Yoga & Meditation Needs of the Yoga & Meditation… Yoga is a mental , spiritual and physical practice that helps one attain inner peace. In today’s hectic world, more and more people are becoming health conscious. In recent years Yoga has gained immense popularity not only in India but also abroad. Today, people can choose to either learn Yoga or pursue a career in Yoga. A Yoga instructor can be one of the most rewarding careers. This job falls under the broader career category of Aerobics Instructors and fitness Trainers Realising the holistic benefits of Yoga , more and more private companies , schools , hospitals, fitness canters etc are hiring yoga instructors. Also , the Government aims at creating numerous vacancies for Yoga trainers in the coming years. Yoga not only relaxes an individual but also keeps the human body fit. Apart from physical fitness, yoga is also beneficial for reducing respiratory disorders , hypertensions , and helps in the management of diseases like diabetes , depression , stress etc. Being a yoga teacher gives one the benefit of taking his/her career wherever he/she travels. However, having that , being a Yoga teacher is not easy. One needs to be patient and dedicated , have perseverance, and needs a lot of practice. There is rise in need of Yoga teacher / instructors, and opting for Yoga as a career can be a great option as it is less stressful and can promise a decent salary. A Yoga instructor has the option of working in gyms, health clubs , and schools or can choose to run their own Yoga center. Furthermore , apart from teaching , there is also the scope of yoga in fields like management academics, consultation , research and hospitals to name a few. Benefits of Asanas Increased strength, improved blood circulation , increased flexibility , balance , mobility , enhanced breathing technique and sharpened focus. Provides improved strength and fitness, enhances health , and contributes to a higher state of happiness and calm. Improve concentration, meditation, improved breath control, self – purification , better control of the senses, improved posture, increased strength and stability , enhanced focus , and heightened spirituality and self – awareness. Asanas The twelve basic postures in depth. Types of Yoga , Suryanamaskar , Padmasana , Basic yoga posture , Postural alignments , Deep relaxation with autosuggestion . Outcome of Yoga Boost immunity levels and improve the general state of well being , Believing we are all full of intrinsic happiness and aiming to help students soften their heart and experience grace through their physical practice , Combines physical improvement with spiritual up-liftment and aims to even out imbalances within the body and mind , Helps to lower stress levels and increases the body’s relaxation levels. It eliminates negativity from the mind and increases self awareness. Yoga ( History ) The History of yoga is indeed old. On the basis of various sculptures and scriptures. We reach to conclusion that yoga was part of this civilization. Yoga is also mentioned in Mahabharata , Ramayana and Upanishad. Patanjali also wrote about yoga is 147 BCE. Even Saint Kabir , Tulsidas and Surdas had mentioned about yoga in their writings. Yoga is a large part of Indian culture. Meaning of Yoga Yoga is derived from Sanskrit word ‘ Yuj ’ in verb form, which means to unite or to join. Yog is noun form and means union. It is concerned with individual soul with the absolute or Divine soul. It is science of development of an individual’s consciousness. Yoga is unification of Aatma with Parmaatma. It also means the unifications of Physical , Mental , intellectual and spiritual aspects of human being. Definitions of Yoga 1. “ Checking the impulses of Mind is Yoga.” – Patanjali – 2. “ Yoga is attaining pose.” – Maharshi Ved Vyas 3. “ The knowledge about shiva and Shakti is Yoga.” – Agam – Importance It is a universal truth that modern age is the age of stress , tension and anxiety. Now a days most of the people are not leading a happy and productive life. They indulge in materialism. The life is full of problems. At last it can be that everybody. Whether rich or poor is not happy. Human beings have no time to think about leisure , Everything is time bound and we are chasing time. This makes us physically tired and mentally Tense. We are falling prey to various diseases. At this junction yoga can be significant for us. We can get rid of stress – related problems by practicing yoga. The following points clearly show the Importance of Yoga. 1. Physical Purity. 2. Cure and prevention from diseases. 3. Reduces mental tension. 4. Healthy Body. 5. Provides Relaxation. 6. Help Maintain the correct posture of Body. 7. Yoga can be performed Easily. 8. Spiritual development. 9. Increases Flexibility. 10. Reduces Obesity. 11. Improves Health. 12. Enhances Moral and Ethical Values. Elements of Yoga – Astanga – The eight limbs of yoga. Patanjali described 8 Elements of yoga in yogasutras. There are called eight fold paths through which ultimate goal can be achieved that is union of our soul with supreme soul. Eight Elements :- 1. Yama , 2. Niyama , 3. Asana , 4. Pranayam , 5. Pratyahara , 6. Dharana , 7. Dhyana , 8. Samadhi. Asana Meaning : ‘ According to Patanjali asana means Sthiram, Sukham, Aasanam, i.e. the position which is comfortable and steady. In Bramhmopanishid, ‘ To sit in a comfortable position or posture for everlasting period is called asana. As a matter of fact , the ability to sit comfortable for an extended period of time in any position is asana. Benefits Increase heart rate, improves strength, improves blood circulation , increases flexibility , balance , mobility. It also improves concentration , meditation improved breath control self purification. Asanas Basics postures in depth 1) SIRSASANA शीर्षासन ‘ Sirsasana ’ means ‘ head ‘ and ‘asana’ means ‘ posture ‘. So Sirsasana is an asana that is done on the head. The Sirsasana pose is called the king of all asanas as it is pose that involves balance on the head. Benefits : Calms the brain and helps release stress and mild depression , Stimulate the pituitary and pineal glands , Strengthen the arm , legs and spins , Strengthen lungs , Tones , Abdominal organs , Improves digestion . Downloads\Basic Postures in depth-Sirasasan.mp4 2 ) SARVANGASAN सर्ष車गषसन The word ‘ Sarvangasana ’ is derived from Sanskrit term ‘ स셍व車गवसन ’ consisting of 3 words ie. ‘Sarv’ , ‘anga’ , ‘ asana ’. ‘ Sarv ’ means entire , ‘anga’ means the part of body. While asana means the yogic posture. It is also called as The mother of all asanas. Benefits : Nourishes the brain by supplying more blood , Gives relaxation from constipation and indigestion, It reduces insomnia, anxiety etc., Controls body weight . Downloads\Basic Postures in depth- Sarvangasan.mp4 3 ) HALASAN हऱषसन The name comes from Sanskrit ‘ hala ’ means “ Plough ” and ‘asana’ , means ‘ Posture ’. The pose is an inverted asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. Benefits : Calm the brain , Stimulate the abdominal organs and thyroid gland, Reduces stress and fatigue, Therapeutic for Back pain , headaches infertility ,Sinusitis , Downloads\Basic Postures in depth-Halasan.mp4 4 ) MATSYASANA मत्स्यषसन Matsyasan or fish pose is a reclining back bending asana in hatha yoga or modern yoga. Benefits : Cures back pain , Knee pain , tonsillitis , Cures defect of eyes , Skin disease can be cured , Helpful in treatment of diabetics , Improves posture , Downloads\Basic Postures in depth- Matsyasan.mp4 5 ) PASHCHIMOTTANASAN ऩश्चिमोत्सतषनषसन The word Pashchimottanasan is a combination of 1. Pashchim ( The west or back body ) 2. Uttanasana ( Standing Forward fold ) In Sanskrit ‘ Pashchimo’ means west or back of the body ‘Utt’ means intense and is changed to ‘Ot’ when it joins two words together, ‘Tan’ means strength ‘Uttan’ Therefore means a intense stretch, asana means posture. Benefits : It cures gas trouble. Prevents early ossification of bones , Remedy for constipation, Reduces Obesity , Vertebra becomes flexible and healthy , Downloads\Basic Postures in depth- Paschimotsnasan.mp4 6 ) BHUJANGASAN भुजंगषसन Bhujangasan is also known as cobra pose is a reclining back bending asana. This pose is included in Suryanamaskar. Benefits : Opens up shoulders and neck to relive pain , Tone abdomen , Strengthen the entire back and shoulders , Improves blood circulation , Downloads\Basic Postures in depth- Bhujangasan.mp4 7 ) SHALBHASAN शऱभषसन Shalbhasan commonly known as lowest pose is a backward bending posture. Sanskrit name shalabhasan is derived from two words. Shalabh and asana , where ‘shalabh means grass hopper’ and ‘asana means posture’. Benefits : Strengthen the muscles of spine buttocks and backs arms and leg . Stretches the shoulder , chest belly and thighs. Improves posture and relieves stress, Downloads\Basic Postures in depth-Shalabhasan.mp4 8 ) DHANURASAN धनुरषसन Dhanurasan has been named after the shape the body taken while performing it - that of bow. Dhanu means Bow and asana means posture. Benefits : Strengthen with back and abdominal muscles , Stimulate the reproductive organs , Tones leg and arm muscles , Add flexibility to the back , Downloads\Basic Postures in depth- Dhanurasan.mp4 9 ) ARDHA MATSYENDRASAN अधा मत्स्येन्द्रषसन Ardha – half , Matsyendra – King of fish. This asana invites energy in the spine that helps to stimulate proper digestion while improving postural and body awareness. Benefits : Stimulates Liver of Kidney , Stretches the