What Is Asans

An asana is a pose or posture used in the practice of yoga. It is estimated that there are thousands of asanas in the incredibly varied discipline of yoga, with around 100 in active use by yogis all over the world. Asanas range from simple, relaxing poses which can be held by people at all levels of ability to complex postures which push the limits of the practitioner's body. Typically, a yoga session involves running through a series of asanas and holding them for varying periods of time.

The word is derived from the Sanskrit asanam, “a sitting posture.” Originally, asanas were developed as positions to use for meditation. They could potentially be held for long periods of time to focus the mind and body, promoting health, stillness, and inward reflection. Asanas have since expanded to encompass a wide range of postures, some of which are quite physically challenging, and they continue to be used during meditative practice, although meditation is not required for yoga. In many cases, the longer an asana is held, the more beneficial it will be to the yogi or yogini.

An asana is meant to fulfill several functions. In one sense, asanas promote strength, flexibility, and muscle tone, creating a generally stronger, healthier body. An asana is also designed to promote the flow of energy through the body; in yogic tradition, this energy is known as prana. Yogis who meditate as part of their self practice enjoy the focus and flow of energy which holding an asana can promote; yogis who practice primarily for health reasons may find themselves feeling rested and more emotionally balanced with long-term yoga practice.

Traditional asanas are only one part of the practice of yoga, which is a religious practice in India. They are designed to stretch and internally massage the entire body, with twisting, bending, and holding accompanied by periods of relaxation. Many people find that integrating a few asanas into their daily stretching routine is quite beneficial; common asanas include back bends, stretches of the legs and arms, and standing poses to promote good posture and balance.

A number of people practice specific series of asanas, such as the sun salutations used in hatha yoga. This wiseGEEK writer enjoys several rounds of sun salutations in the morning because this sequence of asanas helps to enliven the body, and it can set a positive tone for the day. Asanas are also useful for people who want to be quickly refreshed at work, as an asana or two only takes a moment, but it can help to clear the mind and stretch the body.

What is Yogic Breathing or Pranayama?

What is Yogic Breathing or Pranayama?

‘Prana’ refers to the universal life force and ‘ayama’ means to regulate or lengthen. Prana is the vital energy needed by our physical and subtle layers, without which the body would perish. It is what keeps us alive.Pranayama is the control of prana through the breath. These techniques rely on breathing through the nostrils.

Prana flows through thousands of subtle energy channels called ‘nadis’ and energy centers called ‘chakras’. The quantity and quality of prana and the way it flows through the nadis and chakras determines one’s state of mind. If the Prana level is high and its flow is continuous, smooth and steady, the mind remains calm, positive and enthusiastic. However, due to lack of knowledge and attention to one’s breath, the nadis and chakras in the average person may be partially or fully blocked leading to jerky and broken flow. As a result one experiences increased worries, fear, uncertainty, tensions, conflict and other negative qualities.

The ancient sages of India realized these breathing techniques. Some common pranayamas include Bhastrika, Kapalabhati, and Nadi shodan pranayama. Regular practice increases and enhances the quantity and quality of prana, clears blocked nadis and chakras, and results in the practitioner feeling energetic, enthusiastic and positive. Practiced correctly under the right supervision prananyama brings harmony between the body, mind and spirit, making one physically, mentally and spiritually strong.

A NOTE OF WARNING: Since the Pranayamas deal with the subtle force, it is important to practice them as taught in yoga classes. Do not experiment with them.

Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits yet is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga postures under the supervision of a trained Art of Living Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting a doctor and an Art of Living Yoga teacher. Find an Art of Living Yoga course at an Art of Living Center near you. Do you need information on courses or share feedback? Write to us atinfo@artoflivingyoga.in

How To Do Anulom Vilom Pranayama

Steps For Anulom Vilom Pranayama

1. Close your eyes and relax. Sit in this position for a couple of minutes till you settle down.
2. Close your right nostril with your right thumb
3. Breath in from your left nostril. Hold the breath for a couple of seconds.
4. Open right nostril and close left nostril with middle and ring finger
5. Breath out from right nostril.
6. Breathe in from right nostril, close the right nostril
7. Open left nostril and breathe out.
8. Repeat again, steps 1 through 7.

You can practice this pranayama for bout 5-6 minutes per day.

Anulom Vilom pranayam is said to have benefited people with Heart ailments, high blodd pressure, heart blockages, depression, migraine pain, asthma, sinus, allergy

It is important that you breathe deep into your lungs and not into the stomach. Most elements that absorb oxygen are in your lungs.

Anulom Vilom Pranayama

Anulom Vilom Pranayama

Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing) is one of the most effective pranayama (breathing exercises) to purify the mind and body. Anulom Vilom offers benefits in curing most of the internal body conditions and is very useful in releasing stress and anxiety. Anulom Vilom pranayama can be performed by people of all ages. It will help to practice this breathing exercise in a peaceful place like near a river or in a garden with plenty of greenery...

...and where there is a lot of oxygen. The best time to practice this breathing exercise is considered to be early in the morning before having your breakfast. You can also practice it after giving a gap of five hours after eating. This will allow the food that is consumed to get digested. To perform Anulom Vilom, you should first close your eyes and relax all your muscles for while. Then, inhale from your left nostril while keeping your right nostril closed with the thumb of your right hand. Retain the breath for a few seconds and exhale from your right nostril with your middle and ring fingers closing your left nostril. Then, once again take in the breath from your right nostril. Finally, exhale from your left nostril while closing your right nostril with your thumb. This will complete one round of the pranayama. You could perform this exercise for around 15 minutes while taking a minute rest after every 5 minutes.

Anulom Vilom benefits us by balancing the body’s three dosas. Any imbalance in the three dosas will lead to illnesses. You can also awaken the Kundalini if you focus on the Moolandra Chakra while performing this exercise. Anulom Vilom also benefits us by bringing relief to conditions like sinus, respiratory problems, and asthma. Removing of artery blockages and maintenance of cholesterol levels are other Kapalbhati benefits. It is also effective in dealing with conditions like constipation, flatulence, diabetes, and obesity. As Anulom vilom has no side effects it is considered to be very effective for weight loss.

However, performing Anulom Vilom should be avoided by women during pregnancy and periods. Individuals who suffer from heart troubles should not perform this exercise with too much force and should practice it under the guidance of a qualified instructor. For you to reap the Anulom Vilom benefits, it is important that you practice it daily. It is also essential for you to combine it with a yogic diet that is purely vegetarian and Kapalbhati (Cleansing).  Kapalbhati benefits the body by helping to flush out toxins.

Anulom Vilom Pranayama is another type of pranayama.In this breathing technique, you inhale from one nostril at one time and release the breath through the the other nostril. You alternate between the two nostril at a regular comfortable pace.

How To Do Kapalbhati?

How To Do Kapalbhati?

Kapalbhati pranayama steps are usually very straightforward. However, it is important to ensure that you perform it properly or you may end up hurting yourself. You will also need to exercise some precautions when you perform it. You can find detailed step by step instructions on the technique here:

1.       Sit straight with your spine erect and cross your legs in front of you.

2.       Take in a deep breath and exhale quickly and suddenly, making a puffing sound while you do it. Focus on exhaling forcefully and not on the inhalation.

3.       When you exhale, draw your abdominal muscles inward simultaneously. Your abdomen should rise when you inhale and fold when you exhale.

4.       Continue for 10 breaths and then take a break. Perform two more similar sets.

What is the highest limit of kapalbhati pranayam as far as duration and speed are concerned?

Pranayama is fundamentally the regularization of breathing in the body according to the person's capacity. Kapalbhati is a form of Pranayama along with other types of breathing exercises and breathing techniques such as bhastrika, bahya, anulom-vilom, bhramari, udgeeth and ujjayi. Kapalbhati is supposed to be the most important of all breathing techniques in Pranayama. Kapalbhati helps to bring clarity to the mind as well as in the body. Kapalbhati must be exercised on an empty stomach or after at least 5 hours after any meals. To practice Kapalbhati the individual must be seated in the padmasana, sukhasana or siddhasna posture s it helps to prepare the mind and body for the breathing session. While performing Kapalbhati the focus must be on the forceful exhalation of breathing, while the inhalation must remain passive. The ideal duration of Kapalbhati in a day for any healthy person must be around anywhere between 20 to 25 minutes a day. A daily practice of Kapalbhati helps to ward off obesity and specific skin disorders and serious ailments such as leukemia, carcinoma of the breast, hepatitis and much more.

The duration of Kapalbhati is dependent upon the individual and his or her capacity of practicing it. As long as the individual is comfortable with the speed and duration of the breathing technique, it must be followed. Any kind of obstruction, pain in the chest or stomach when practicing it must immediately be controlled by putting a stop to the practice. The benefits of Kapalbhati have physical as well as psychological benefits. During the process of Kapalbhati the exhalation must be concentrated on getting rid of the negative thoughts, while the inhalation should be on affirmative thoughts to enter the mind, making up a balanced mental framework.

The speed of Kapalbhati must be in quick succession. Under normal circumstance the inhalation and exhalation in Kapalbhati must be one fourth the time of a normal breathing pattern. The inhalation and exhalation in Kapalbhati must follow each other quickly. Kapalbhati helps to purify the lungs and all the respiratory organs. By providing an increased supply of oxygen to all the cells in the body, the blood is further purified and the body gets energized. Kapalbhati must not be performed in the event of an asthma attack, hypertension, or if the person is suffering from heart disorders. During Kapalbhati if you happen to feel dizzy then the practice must be stopped at that moment to let the feeling pass.

Benefits and side effects of kapalbhati pranayama

Baba Ramdev Yoga Method

Kapalbhati Pranayama
 

Kapalbhati Pranayama is a type of birthing method or exercise that helps rid of various nutritions over a period of time. Kapal means forehead and bhati means shining. Kapalbhati Pranayama brings shining on the practitioner face (on the face of practitioner). For practise or to perform this Pranayama site on a surface with cotton material underneath or without it.( use of cotton material is better practice because energy created during practising kapalbhati Pranayama not lost through earthling. Energy produce through this exercise is also one kind of electric energy which can lose by earthling). Concentrate on exhaling. Inhaling as normal.  Exhale and simultaneously compress the abdomen muscles with every exhalation.

All yoga practitioners have given full credit of this meditation and breathing technique. Kapalbhati Pranayama remains standard practice for all yoga classes around the world. It is ideal for intermediate practitioner. It is breathing technique which helps mind detoxification and purification. With only breathing this technique cleanse both mind and body. Kapalbhaiti Pranayama has been showed remarkable result in stress disease. Some spectacular yoga gurus have worked hard for polarize this technique around the world. That’s why this technique often as a baba ramdev kapalbahti Pranayama. (baba ramdev is a Indian spectacular yoga guru who expand yoga and meditation technique all over the world)

Benefits of Kapalbhati Pranayama:

This Pranayama (Kapalbhati) has numbers of benefits. People performed it for various reasons like

           v       for relaxing

           v    for physical benefits

        v   some for weigh lost as well  

           v To improve body tone

Kapalbhati Pranayama works with breathing system and abdominal muscle which helps tone out musculature and body tone. It purifies respiratory sections, minimizing risks of infections and allergies in the respiratory system. Due to Powerful exhaling, at the time of performing this Pranayama, material of allergy and infection blow away from respiratory section. The exercise technique also helps improve the flexibility of the diaphragm. During this exercise, through the breathing technique has been used for This Pranayama, the diaphragm gets many exercise, it becomes more tractile and improve circulation. As the diaphragm gets stronger and more flexible, Chance of arising hernias reduces extremely.    

Kapalbhati Pranayama helps improve blood circulation, particularly lower part of the body, it helps improve(improving the function of body) the functioning of whole body. This technique also helps enhance lungs capacity and improve respiratory efficiency, providing more oxygen (available to the body) for body. It become more efficient as oxygen circulates in to the body. You can experience yourself fresh, relax and energetic every time you performing this technique

Kapalbhati Side Effects:

(Guide line or recommendation)

Kapalbhati Pranayama Offers Various Benefits like effective blood circulation, improve oxygen circulation in the body, purifies respiratory sections and many more but it’s side effects (not actually but certain recommendation ore guide line or steps for care), it is not recommended for everyone. Specialists believe that in certain disease and disorder may complicated if it performed regular basis and unattended. Kapalbhati Pranayama has not advisable for those, who suffer from cardiac problems, spinal disordered and hernia. In addition those suffer from colds, severe respiratory infections and nasal obstruction should not perform this technique or method. Usually doctors and experts advices, persons who suffer from high blood presser and diabetes avoid performing the technique. Best way performing kapalbhati is after consultation of doctor and experts. It is advisable to avoid performing your own.       

Yoga Tips and Exercise Of Beginners

About Yoga

                Yoga is heritage of India from ancient time. It is popular in the world very short time because f its benefits on the human body and mind. Yoga is a type of therapy or technique, for which basic principal is to bring harmony of mind, body, breath and spirit. It is The Best way to keep our mind and body active. There are various asanas with different Benefits. Yoga also focuses on detoxification of the body, and the poses help in improving overall strength and flexibility. It reduces fate and increases. The power of body. Early morning is the best time to do yoga. Yoga has its best effect when it is done in fresh air and in a peaceful atmosphere.  

Baba Ramdev Indian Yoga Guru

Baba Ramdev is a very famous yoga guru in India and around the world. He expands yoga from India to world. He knows different type of yoga poses and method of yoga.  Which helps for good health and controlling different ailments of human body.  Pranayama is a method of yoga from various collection of baba ramdev. Pranayama is a breathing method, focus on increasing blood circulation of human body and improve the flow of blood to all organ of human anatomy.  Doing yoga on regular basis will achieve various benefits without any cost. There are various breathing exercises according to baba ramdev Pranayama

Types of Breathing Exercise According Baba Ramdave Pranayama

v Kapalbhati Pranayama

v Anulom Vilom Pranayama

v Udgeeth Pranayama

v Bahya Pranayama

v Bhramari Pranayama

v Bhastrika Pranayama

Practice above Panayama on a regular basis is good for health only cost of time. All above pranayama is very simple to perform. Doing Yoga in Morning time is good 

Benefits of Yoga Exercise

v Yoga Increase the Capacity of lungs helps lungs related disease like asthma and other lung- related disorders.

v Helps in relieving emotional and nervous anxiety.

v Improves immunity of the body.

v Improves Body Strength and mind Strength.

v Releases chronic muscle tension around vital organs like heart and digestive organs.

v Make younger and refreshes body and mind.

v Helps To make better concentration.  

v Purify blood and improve level of oxygen level in blood.

v Promotes good sleeping pattern and also cures insomnia

v Blood circulation is improved

v Helps in easing out the stress levels

v Improves conditions of high blood pressure and low blood pressure

v Improves digestion