a type of yoga that means eight limbs. It is a quick paced yoga style, and is one of the more intense types of yoga. It is based on a progressive set of sequences of asanas which are synchronized with proper breathing. This is one of the more physically demanding types of yoga available.

- Power Yoga is seen as a western interpretation of yoga and is based on Ashtanga yoga. It also involves a series of poses in succession of each other.

- Vinyasa Yoga, which means breath synchronized movement is another intense type of yoga that is fast paced with an emphasis on breathing techniques. This type of yoga may begin with sun salutations and then might move to intense stretching exercises.

- Bikram Yoga is also known as hot yoga and is practiced in 105 degree heated rooms. Typically, this yoga session includes 26 different poses and is often practiced with a Bikram Yoga class. The hot temperatures will loosen muscles and there would obviously be profuse sweating as well. Some of the appeal to this type of yoga is the idea that it also cleanses the body due to the intense perspiration in the 105 degree temperature room.

- In Conclusion:

There are a lot of different types of yoga out there, and for fitness, there is no shortage of yoga styles that will suite your needs. We recommend trying them all out, and then deciding which one is best for you. Remember that yoga will provide an overall fitness that is hard to match with other types of fitness exercises.

Yoga Styles to Balance the Body, Mind and Spirit

Yoga is all about poses, breathing exercises and meditation. Yoga can be practiced in with a variety of styles. Thus, there are many yoga styles and you, as a yoga practitioner needs to select the one that best suits the requirements of your body.

Various Yoga Styles

Here are some of the yoga styles and the information about each style

Hatha Yoga

Hatha is a general “catch-all” term for many physical yoga styles. If the yoga class you are going for describes hatha style of yoga, then it will be a gentle, slow-paced class. It will offer you a fundamental instruction on yoga poses.

The different styles of yoga are embedded from hatha yoga. All these styles provide a balance to the mind, the body, and the spirit through the yoga poses. However, the prominence differs. Some focuses on strict alignment of the body while some on the coordination of breath and movement.

Hatha yoga is suggested for yoga beginners. It’s best to gain knowledge of yoga fundamentals before moving to other styles of yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa is an explanation of many types of yoga classes. These yoga classes cope with breath-synchronized activities. It is somewhat more vigorous than the hatha yoga and is more powerful.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga is an interesting one among all yoga styles, which is a series of yoga poses that always practiced in the same order. This style is physically demanding as in this style you are moving from one pose to another.

It is also called as power yoga. Being one of the popular styles of yoga, it needs to be practiced everything in an order. Without any break, you naturally move from one pose to another.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar is also among popular yoga styles, which needs to practice with the body alignment. It is a moderate intensity style. There is very little focus on breathing exercises and meditation for starting levels.

The importance is on proper alignment, mainly for the spine and core of the body. That is the exact way that your body should place in the yoga pose in order to obtain the best results and to avoid damages.

In this style of yoga, the yoga poses will focus on holding the poses for longer periods of time rather than flowing from one pose to another. In addition, this style of yoga makes use of some supports such as yoga blankets, yoga blocks, and yoga straps in order to bring your body into a proper alignment.

Integral, one of the good yoga styles for beginners, which are a gentle form of yoga practice and the concentration of this style, is to integrate body, mind, and spirit with the combination of yoga poses, breathing exercises and meditation.

Hot Yoga

Hot yoga, is among the intense styles of yoga. This yoga style is practiced in a very hot room with temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees. The heat or the hot air makes the muscle relax and causes heavy sweating. This sweating is treated as cleansing to the body.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram is the most popular among yoga styles. It is a style with 26 poses. It is a vigorous physical style of yoga created by bikram choudhoury. This style is designed to bring the body to maximum health and fitness. An intense session of vigorous poses to reinforce the body, liberates pent-up emotions, and purifies your body.

It also helps in healing the body by releasing the pain. This yoga style is a concentrated exercise using abdominal intensification and deep, relaxing breathing.

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda is also among the yoga styles that have been practiced since 1957. This style is based on five principles.

* Proper exercise

* Proper breathing

* Proper relaxation

* Vegetarian diet

* Positive thinking and meditation.

People about eighty locations all around the world practice this style of yoga. Many of them sponsor retreats for the dedicated yoga enthusiast.

There are many different yoga styles. These are the most popular styles of yoga and are just a sample of yoga styles offered in yoga classes. By getting an idea about a few of these yoga styles, it will become easy and you can safely select a yoga class as well as yoga styles that are best for you.



By: Alien