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What is Mudra in Yoga? According to the Vedic culture of ancient India, our entire world is made of ‘the five elements’ called The Panch-Maha-Bhuta. The five elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Space/Vacuum. They are also called the earth element, water element, fire element, wind element, and space element. These five elements constitute the human body – the nutrients from the soil (earth) are absorbed by the plants which we consume (thus we survive on the earth element), the blood flowing through our own veins represents the water element, the body heat represents the fire element, the oxygen we inhale and the carbon dioxide we exhale represents the wind element and the sinuses we have in our nose and skull represent the space element. As long as these…

Today Vinyasa Yoga Ashram's blog explores the multitudes of yoga philosophy and how it is useful in the modern world. Philosophies are the heart of any topic you want to understand, so isn’t it important to bring your heart to the right place before you aim for the unitive state of mind, body, and spirit? What is Philosophy? The English word philosophy originates from the Greek word- philosophia which means the love of wisdom. However, for many, philosophy is that guiding light that employs the intellect to answer the most controversial questions. It also refers to the study of the fundamental nature of any topic and provides a firm base for discoveries and learning. Why Yoga Philosophy? Yoga Philosophy is one of the six systems of Hindu Philosophy which exist…

“I HATED THE FIRST yoga class I attended”, This is what one of the students at our yoga school said. The problem wasn’t her flexibility; she didn’t have any problem twisting her body into different yoga asanas. She felt yoga was hard for her because it demanded strength. Hatha Yoga is all about reaching a yoga asana and holding it for minutes on end until the yoga teacher has walked the whole yoga hall and done adjustments. Perhaps for some of you, the experience might be the opposite. You may find the strength poses doable while the flexibility poses flummox you. While each of us has our strengths and weaknesses. Often, we have a scantiness of either strength or flexibility. Even for a lot of yoga practitioners, it is difficult…

Namaste Yogis, we want to start this write-up by quoting what buddha said. “All pain or suffering arises through desire or craving and that to be free of pain we need to cut the bonds of desire.” Is it possible to end all desires in today’s era? Isn’t the thought of removing all desires a desire in itself? So is it possible to find a balance between having desires and still being free from them? How does a yogi find balance in life? Keep reading, as we reveal the key factors on how to stay balanced while advancing towards the goal of yoga—the ultimate liberation. Understand The Spiral of Desire While we may not fully understand where this innate desire to be free comes from, we surely know for a fact…

How does Sattvic Food Help in Yoga? Yoga is a devotion. So, there are certain rules to follow while worshipping yoga. When you are observing an Upvas (or Fast), then what type of food do you eat? There are different types of fast observed in India. Similarly, that type of food is needed when you are doing yoga. It is known as Sattvic Food. So, now, let's understand what is Sattvic Food? In our Vedic texts and Ayurveda, food is divided into three parts: Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Rajasic food was prepared in the house of kings and maharajas, that is, ghee, oil and spices are used more. Tamasic food includes meat-fish, garlic-onion etc., while the simple food of sages and saints is called sattvic food. It is considered the…

What is Yoga Nidra? Yoga Nidra is a miraculous technique of conscious relaxation. The meaning of these two Sanskrit words-Yoga and Nidra explains a lot, yoga means union or one-pointed awareness, and Nidra means sleep. It is the practice of being completely aware while exploring the states of wakefulness and sleep. Yog Nidra is the systematic method of putting anyone into a psychological zone where physical, mental and emotional relaxation is at its peak. Hence, Yog Nidra is also called psychic sleep or inner awareness sleep. What Happens In Yoga Nidra? If you have ever wondered what happens by lying on the floor like a corpse for hours, then get ready to experience unbridled realizations. If you are guided by an experienced practitioner of Yoga Nidra, you can easily reach…

Ashtanga Yoga traditionally is the eight-limbed practice introduced by Lord Patanjali. These are the eight principles of life mentioned in Patanjali Yog Sutra which are the path towards achieving the state of samadhi or enlightenment. These eight limbs or principles are described as mentioned below: Yama: Refers to the discipline of practices that are primarily concerned with the world around us and our interaction with it. This builds a great level of strength both on and off the mat. if we can learn to be kind, truthful and use our energy in a worthwhile way, we will not only benefit ourselves with our practice, but everything and everyone around us. Niyama: Refers to the discipline of practices that are related to our own selves. The prefix Ni here refers to…

Yoga for Pregnancy – A Complete Guide to Prenatal Yoga for Pregnant Women Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases of a woman’s life. It is a process created by nature that brings a new life to this beautiful world which is a miracle in itself. This becomes a very emotional moment not only for the expecting mother but also for everyone around her, for example, her spouse, friends, family and anyone else close to her. It is a life-changing experience for everyone especially the mother who goes through a lot of transformation in her body and mind due to hormonal changes. Why Yoga during pregnancy? Well, it is a very valid question, especially when it is about such a sensitive time of someone’s life, assuring safety is the…

What is meditation? How to do it? How can we stop our thoughts? How do we really quiet our minds? Is it really possible? Are you the one who is bothered by all these questions? Well, it is normal, as then you are someone who is never conditioned to be in a state of mind where you are in acceptance of the chaos around you but still find stillness and calmness within you. It takes a lot of effort to get there. It might look easy as it is nothing but sitting in silence for a long period of time, but is it really easy? Maybe you should experience it for yourself. So what exactly is meditation? Meditation is a technique in which we try to bring the focus and attention…

Mayurasana which means peacock pose is an advanced level posture mostly followed in hatha yoga but is also a part of other Yoga types. This arm balancing posture demands a great amount of strength of the wrist, arms, forearms, core and back. It also challenges your balancing skills, as when the legs are elongated behind, it looks like you are flying. It may look very simple in the pictures, videos or when someone is doing it, but not so easy if you are an absolute beginner at Yoga, as in this posture, the elongated body has to be balanced against gravity. How to do Mayurasana? Sit in Veeraansa with knees apart and feet close to each other Lean slightly forward and place the palm flat on the floor with fingers…