Yoga Glossary

TERMS	DESCRIPTION
Abhyasa	practice - the act of practicing
Acharya	teacher
Adwaita	a philosophy according to which there is no duality - only a singular state of consciousness
Agni	fire
Agnisar kriya	one of the shatkarmas (cleansing practices) -intestinal cleansing
Aham	ego
Ahimsa	non-violence, non-injury - one of the yamas of ashtanga yoga
Ajapa japa	spontaneous repetition of 'soham' mantra
Ajna chakra	energy center located behind the forehead, also called psychic centre - one of the seven energy centers
Akasha	ether, space
Anahata chakra	energy center located in the heart region; also called pranic centre - fourth of the seven energy centers.
Ananda	bliss, ecstasy
Antar	inner, internal
Antar dhauti	internal yoga cleansing (shatkarma) techniques
Antar kumbhaka	internal breath retention. The stage of pranayama where breath is retained after inhalation.
Antar mouna	internal silence - a meditation practice.
Anubhava	experience, realization
Ardha	half
Ardha dhanurasana	half bow yoga pose
Ardha matsyendrasana	half spinal twist yoga position
Ardha padmasana	half lotus pose
Asana	yoga position or yoga pose, also called yogasana. A balanced position for smooth energy flow in specific areas of the body and mind.
Ashrama	residential place of people living together in yogic tradition.
Ashtanga yoga	the eight fold path of yoga as outlined by Patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi
Ashwini mudra	practice of contracting the anal sphincter.
Atman	soul.
Aum	see Om
Avidya	ignorance
Bahir	outside, external
Bahir kumbhaka	external breath retention. The stage of pranayama where breath is retained after exhalation.
Bahiranga trataka	concentrating the attention (gaze) upon an external object such as a candle flame.
Bandha	a posture in which organs and muscles are contracted to create energy lock in a specific area.
Basti	a colon cleansing technique (shakarma), yogic enema
Bhagvad Gita	a part of the famous Hindu epic 'Mahabharata'. Teachings of Lord Krishna to his disciple Arjuna at the commencement of the battle of Kurukshetra, with explanations on sannyasa yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga.
Bhakti	devotion
Bhakti yoga	the yoga of devotion.
Bhastrika pranayama	'bellows' breathing technique in which the breath is forcibly drawn in and out through the nose in equal proportions, like the pumping action of the bellows.
Bhramari pranayama	breathing practice in which a soft "humming-bee" sound is produced during exhalation to stimulate the Ajna Chakra
Bhujangasana	cobra' pose.
Brahman	supreme consciousness, absolute reality.
Chakra	literally meaning circle or wheel, in yoga this refers to the energy centers lying along the confluence of the nadis (energy channels)
Chandra	moon
Chandra nadi	ida nadi
Chidakasha	psychic space in front of the closed eyes, just behind the forehead.
Chin mudra	hand gesture in which the first finger is kept at the root of the thumb, the last three fingers are unfolded.
Danda	stick
Danda dhauti	one of the cleansing techniques (shatkarmas), used to clean the oesophagus with a stick.
Danta dhauti	teeth cleansing technique
Dhanurasana	bow' pose; backward bending yoga pose
Dharana	practice of concentration; sixth of the eight fold path in ashtanga yoga
Dharma	duty, righteous path
Dhauti	second of the shatkarmas; cleansing technique of the eyes, ears, tongue, forehead, oesophagus, stomach, rectum and anus
Dhyana	meditation; single-pointed focus of mind on either a form, thought or sound.
Diksha	initiation given by the guru.
Dosha	three humours of the body; see kapha, pitta, vata
Dugdha neti	nasal irrigation or cleansing technique using milk
Ghrita neti	neti (nasal cleansing technique) performed with ghee
Gomukhasana	cow's face' posture
Gorakshasana	Yogi Gorakhnath's' pose
Guna	quality of nature viz. tamas, rajas, sattwa
Guptasana	the 'secret' pose
Guru	spiritually enlightened soul, who can dispel darkness, ignorance and illusion from the mind and enlighten the consciousness of a devotee/disciple
Hatha yoga	science of yoga which purifies the whole physical body by means of shatkarma, asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and concentration
Hridaya akasha	psychic space of the heart centre
Ida nadi	one of the main energy channels running on the left side of the spine from the mooladhara (base) chakra to the ajna chakra in the head.
Jala	water
Jala basti	theyoga technique of enema using water - one of the yoga shatkarma
Jala neti	a shatkarma technique - cleansing of the nasal passages with water by alternating the flow of water in the nostrils, preferably using a neti pot.
Jalandhara bandha	throat lock' to restrict the flow of bereath through the throat - done by resting the chin on the upper sternum (chest).
Japa	continuous chanting i.e repetition of a mantra
Jihva dhauti	one of the shatkarma techniques for cleansing the tongue.
Jnana	knowledge, understanding, wisdom
Jnana mudra	the gesture of knowledge - in this the index finger is bent so that its tip is joined with the tip of the thumb, the other three fingers are spread out.
Jnana yoga	the yoga of knowledge - attained through spontaneous self-analysis and investigation of abstract and speculative ideas.
Kapal	skull or cerebrum
Kapalbhati pranayama	a breathing technique aimed at cleaning the frontal part of the brain; also called skull polishing - done through rapid breaths with more force on exhalation.
Karma	action; the act of doing
Karma yoga	the yoga of action - aims at supreme consciousness through action; discussed in Bhagavad Gita
Karna dhauti	one of the shatkarma which involves cleansing the ears.
Kati chakrasana	waist rotating' pose.
Kevala kumbhaka	spontaneous cessation of breath without any conscious effort.
Klesha	afflictions or tensions - according to yoga there are 5 such afflictions present in humans from birth
Koormasana	tortoise' pose - an advanced posture.
Kosha	sheath or body; realm of experience and existence.
Kriya	activity, dynamic yogic practice
Kriya yoga	the practice of kundalini yoga
Kukkutasana	cockerel' pose
Kumbhaka	breath retention
Kundalini	man's retained energy or potential energy and consciousness
Kundalini shakti	refers to the human's potential energy lying dormant in mooladhara (base) chakra like a coiled serpent. When awakened it rises up through the sushumna nadi.
Kundalini yoga	philosophy expounding the awakening of potential energy and inherent consciousness within the human body and mind.
Kunjal kriya	a shatkarma (cleansing) technique that involves the cleansing of the stomach by drinking in water and then expelling it by inducing vomiting.
Laghoo shankhaprakshalana	a shatkarma technique - also referred as the short intestinal wash. Involves the drinking of several glasses of water and the expelling it through stool after a series of exercises (asanas); in the process a thorough cleansing of the colon takes place.
Laya yoga	union with the supreme consciousness through pranayama or devotion. Literally, union by absorption
Maha	great
Maha bandha	the great lock - combines the three locks in yoga - the moola bandha, jalandhara bandha and uddiyana bandha - together with breath retention.
Maha mudra	the great gesture - combines the practice of moola bandha, shambhavi and khechari mudras simultaneously.
Maha nadi	literally means 'great nadi', which is the 'sushumna' in yoga
Makara	crocodile
Makarasana	crocodile' pose
Manas chakra	the energy center above the ajna chakra - is depicted with six petals
Manipura chakra	the energy centre in the spinal column located behind the navel - corresponding to the solar plexus.
Mantra	subtle sound vibration, which through repetition aims at expanding one's awareness or consciousness.
Mantra shakti	the power of mantra
Matsyendrasana	a spine twisting pose
Mayur	peacock
Mayurasana	peacock' pose - advanced pose aims at strengthening the arms and stimulating the manipura chakra.
Moksha	liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Moola	root
Moola bandha	energy lock created by the contraction of the perineum in the male and the cervix in the female.
Mooladhara chakra	lowest energy centre in the human body where the kundalini shakti (serpent power) resides - situated in the perineal floor in men and the cervix in women.
Moorchha pranayama	fainting or swooning breath' in which the breath is inhaled slowly and retained for an extended period.
Mouna	silence - the practice of silence
Mudra	literally means 'gesture' - mudra expresses and channelizes cosmic energy within the mind and body.
Nadi	energy channels in the body, similar to the meridians in acupuncture
Nadi shodhana pranayama	breathing technique - is the 'alternate nostril breathing' or 'balanced breathing' - balances the energy flow in the channels and purifies the energy channels (nadi) by balancing the flow of breath through the right and left nostrils.
Nasagra/nasikagra mudra	hand gesture adopted during pranayama to alternate the flow of breath through the nostrils.
Nauli	abdominal massage' - a cleansing technique (shatkarma) involving the contraction of the rectus abdominal muscles.
Neti kriya	another shatkarma (cleansing technique) - involves cleaning of the nasal passages or sinus irrigation; jala neti forms a part of the various neti kriyas.
Nidra	sleep
Niyama	rule; there are 5 rules described in the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali.
Om	the universal mantra; cosmic vibration of the universe; represents the four states of consciousness
Pada	foot; section of a literary work
Padmasana	lotus pose - a seated meditative posture
Pancha makara	the five tantric practices : mansa(meat), madhya(wine), matsya(fish), mudra(grain), and maithuna(sexual intercourse)
Pancha tattwa	the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether
Param	highest, supreme, God
Paramatma	the supreme atma; God
Parichaya avastha	stage of perception of nada
Paschimottanasana	back stretching pose
Patanjali	author of the Yoga Sutras and preacher of the eight-fold (ashtanga) yoga
Payaswini nadi	energy channel terminating at the right big toe, between poosha and pingala channels
Pingala nadi	one of the main energy channels running on the right side of the spine from the mooladhara (base) chakra to the ajna chakra in the head by intersecting various chakras on the way.
Plavini pranayama	breathing technique which involves gulping air and swallowing it into the stomach and retaining it
Poornima	full moon night
Prakamya	fulfillment of desire
Prakasha	inner light
Prakriti	nature
Pramana	proof
Prana	vital energy force sustaining life and creation
Pranayama	technique of breathing and breath control which regulates energy flow and aims at maintaining energy balance
Prasad	an offering usually food to and from the guru or higher power
Pratyahara	sense withdrawal; first stage of concentrating on the mind during meditation
Pravritti	nature of the mind
Prithvi tattwa	the earth element
Purana	eighteen ancient books consisting of legends and mythological narrations dealing with creation, recreation and the genealogies of sages and rulers
Purusha	man; pure consciousness
Purushartha	purpose of the consciousness, of man's existence- the four basic needs or desires, arth, kaama, dharma, moksha
Raja yoga	yoga in which union is achieved through concentration of mind
Rakta bindu	red bindu, same as beeja(seed) bindu, shakti bindu; the potentially creative bindu from which creation springs; often refers to the ovum.
Rechaka	exhalation
Rudra	Lord Shiva ; Rudra is said to have sprung from Brahma's forehead and is one of the holy trinity
Sahasrara chakra	highest energy centre located at the crown of the head
Sakshi	witness
Samadhi	the final stage of ashtanga yoga in which concentration becomes one with the object of concentration; supreme union.
Samskara	impressions stored in the mind that form the basis of our beliefs, attitudes and personality.
Sankalpa	spiritual resolve.
Sannyasi	one who has renounced the world in seek of self-realization.
Santosha	contentment
Saraswati	Goddess who bestows knowledge of fine arts and power of speech
Sarvangasana	shoulderstand - an inverted posture
Sat	truth
Satguru	guru who has attained self-realization
Sattwa guna	quality unwavering purity
Satya	truth-one of the yamas
Seetkari pranayama	Breathing technique which involves hissing leading to a cooling effect upon the whole body.
Shabda Brahman	cosmic causal state.
Shakti	vital force; energy
Shambhavi mudra	a yoga gesture in which one focusses at the mid-eyebrow centre
Shashankasana	moon pose
Shatkarma	the six yogic techniques of purification of the body, viz. neti, dhauti, nauli, basti, trataka, kapalbhati
Sheetali pranayama	cooling breath' - a pranayama technique that lowers the body temperature by inhaling through the mouth while letting the breath flow in over the tongue.
Shishya	disciple; student
Siddha yoni asana	the female counterpart of the siddhasana meditative posture, in which the left heel presses the entrance to the vagina
Siddhasana	a meditative seating posture in which the left heel presses the perineum (stimulating the mooladhara chakra); also called as the adept's pose or the 'pose of perfection'.
Sirshasana	inverted pose - the 'headstand' in which the body is inverted and balanced on the crown of the head
Soham	represents a mantra in meditation; literally means, 'I am That'. Represents the Psychic sound with the sound 'so' during inhalation and 'ham' during exhalation.
Soma chakra	sixteen petalled chakra situated above ajna and manas chakras
Sukhasana	a comfortable meditative pose; also called the 'easy pose' or simply the cross-legged pose.
Surya bheda pranayama	breathing technique in which inhalation is done through the right nostril ; increases vitality
Surya nadi	see 'pingala nadi'
Sushumna nadi	main energy channel in yoga, in the centre of the spinal cord through which kundalini shakti flows.
Sutra neti	yogic technique to cleanse the nasal passage using a special thread
Swadhisthana chakra	second chakra in the spinal column, above the mooladhara.
Swastikasana	auspicious pose -meditative posture similar to siddhasana
Tadasana	palm tree pose- standing posture
Tamas	the quality of inertia, laziness, procrastination.
Tiryaka bhujangasana	twisting cobra pose
Tiryaka tadasana	swaying palm tree pose
Trataka	one of the cleansing techniques (shatkarma) in which the gaze is focussed upon an object such as a candle flame.
Uddiyana bandha	abdominal retraction lock'; drawing in of the abdomen towards the backbone after exhaling
Ujjayi pranayama	a kind of breathing technique which produces a light sonorous sound.
Utkatasana	squatting position
Uttankoormasana	Tortoise pose
Vajrasana	the 'thunderbolt' pose; a kneeling posture with buttocks resting upon the heels.
Vama swara	flow of breath in the left nostril
Vaman dhauti	yogic technique to cleanse the stomach by voluntary vomiting. There are two types: kunjal kriya (regurgitating of water) and vyaghra (regurgitating of food)
Varisara dhauti	yogic cleansing technique in which a large quantity of water is drunk in conjunction with asanas to cleanse the entire digestive tract; also known as shankhaprakshalana.
Vashitva	ability to control all objects, living and non-living
Vastra dhauti	yogic detoxification technique in which a specially prepared cloth is swallowed and removed after ten minutes, in order to remove mucus from the stomach
Vatsara dhauti	a cleansing technique in which the air swallowed into the stomach is belched out.
Vayu tattwa	air element
Vedas	four ancient texts- Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva, which are further divided into Samhita, Brahmana, Aranayaka and Upanishads. They were revealed to the sages and saints of India which explain and regulate every aspect of life from supreme reality to worldly affairs. The oldest books in the library of mankind.
Veerasana	hero,s pose - for concentration and discrminative thinking.
Vishuddhi chakra	one of the energy centres located in the spine behind the throat and connected with the cervical plexus, tonsils and thyroid gland.
Yamuna river	emanating from Yamnotri in the Himalayas and joining Ganga near Allahabd, North India;refers to pingala nadi in the pranic body.
Yoga	state of union between two opposites - body and mind; individual and universal consciousness; a process of uniting the opposing forces in the body and mind in order to achieve supreme awareness and enlightenment.
Yoga abhyasa	practice of yoga.
Yoga nidra	a deep relaxation technique also called 'yogic sleep' in which mind and body is at complete rest but with complete awareness. thank you...

YOGA POSES F0R CHILDREN........

Here are some of our favorite yoga poses.
Try them with your child!
cat and cow pose.....











Get down on your hands and knees, and spread your fingers wide like they are cat paws. Round your back upwards as you exhale and tuck your chin into your chest, your tailbone under, and look towards your belly button. Really stretch your spine and "meow" like a cat! Now inhale, arching your back, reaching your stomach towards the floor. Lift your chin and chest towards the sky. You can "moo" in this stretch! Move back into Cat Pose and "meow" even louder! Repeat about five times back and forth. This vinyassa is great for digestion and for strengthening the spine.


surfer pose.....















Surfer Pose
Start with your belly on your yoga-surfboard mat and begin to paddle out into the ocean. When you see a wave, jump up into Warrior 2 (with arms out to a "t"). Bend your front knee to really ride that wave! Imagine the wind blowing through your hair as you rip through the ocean! Reach your front arm forwards. Then your back arm backwards. Fold forward and look underneath your surfer legs. Woo-hoo! Cartwheel your arms back down to your surfboard and bring your belly back down so you can paddle out and catch another wave. When you see one, jump back up into Warrior 2, but this time, bring your other leg to the front of your surfboard. Ride that wave! Weeeeeee! Repeat as desired. When you're ready, slowly paddle back to shore. Rest on your back and let yourself dry off in the sun. Ahhhh. This fun, moving pose strengthens the legs, stretches the spine, and gets your heart pumping! It's also so much fun!

Rainbow Pose.....















Start in Plank Pose (like a push up with arms straight). Slowly roll your body to your left side, gently stacking your right foot on top of your left, and place your right hand at your right hip. Now lift your right hip up so that your body forms a diagonal line from your head to your feet. Take a few deep breaths. When you feel balanced, raise your right arm to the sky. Imagine all the colors of the rainbow shooting out from your fingertips! Come down slowly, rest, and repeat on the other side. This challanging pose strengthens the arms, legs, back and belly, and teaches balance and concentration. Dressing in rainbow clothing is optional.

Tree Pose.....









Stand tall with your feet together. Stretch your arms high over your head and make a "v". Slowly start to lift your right leg up, so that the sole of your foot meets the inner thigh of your left leg. Spread your branch-like fingers towards the sky. Imagine yourself to be a tall tree high on a mountaintop and stretch even higher. Try to balance for five breaths. Slowly release back to standing. Repeat on the opposite side. This pose helps to improve balance and concentration.

thankyou......

THE BENEFITS OF YOGA WITH CHILDREN......

In addition to being fun, yoga works
THEIR BODY
strength
flexibility
body awareness
anatomy
stillness
balance
breath awareness

THEIR MINDS

concentration
focus
attention
a peaceful and relaxed state
self-expression
stress management tools
self-esteem
self-reflection
creativity

THEIR WORLD
environmental awareness
respect for the earth
language development
social interactions
peace
connection
exploration
wonder

thankyou.........................

YOGA FOR CHILDREN?

YOGA FOR CHILDREN? YES!

Why yoga for children? Ten years ago, that question was most likely asked about martial arts. Now there are classes for children at martial arts studios around every corner. And, like martial arts, yoga develops many wonderful qualities in children. In addition to the obvious benefits of exercising the physical body, both sharpen the child's ability to focus and give self-confidence and self-discipline. And yoga, practiced regularly, helps children become aware of themselves from the inside out. From this awareness, children can change and grow in new and positive directions.

More and more professionals who work with children with autism, special needs, sensory integration, learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD are being trained to teach children's yoga--and with great results. Yoga is a natural for children, since it addresses the whole child, including the brain/body connection.

In my twentysome years of teaching children's yoga, I never fail to delight in the self-discoveries that children make through yoga. Children are so fresh and unhampered by the dictates of society. Their approach to life is unique. And yoga encourages their creativity to flow; their fears, anger and sadness to release; their trust in the inner self to shine; and their minds and hearts to be in synch.

If there is one thing I learned in my years of experience as a Montessori teacher, it is this: Children are capable of much more than we think they are, and if given the right environment they will excel beyond our belief. In l982 I started a small Montessori school in Baltimore. In my cozy little school I applied this understanding to teaching children yoga. Their creative, innocent selves expressed such simple truth that I realized I was learning as much from them as they were from me. The reality became this: I gave them the tools of awareness, and they expressed their awareness with such clarity and wisdom that within me was born a deep respect for them. Quite often they have shown themselves to be my teachers!

Recently I was teaching yoga to a group of children between the ages of four and seven. They flexed their spines in cat and cow, mooing and meowing enthusiastically; stretched into cobra, hissing all the while; balanced on their bottoms, holding their legs up in lotus flower pose; and focused as fierce warriors in archer pose. The active yoga exercises were followed by a deep relaxation, on their backs with arms and legs straight but relaxed. In this particular class, I guided the children in a visualization in which they imagined they were lying on a warm, sandy beach. As they breathed in they imagined the waves of the ocean coming up to the shore. On the out breath, the waves returned to the sea. As I looked around the room at the various children, I noticed that each of them seemed to have internalized these images in such a way that they were profoundly relaxed--even more so than if they were in a deep sleep. They were consciously relaxing, bringing their minds and bodies together to achieve a peaceful awareness of inner space. This state is the basis for the practice of yoga and meditation. And it is the basis for a happy, peaceful life. The inner experience of yoga gave these children a gift they can never lose, because it will be within them all the time.

After our relaxation, we sang a song together--me strumming my autoharp and they singing with gusto. The song instructed: "You can make the sun shine any old time, Even when the clouds are there." We sang for a while, then I asked, " Does anybody have an idea what this song means?" One five-year-old girl answered immediately, "It means that even when things are not so good, you still have the sunshine in your heart, and you can make things better!" Need I say more?

How can you introduce your child to yoga? There are many resources for learning yoga, several of which focus on children's yoga. My book, Fly Like A Butterfly, is a resource that is simple enough for those who know next to nothing about yoga. It offers instruction on learning yoga poses, deep relaxation and meditation. Parents have expressed appreciation for its playful manner--its presentation of actively moving exercises balanced with those that require stillness and inner concentration, all in a child-friendly way.

Tips for Doing Yoga with Your Children

1. Create a special time of the day for yoga with your child. Take some time in the morning or evening and follow it with a deep relaxation.
   
2. Make a "sacred space." Use a small table or cover a box with a cloth. Decorate it with pictures and objects that have special
   meaning for your child. Use a candle for focus during a medi-
   tative yoga time.
   
3. To begin, sit with your child on the floor with legs crossed and eyes closed. Take a few deep breaths to quiet your mind and tune in to your inner guidance.
   
4. How long to do yoga? With preschoolers, 10 to 15 minutes is a good start. Each exercise should last 30 seconds to one minute. You can increase the time as they get used to it and develop the ability to stay focused. Elementary-age children can easily practice yoga for 20 minutes, including a few minutes of deep relaxation and perhaps a few minutes of meditation. Of course, each individual child is different. You will know best what your child's capacity is. Remember, it is better to start simply and build gradually.
   
5. F-U-N. Those three letters that are so important! Entice your child with interesting, imaginative, engaging exercises. Challenge them, for example, by using a timer ("Let's see how long you can stay up in that pose with deep breathing!"). Use your intuition and light-hearted humor rather than your intellect to motivate them.

You might feel that you would like to have a teacher for you and your child. Many yoga centers are beginning to offer classes for children. You will find that the techniques and styles of yoga differ greatly from one center to the next, so explore and ask questions. Good luck, and get ready for lots of pleasant surprises, fun and great blessings from yoga!

thankyou........

Kids Yoga: A Solution to Global Obesity in Children

As Suspected, Everything Makes Kids Fat
Somehow, I think we’ve all known this for a very long time: everything – yes, EVERYTHING – is making kids fat.

A short list:

Food
Diet food
And drink
Lack of exercise
TV
TV commercials
Their mothers
Their moms
Their mamas
Mommy
Mom’s minivan
Cupcakes
Some virus
And really, much, much more.

Two topics that most people are tired of hearing about are obesity and childhood obesity. The problem is we will not find solutions for these problems if we “bury our heads in the sand.” Kids Yoga is a viable solution to obesity in children, but this requires schools and parents to take action now.

Obesity has crept up on all age groups quickly; children in some countries need to change their lifestyles immediately. If not, there will be serious health repercussions that will shake our health systems and fragile economies.

How did massive numbers of obesity get here? How can less physical activity in children be acceptable? How could Kids Yoga be a solution?

Parents today have less buying power than our parents had. Many children are shifted from school to day care, while both parents are working extra hours to support the family. Many of today’s meals are composed of processed foods -whether they are store-bought, or bought for takeout, from a restaurant.

Physical education has suffered serious cutbacks since the “Cold War” ended. Back in the 1970’s, and before, children ran and played outside more often.

The Yoga lifestyle helps parents and children manage diet in a very busy and stressful world. If you are conscious of it, there are wiser food choices, even from restaurants. When children practice Yoga, they become much more aware of their diet, posture, activities, and daily exercise routine.

Educators, doctors, Yoga teachers, and parents cannot afford to wait until the next study on childhood obesity is completed to take action. Children are bigger than ever, due to inactivity and a high fat / carbohydrate diet. Large numbers of big children will become even bigger adults, who are at risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, various forms of cancer, and much more.

Therefore, educators, doctors, Yoga teachers, and parents must be proactive. Do not expect grant money, government assistance, or any help from “big brother.” Look at the reaction to global warming by the world’s governments and you see how long it takes to get a reaction.

For parents with school-aged children, there has never been a better time for them to attend Yoga classes. Children consider Yoga an extension of other games and exercises they would normally do. Children will naturally jump, roll on the ground, run, and spin around, in the course of playing with their friends.

With proper supervision from a certified Yoga teacher, children learn what they can and cannot do. Kids Yoga classes teach safe Hatha Yoga techniques for flexibility, strength and muscle tone.

If a child is obese, parents should not expect instant miracles with weight loss, and parents would do well to learn the practice of Hatha Yoga. In this way, parents and children will both be aware of proper dieting and a much healthier lifestyle.

Treating Obesity Through Yoga

According to yoga, our present lifestyle is one of the most important factors behind all kinds of mental and physical illness. In obesity, lifestyle is the determining factor. Even though yoga acknowledges other etiological factors, it is believed that the way we live our lives is what really determines our susceptibility to the different causes of disease, whether physical, chemical or infectious agents, immunological reactions, genetic, environmental or nutritional imbalances.

In the case of obesity, it is clear that the main causes are related to lifestyle. The first cause is overeating. The second is decreased physical activity, which means that there is an imbalance in the amount of energy we take in and the amount we expend. To become obese, therefore, we have to consume more calories than we actually need for our requirements and daily activities. (A calorie is a unit of heat. It represents the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of seven kg of water by one degree Centigrade. This unit of heat is used to study the metabolism of the body. We need an average of 2000 calories per day for our essential functions.)

Causes of weight gain

A person of normal weight takes a diet which is sufficient to sustain daily activities without storing energy in the form of fat tissue. Putting on weight, however, means there has been a change in our lifestyle that is conducive to storing energy (calories) in the form of fat tissue. These changes can include moving from an active lifestyle to a more sedentary one, changes in diet, increased consumption of fats, sugars and other foodstuffs that contain 'empty calories'. Processed foods are termed as empty calories because they are without other nutrients like proteins, vitamins and minerals, although they contain readily available energy that can be digested, absorbed and assimilated with less effort. Other changes may be a disease or an accident that makes us reduce our activity, but we continue eating as if we were as healthy and active as before the incident. This will result in storage of extra energy in the form of fat tissues in our bodies.

All these changes make us gain weight, and we remain with that extra weight, creating a new cycle in life where inactivity, which was probably the cause, turns out to be the effect. Obesity actually leads to further inactivity, and this in turn leads to more obesity. It has also been observed through research on obese patients that the metabolism becomes more efficient at using less calories (energy) to perform the body's normal functions. The daily energy expenditure depends on the energy needed for the basic activities that take place in the body to keep us alive and balanced, such as when we are completely resting, when we are fully active like during exercise, during digestion, absorption, metabolism and storage of food stuff.

This more efficient energy pathway in the obese individual seems to be related to the metabolism of sugars (the main source of energy in the body) where the sugar needed as a source of energy is not easily available due to an insulin resistance in the obese tissues. (Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas which is in charge of controlling the blood-sugar level and the assimilation of sugar by the tissues of the body.) This makes the body store more energy and use less.

Effects of weight gain

Another very important aspect to be considered by the obese person is that the accumulation of fat does not take place on the exterior (the subcutaneous deposit of fat) alone but the fatty tissue is also deposited around the internal organs and the intramuscular space. This means that vital organs like the heart, liver and kidneys are also surrounded by fat tissues increasing the effort made and work done by these organs. The extra fat in our muscular tissue makes it more difficult for our bodies to be fully active.

Finally, the obese body provides the perfect soil for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, gall bladder disease, atherosclerosis, and many other imbalances to grow. Furthermore, psychological imbalances and complexes also arise due to obesity which limit the range of expression and make life less enjoyable. So, by controlling the extra weight factor, we can avoid the risk of developing many physical and mental disorders.

Yogic concept of diet

In the system of yoga, the physical body is called annamaya kosha or the food sheath. The word annam means that which is eaten, adayte, and that which eats is atti. Therefore, food is the essence of the physical body and for the same reason, food is also medicine for the body. Food can be considered as vitality on the gross level, because life actually comes from food. Life is sustained by food and, in the end, all life again becomes food for further life and the cycle of creation continues.

According to yoga, food is not only what we consume during our meals and digest in our alimentary system; it is also the nourishment that sustains life. For example, food nourishes or feeds our thoughts and speech, feelings and relationships with ourselves and others. In the Mandukya Upanishad, the lord of the waking state is called Vaishvanara. The material objects of creation are enjoyed by him through his nineteen mouths, which are described as the five tanmatras or subtle senses, five gyanendriyas or sense organs, five karmendriyas or organs of action, and four aspects of antahkarana, or the internal organ of mind. These are the nineteen mouths by which we receive nourishment in life.

So, when we speak of obesity in yoga, we refer not only to the physical body, but to all the aspects of our being and the way in which we nourish and mobilize them. For this reason, it is said that in order to maintain normal body weight, it is not enough to treat the body by special diets, changes in lifestyle or becoming a sportsman. It is also necessary to work on the level of consciousness, which is the mental energy, and on the other aspects which are instrumental to this power or energy. The science of yoga is a scientific system for developing our body/mind instrument for the expression of consciousness.

Yoga therapy – asana

Therefore, in yoga therapy, we do not exercise the body for the sake of burning extra calories, but to develop body awareness, to understand the language of our body, the way it works, and what suits it best. From this understanding, we can modify or adjust our diet and lifestyle to suit the needs of our body and mind. Even though the aim of yoga is not just reduction of weight, this is bound to happen as an outcome of our increased self-awareness. However, we must be sincere and honest with ourselves and allow our awareness to develop in a positive and constructive manner. As long as we are motivated by selfish and negative intentions, this method will not work. This means that we should not use yoga to feel guilty about ourselves, or to punish our bodies or to suppress our minds. Yoga should be used as a form of self-expression, helping our body/mind complex flow freely.

In yoga therapy the body is the instrument, not the end; it is the means, not the aim. So, it is not just the techniques that are important, but also the attitude with which we undertake them, how disciplined and regular we are in the practice.

The best asanas for obesity are the Pawanamuktasana series for the digestive system which help to remove extra fat from the abdomen, hips and thighs, and activate the energy in the lower pranic centers. These include: utthanpadasana (raised leg position), chakrapadasana (leg rotation) pada sanchalana (cycling) and naukasana (boat pose). These practices are very good for strengthening the abdominal muscles which are usually very flaccid in the obese patient. It also helps burn the extra fat tissue of the omentum which is a fold of peritoneum, in the abdomen, very rich in fat tissue.

The practices from the Shakti Bandha series are also effective in reducing obesity. Asanas like gatyatmak meru vakrasana (dynamic spinal twist), chakki chalana (churning the mill), and nauka sanchalana (rowing the boat), massage the abdominal organs and help mobilize the extra fat tissue stored around them. These practices also help to eliminate energy blockages in the abdominal/pelvic area and to release the power of the manipura chakra, the source of willpower and self-assertiveness, (which is often weak in the obese patient) and that governs all our metabolic processes.

From the vajrasana series, we can also choose some helpful asanas such as vajrasana (thunderbolt pose) itself, marjariasana (cat-stretch pose), vyaghrasana (tiger pose), shashankasana (pose of the moon), shashank-bhujangasana (striking cobra pose) and ushtrasana (camel pose), all of which are very powerful for toning the sexual organs and balancing the sexual energy which is often depleted in the obese individual. They also help to strengthen the digestive and endocrine system.

The dynamic series known as surya namaskara (salutation to the sun) is most important for the treatment of obesity. Surya namskara is a complete practice in itself because it includes asana, pranayama, mantra and meditation. This practice has a unique influence on the endocrine and nervous system, helping to correct metabolic imbalances that cause and perpetuate obesity. Being a dynamic practice, it is also an excellent exercise equated to cycling, jogging or swimming.

The pranayama practices recommended for obesity are also the more dynamic forms which stimulate the metabolism. These include:bha strika, kapalbhati and suryabheda, which are performed along with balancing practices like nadi shodhan and ujjayi. Sheetali and sheetkari are relaxing, cooling practices which influence different hypothalamic centres which give control over thirst and the feeling of satisfaction with healthy quantities and qualities of food.

The other hatha yoga practices which are most helpful in obesity are the shatkarmas, or internal cleansing techniques. These include: shankhaprakshalana (cleansing of the entire alimentary canal, laghu (short) shankhaprakshalana, kunjal (cleaning practice for the stomach), and neti (cleansing of the nasal passages). These practices clean our body internally and keep it free from pollutants which are absorbed from the air, food and water. If done regularly, they also balance our bodily rhythms at a subtle level. The shatkarmas also help to balance our emotions and produce a feeling of lightness and satisfaction with our body. After performing the practice, we feel as if the body/mind system is rid of extra weight, physically as well as mentally.

One of the most important meditation practices for obesity is antar mouna or inner silence. This is a technique of pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) that helps to clean the mind of extra weight in the form of toxic thoughts and underlying mental patterns, that tend to be vicious and self-perpetuating. These thoughts manifest physically in the form of passivity or lack of activity and food habits that sustain obesity, and create an imbalance in the energy-saving and accumulating system.

Change from within

In yoga, the real therapy begins with self-awareness. Then only can we make the necessary changes in our internal environment, without external intervention. This is the only way we can modify our lifestyle and give it a new direction. The true motivation for change arises within when we realize for ourself what our body/mind system requires in order to rebalance itself. This self-motivation gives us confidence in our own ability to heal and to bring the process to completion. Whereas, treatments imposed from outside, are only effective as long as the therapist or therapy is there to intervene.

When we are unaware of our own healing potential, then we are ready to try every new diet that comes onto the market as the ultimate panacea, only to experience a new frustration. This doesn't mean that diets don't work or that our doctor is not good enough, but that our mental attitude becomes a blockage for any good effect to take place. However, as we work on ourself through the process of yoga therapy, we develop our own understanding of what diet is best for our condition or which exercises we should perform. The changes which we make in our behaviour, habits and lifestyle, can never be maintained unless they are supported by the realization of what our real needs, strengths and weaknesses are. This will help us to develop greater self-confidence, and the changes thus implemented will last lifelong.

Note: For the proper understanding and performance of the practices here recommended you need the guidance of experienced yoga teacher. Please do not attempt any without this guidance

Thankyou.....

Dahn Yoga: A Unique Korean Style of Yoga

Heard about Dahn Yoga? Want to know something about the practice? Well, Dahn is said to be one of the most unique styles of yoga. It has been around for a number of years now and has been considered throughout the industry as a holistic approach to health.
The Dahn Yoga originated from a Korean practice of educating people on how to develop a great mind and body. Following its inception, this Korean practice was transmitted to other generations and races by several wise men. It is sad to know, however, that the Korean had failed to keep the practice of Dahn alive. It is now becoming popular in the United States where hundreds of people are now practicing the Dahn Yoga.

Just like the rest of the yoga practices, Dahn has its own purposes. On the most basic, it is practiced and maintained by its proponents to help people manage their own bodies to become healthy. It is for this purpose that Dahn Yoga has made their approach to health truly worth considering by developing tools that are sure to foster an ultimate wellbeing.
There are a number of benefits associated to Dahn Yoga. The most well-known is weight management. According to several claims, the practice involves a set of exercises that can improve the circulation in the body and metabolism. This effect in turn will cause calories to burn, giving the body a chance to lose pounds.

The Dahn Yoga is also noted for its effect on the physical fitness of an individual. Claims have it that if you are practicing the technique, you will feel an enhanced strength and stamina. You will also discover how flexible you are.

Aside from that, the Dahn Yoga is also said to be highly potent for alleviating stress and tension in the body. This is made possible for the reason that this type of yoga involves breathing and relaxation method that are designed to make you relax and free from stress. In addition, the practice will make you feel younger as your blood circulation is improved and the stresses are released from your system. This is also what makes the Dahn Yoga a perfect option if you want to go out and face the world refreshed and highly revitalized.

Today, several recent findings have revealed that Dahn Yoga can also heal certain diseases as the exercises involved are highly powerful for enhancing the healing power of your system. The practice simply involves sorts of stretching, meditation, breathing, relaxation techniques, energy work, and some forms of martial arts. All of these are incorporated into one system for Dahn to fully provide a holistic effect that is beyond compare.