Yoga in India
 The
wavering, restless mind goes wandering on… you must draw it back,
and have it focused every time on the soul."
- Lord Krishna said to Arjuna in
Bhagavad
Gita
¤ Yogic Revelation
The whole world is talking about yoga principles these days. In the
west people are increasingly casting a keen eye on relaxation and yoga
meditation, essentials of the ancient Indian principles of yoga. No
wonder Indians have kept the tradition alive and well; as a therapy
they know that there’s nothing better than good old yoga.
The word yoga means ‘union’, though a more literal
equivalent is the English ‘yoke’. In fact, the words yoga
and yoke have the same Sanskrit root. The knowledge of yoga meditation
comes to us originally from the Vedas.
The idea then developed and branched into a whole lot of other texts
and philosophies. The yoga that is most well known today is the Hatha
Yoga of bodily positions called asanas. Through a perfection of the
practice, one is supposed to reach a higher state of being, a state
that is in union with brahmana or the Absolute (also the Hindu concept
of godhead). In the ancient times our rishis (Hindu ascetics)
practiced yoga to achieve self-realization, a necessary step towards
spiritual progress. For them yoga was the way to liberation (moksha)
from the material world. Advanced yogis (experts on yoga) even claimed
to acquire extraordinary powers, such as how to vanish into thin air!
¤ Cure Without Medicine
Anyway, other religions like
Buddhism and Jainism,
too, absorbed the techniques of yoga. Today millions are turning to
this age-old system because of its therapeutic goodness. If you have a
little patience, you can cure yourself of most ills without pills. and
with time, such bodily discipline also influences consciousness and
concentration, silencing the wandering Cain in your mind forever.
Medical research has endorsed the benefits of yoga postures on the
body. Yoga is just the remedy for ailments like a poor spine and
painful joints. The stretching and compressing during these asanas,
and the alteration of the body’s orientation and centre of
gravity generate ‘piezoelectricity’ (electricity caused by
pressure) in the body tissues.
A regular practice of yoga exercises regulates the growth,
maintenance and strengthening of body tissues. In fact, the whole body
metabolism is stimulated and the body’s healing powers improved.
¤ Types of Yoga
Astanga Yoga
Astanga laid out in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and means eight
limbs in Sanskrit. The asana was formulated by Krishnamacharya and Sri
K. Pattabhi Jois, from an ancient text called the Yoga Korunta -
described as a peculiar system of hatha yoga developed by Vamana
Rishi.
Bikram Yoga
Named after its founder Bikram chowdry, Bikram Yoga has 26 poses in
series and they are performed at heat of 90-100 degree Farenheit. Each
of the yoga pose is performed twice and is held for a certain period
time. The session starts from standing postured and the follow the
backbends, forward bends and twists. The poses in Bikram Yoga are
accompanied by Kapalabhati or 'breath of fire'.
Iyengar Yoga
Created by B.K.S. Iyengar, Iyengar Yoga is a form of yoga which uses
props like belts and blocks and it aids in performing asanas. This
yoga is also based on Patanjali, a traditional eight limbs of Yoga, in
his Yoga Sutras. The asana enforces development of strength, stamina,
flexibility and balance. It also involves concentration and
meditation.
Kundalini yoga
As an ancient form of yoga, Kundalini is a meditative way which
comprises of simple technique and used body, mind and senses needed
for communication between mind and body.
¤ Yoga Destinations in India
Kerala
Uttaranchal
Bihar
Major Tour Packages For Ayurveda
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