What is Yoga? 

 
 
Yoga is a very old discipline for the body and the mind, the aim of which is to bring realization of the Self, that part of us which is always happy.
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit verb Yujin which means to unify, so Yoga means unification.
Unification of the individual soul with the Cosmic Soul is Yoga.
Yoga is a stage of existence in which there is no duality, where everything is one.

The main practices of yoga are Asana (physical postures) and Meditation, but many other topics like medicine, diet, ethics, social life, science etc. etc. are included in this old discipline.

The origins of this ancient discipline, have their roots in the culture of Tantra, the older culture of this planet.
Actually Yoga is Tantra, and since this old culture influenced many other cultures, today we can find Yoga (especially the practice of meditation) in different cultures like Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism etc. etc.

Asana

(Yogic postures) 
 
 
In the west, we usually associate Yoga with a collection of contortions or difficult stretching exercises, but Yoga exercises are not like that.
All the Yogic postures (in Sanskrit language Asana), have a special effect on the body, on the skeleton, on the muscles, on the internal organs etc. etc. But especially in Tantra Yoga, this exercises brings a change in the endocrine glands, so that the hormonal secretions of this glands gets balanced; as a result of this not only the entire body gets benefited, but the mind as well.
By regulating the hormonal secretions is possible to change our mental attitude and overcome many tendencies like fear, anger, depression, shyness etc. etc.
Our endocrine glands are associated with special energetic centers called Chakras; this energetic centers are responsible of our physical, mental and emotional balance, so yogic exercises works directly on this energetic centers making them stronger.

Further they bring a relief from all the physical and mental tensions we accumulate during the day time, and helps the body to recharge with new energy.

Of course everybody as a different constitution, so not all the yogic postures are good for everyone: suppose your thyroid gland is working too much (hyperthyroidism) and you start to practice an exercise that stimulates this gland to work more... the result will be more tension, insomnia and other side effects. So it is not good to learn yoga from books because they cannot see how your glands works.

Also is very important when you start yoga practice, to follow an healthy life style and especially you should be careful about the food, a vegetarian diet is recommended.
When you stimulate your body and glands with yoga, the food you get well be absorbed more intensely, so if you put too much toxins in your body, your glands will be damaged.

If you are interested in practicing some yoga exercise, look in the Do it now! section of this page, there  I provided some, this postures are good for everybody and if you are not vegetarian they will not make any arm to your body. You will find this posture quite easy but much effective.

If you really like it and want to do it seriously, you can learn for free those postures that match your body directly from the experienced teachers of Ananda Marga, a world wide non profit Yoga & Social Service organization created by my Spiritual Master. To contact this teachers you may go to the links section and find the Ananda Marga center nearer to where you live.

If you live in italy, please contact me I will drive you to the yoga center in your town

Do it now! 

 
So if you came here it means you're interested in trying some yogic postures.... here they are for you.
 
 

Diirga pranam 

Yoga mudra 

Bhujaungasana 

This exercises are very easy but at same time very effective, you need to practice them at list every morning on empty stomach (and if you can every evening too), in order to feel the effect on your body and your mind.

Before you practice it, you should refresh yourself with water (better if the temperature of the water is lower of that of the body), but NEVER take a shower after yoga... you should at list wait one hour. 

 

Diirga pranam | Yoga mudra | Bhujaungasana

Diirga pranam 

(long salutation) 

This exercise is very good for the abdominal organs and helps to calm down the mind. 

Practice: 

Kneel down with your feet like in the figure above (fingers pointing forward). Breathing in, extend your arms upward keeping them close to the ear and join the palms. Breathing out bend forward and bow down touching the floor with the forehead. the buttocks must continue to touch the heels. Hold your breath for eight seconds in a state of complete exhalation. Breathing in rise up and breathing out bring your arms down again.
Do it eight times 
 

 Diirga pranam | Yoga mudra | Bhujaungasana

Yoga mudra 

(the gesture of yoga)

This posture is very good for the back bone and helps to relax the entire body and the mind as well 

Practice: 

Sit cross-legged on the floor. Bring both arms backward and grip the left wrist with the right hand. Take a deep breath. Breathing out bend forward and bring your forehead on the floor (if you can't reach the floor, just stop where you can reach). Hold your breath in the state of complete exhalation for eight seconds. Breathing in rise up in the starting position exhale completely (but keep your hands behind your back).
Do it eight times 
 

 Diirga pranam | Yoga mudra | Bhujaungasana

Bhujaungasana 

(the cobra posture)

This posture is described in the ancient yogic text as the best posture for the back bone and helps to prevent many diseases, but it is especially indicated for those who suffer from mental depression. 

You will fell great by the regular practice of this posture. 

Practice: 

Lie down on your chest with your forehead on the ground and your hands under the shoulders.
Supporting the weight on the palms, raise the chest, directing your head backward while breathing in.
Look at the ceiling holding your breath for eight seconds.
Come down to the starting position while breathing out.
Do it eight times 
   

Chakra

(energy centers)
According to the esoteric anatomy of Tantra, in the human body there are many energetic centers called Chakra in the Sanskrit language
The most important centers are seven and are located in the middle of the spinal chord, just inside it. The Chakras are directly connected with our endocrine glands, and are responsible of many changes in our body and mind. Trough Yoga Asanas, we can stimulate and make the Chakras stronger.
Chakras are also used as concentration points in the practice of Meditation.

In the Indian iconography, the Chakras are represented as lotus flowers having a different number of petals.
This petals represents the mental tendencies (Vritti) controlled by that particular Chakra.
Every Chakra has a different number of mental propensities and by stimulating that Chakra we can control them.

E.g.. The Chakra located in the area of the abdomen is related to shyness, anger and other tendencies, so if we want to change those tendencies we can work on that Chakra with Yoga asanas or Meditation.

If you want to know more about it and if you wish to learn for free some Yogic postures and Meditation technique to work on your Chakras... ... here! 

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