by Chétana Jessica Torrens with insight from Yogrishi Vishvketu Recently, there have been discussions and writings suggesting that Yoga postures, other than seated meditation poses, are really no older than the modern era or the late middle ages. It is said that earlier spiritual practices did not include a wide variety of yogasana. This is…
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THIS ARTICLE WAS SHARED FROM BIHAR SCHOOL OF YOGA People come to yoga with various intentions: some wish to improve health and wellbeing, some want to de-stress and find peace and harmony in life, and others have spiritual aspirations. Many people begin their connection with yoga by practising asana, perhaps also with some pranayama, relaxation…
Read MoreThe year 2019 begins on an auspicious note with the Ardh Kumbh Mela set to take place between the 15th January – 4th March at Prayagraj (Allahabad). Directly translated, ‘Kumbh’ means ‘pitcher’, and Mela means ‘gathering’ is an event where devotees from all walks of life gather to take a dip at the ‘Triveni…
Read MoreBY SUSHANT PANDEY Concept of Asana Asana (posture) and Pranayama are the 3rd and 4th limbs in the text of Patanjali Yoga Sutra. Asana literally means ‘seat’. In the text of Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Asana is described as a seat of meditation. In the second chapter, verse 46; Patanjali defines asana as ‘sthiram sukham asanam’.…
Read MoreBY SUSHANT PANDEY Raja yoga is understood as one of the classical branches of the yoga tradition. Literally, the term ‘Raja Yoga’ connotes, the culmination or highest state of yoga. Raja means royal; it is so named because it enables the yogin to reach the illustrious king within oneself, the supreme self or atman. In…
Read MoreBY SUSHANT PANDEY The process of meditation entails centering, mindfulness and internalization of awareness. Traditionally, the process of meditation is seen as a continuous process of an inward journey from the field of sensorial dimension to the innermost state of being. Technically this process begins with the stage of Pratyahara (withdrawal of mind). Pratyahara is…
Read MoreBY MEREL MARTENS Since yoga is becoming more and more mainstream, yoga therapy is rising in popularity too. I have studied medicine myself and have been practicing, studying and working with yoga for many years now. It is beautiful to observe that yoga therapy is not only being embraced by so-called ‘alternative people’ and…
Read MoreBY SUSHANT PANDEY Yoga is a path; a philosophy to harmonise the interactions and expressions of consciousness and energies in an individual. There are numerous methods and tools employed to reach a state of inner poise, balance and harmony. These interactions of energies and consciousness express onto different layers of existence; creating various dimensions of…
Read MoreBY SUSHANT PANDEY The practice of awareness in Yoga is a continuous process. Discipline of yoga is not restricted to the classroom practice of a set of yogic techniques. It is slow, methodical, requires vigilance, effort, and discipline. In fact, it almost seems too difficult a task and too lofty an ideal to follow, especially…
Read MoreBY GANGA MA Strong or soft, wild or serene — Wherever breath flows there is song Hear its whisper touching behind the face Singing in the throat, Dancing spirals in the sanctuary of your heart. -Radiance Sutras ~ Lorin Roche Spiritual traditions from all over the world have always known the power that lies in…
Read MoreBY JESSICA BROOKES Carl G. Jung the eminent Swiss psychologist, described yoga as ‘one of the greatest things the human mind has ever created.’ The Yoga Sutra defines Yoga as: yoga chitta-vritti-nirodah, which may be translated as: “Yoga is the cessation of agitation of the consciousness.” The word yoga is derived from the root yuj, which means to yoke,…
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