...he ability to focus awareness of externals to one object for a long period of time, such as, focusing the mind on an object of meditation e.g. an image of a deity or some such. Dhyana (concentrated meditation) is the uninterrupted contemplation of an object of meditation, beyond any memory of ego. Samadhi (self-collectedness) is the final stage and a pre-condition for attaining moksha or being released from the cycle of life and death. This stage, allows the meditator to perceive or experience the object of his meditation and himself as one entity.

Though, the pre-history of Yoga is not clear, however, early vedic texts speak of ecstatics, who may well have been predecessors of latter day yogis or the followers of Yoga. Although Yoga has been made into a separate school (darsan), its influence and many of its practices have crept into other schools.

In the course of time, certain stages of Yoga become ends in themselves, notably, the breathing exercises and sitting postures, as in the school of Hatha Yoga. In a less technical sense, Yoga used for achieving union with God, in the epic poem the Bhagavadgita, is also used to distinguish the alternate paths (margas) to such a union.

With the philosophy and practice of Yoga increasingly becoming popular in the West, the physical and spiritual benefits ...more

Yoga for Back Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndrome

...y-spirit balance, and (as often practiced today in the US) to improve fitness. The most common form practiced in the United States is Hatha Yoga, which includes specific movements or postures (asanas), deep breathing (pranayama), and sometimes meditation (dhyana).

gentle, mindful, and controlled movements can provide a non-impact or low-impact yoga exercise or fibromyalgia sufferers in almost any physical condition. Specific exercises, or asanas, ease and stretch tense muscles; improve flexibility; and enhance strength, balance, and endurance.

What are the Origins of Yoga? There is no set date when this great ancient art-science began, but it goes back thousands of years. Stone carvings in the Indus Valley depicting yoga postures date back over 5,000 years. Traditionally, yoga was a spiritual practice, its goal being union with the Absolute or Divine. The...more

The Benefits Of Yoga And Pilates

...If you only had one choice, what would you do to keep yourself physically and mentally fit: breathe through yoga, or stretch through pilates? While nobody can deny the various benefits that can be derived from either teaching, haven't you ever wondered which of the two is better in helping people achieve physical and mental health?

Talking about Yoga - The philosophy behind Yoga is purely a product from the East and places emphasis on the movement of energy throughout a person's body. If the energy inside our bodies is able to move more freely, this is taken as an indication that our physical health is improving.

Tension, stress, anxiety, and ot...more

Yoga: Ancient wisdom for Today's Health

...st quality foods - those that produce the minimum of toxins and in quantities such that the body is not overtaxed through the process of digestion. These foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

According to yogis, the best food is fruit, which contributes most to life force. It is a source of energy, which, all else being equal, does not produce toxins in the process of digestion. Yogis emphasize freshness and raw foods. A food, which must be approached with great caution, is meat, which does produce toxic waste products as it is metabolized in the body.

Interestingly, these principles are those which modern medical science is demonstrating are valid today. Drs. Roizen and Oz, in The Owners Manual Diet, recommend eating when hungry, not famished and including at least two snacks. Foods to eat on a daily basis and the foundation of the diet are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. This diet goes hand-in-hand with a program of physical activity directed toward flexibility and strength, as is the yoga "diet.

Conclusion On a recent Oprah show, Dr. Roizen indicated that the next important medical development will be a greater focus on "energy" medicine, bringing us full circle to the perennial puzzle, the one with which we began: the connection between mind, body and spirit and how we integrate between them to reach our fullest potential as human begins. This is the question that hatha yoga addresses, and the teaching is that by learning to speak with our body, we address our minds and souls, increasing the clarity and strength of each.<...more

Yoga Instructor Certification California