2016 – Page 2 – Yoga Enjoy

Bhakti Yoga: Origin, benefits & practices about divine healing

May 15, 2016

Bhakti yoga is a spiritual practice that emphasizes the devotion and love of an individual towards God. It is one of the four main paths of yoga, along with karma yoga, jnana yoga, and raja yoga. Bhakti yoga is considered to be the easiest and most natural path to achieve spiritual enlightenment. In this blog, we will explore the concept of bhakti yoga, its history, practices, benefits, and how it can be integrated into daily life.

What are the origins of bhakti yoga?

Bhakti Yoga is a spiritual path in Hinduism that emphasizes the devotion and love towards a personal God or goddess. It is believed to have originated in ancient India and has been practiced for thousands of years.

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The roots of Bhakti Yoga can be traced back to the Vedas, which are among the oldest Hindu scriptures. The Vedas contain hymns and mantras that express devotion to various deities. In the Bhagavad Gita, an important text in Hinduism, Krishna teaches Arjuna about the importance of devotion and surrender to God, which forms the basis of Bhakti Yoga.

Bhakti Yoga became more prominent during the medieval period in India, when various saints and mystics began to spread its teachings. One of the most influential figures in the history of Bhakti Yoga was the 12th-century poet and saint, Jayadeva. He is credited with composing the Gita Govinda, a devotional poem that celebrates the love between the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha.

Other famous saints and poets who contributed to the development of Bhakti Yoga include Mirabai, Tulsidas, and Surdas. Their poems and songs express deep devotion and love towards God, and have inspired countless followers to practice Bhakti Yoga.

Today, Bhakti Yoga continues to be a popular spiritual practice in India and around the world. It is often practiced alongside other yogic paths, such as Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga, as a way of cultivating a deeper connection with the divine.

What is Bhakti Yoga?

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The practice of bhakti yoga involves cultivating a deep and loving relationship with God through devotional practices such as singing, chanting, prayer, and meditation. The ultimate goal of bhakti yoga is to attain spiritual liberation and merge with the divine.

Common practices of bhakti yoga –

Here are some common practices of bhakti yoga:

Prayer: Prayer is a ritualistic worship of the divine. It involves offering flowers, incense, and other offerings to the deity and meditating on their divine qualities. A well-known yoga guru and ardent practitioner of bhakti yoga – Swami Rama (1925–1996) differentiated between “ego-centered prayer,” which he explains as “desire-filled prayer,” and “genuine prayer,” which comes from within. The best form of genuine prayer is gratitude journal.

Chanting Mantra: Chanting Mantra is one of the primary practices of bhakti yoga. It involves repeating the names of God, such as Om (“Aum”), to create a meditative and devotional atmosphere. Mantra is a Sanskrit word containing “Manas” meaning “Mind” and “trava” indicating “to liberate”. Mantras are given to students directly by their gurus, but most of them are found in yogic texts.

Japa: Japa is the repetition of a mantra, such as Om or are Krishna, on a string of prayer beads. It is a powerful and meditative practice that helps to quiet the mind and focus on the divine.

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Mudra: Mudra is symbolic gesture usually expressed by the hands and fingers, though some mudras involve the entire body.

Kirtan: Kirtan is a form of call-and-response chanting that involves a group of people singing and playing musical instruments. It is a powerful and uplifting way to connect with God and other devotees.

Benefits of bhakti yoga –

Bhakti yoga offers many benefits to the practitioner, including:

Increased sense of peace and well-being: Bhakti yoga helps to cultivate a deep sense of peace and well-being by connecting the practitioner to the divine.

Greater compassion and empathy: Bhakti yoga helps to cultivate a sense of compassion and empathy towards all living beings, as the practitioner sees the divine in all.

Increased spiritual awareness: Bhakti yoga helps to increase spiritual awareness and deepen the practitioner’s connection to the divine.

Greater emotional stability: Bhakti yoga helps to develop emotional stability by cultivating a sense of detachment from material possessions and focusing on the divine.

Integrating Bhakti Yoga into Daily Life –

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Bhakti yoga can be integrated into daily life in many ways, such as:

Creating a sacred space: Creating a sacred space in your home where you can practice bhakti yoga can help to cultivate a sense of devotion and connection to the divine.

Chanting and singing: Incorporating chanting and singing into your daily routine, such as during your morning or evening meditation, can help to create a devotional atmosphere.

Offering gratitude: Taking time each day to offer gratitude for the blessings in your life can help to cultivate a sense of devotion and connection to the divine.

Serving others: Serving others, whether through acts of kindness or by volunteering in your community, can be a powerful way to practice bhakti yoga and cultivate a sense of compassion and empathy towards all living beings.

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Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VINYASA FLOW AND ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA

April 1, 2016

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WHAT’S THE MEANING OF “ASHTANGA”?

The word Ashtanga itself means “the eight limbs (branches)” of yoga which according to the ancient knowledge. There are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Pattabhi Jois and T. Krishnamacharya established Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in Mysore (South India) in the 20th century. These branches are meant to expand the whole discipline into other fields to:

learn different techniques to control your breathing and vital energy.

improve your concentration and knowledge

have a better control of your senses

learn different methods of inner and outer purification and of course to balance the mind within the physical body: yoga asana.

Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic, flowing style that connects the movement of the body with a specific technique of breath called “ujjai ”. The importance of this yoga asana practice relies on the daily practice of a sequence series of postures. According to the progress of the yoga practitioner, there are six series of Ashtanga yoga sequences where the level of the asanas as well as the level of concentration in the mind increase.

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Mysore style of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga classes means that the students have to memorize each asana sequence, develop it individually, but setting the energy together and get adjustments from the teacher supporting the class. They should master each posture in the sequence they are working before they move on to the next.

Ashtanga yoga is considered a vigorous, orderly practice. And, as such, is more suited to students who want a dynamic and rigorous yoga practice.

WHAT IS VINYASA YOGA FLOW?

The term Vinyasa refers to connects the breathing system with every movement in the series.

Vinyasa is also the term used to describe a specific sequence of poses commonly used throughout a vinyasa class. For example, Chaturanga to Upward-Facing Dog to Downward-Facing Dog.

In a Vinyasa practice, the student is led by the teacher who will create a different class every time to develop the certain number of asanas. And he go with dynamic flow and increase the level of the postures with the support of some elements such as props, music, some variations according to the student, etcetera.

SOME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VINYASA FLOW AND ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA STYLES ARE:

The sequencing: Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga consists of a series of postures: primary, secondary, and advanced. On the other side, Vinyasa Flow class sequences vary, the practitioner might change a sequence each time.

Each Ashtanga Vinyasa series includes a category of asanas: the primary series centers on forwarding bend, the second series focuses on backbends, and the advanced series emphasizes arm-support and arm-balancing poses. Vinyasa Flow yoga sequences, on the other hand, often feature a peak pose, chosen by the yoga teacher according to the level of the student class.

The main development of the Ashtanga vinyasa practice is up to the student with the Mysore style class mentioned above. While in the Vinyasa Flow class, the teacher always leads the class through the asanas.

Practitioners of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga do not use props, posture modifications, or music. In Vinyasa Flow classes, some teachers make props available to adapt and adjust to some asanas if it is needed.

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Anusara Yoga

ANUSARA YOGA LISTEN TO YOUR HEART AND FLOW

March 18, 2016

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DISCOVER WHAT ANUSARA YOGA MEAN (AND WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF YOGA THERE ARE), WHAT THESE YOGA CLASSES ARE LIKE, THEIR BENEFITS AND THE ESSENTIAL POSTURES

I made this post with the help of Sara García Cacho, anatomy teacher in THECLASSyoga training and founder of Shensara Salud where she helps people manage their own health (on Instagram, @shensarasalud). With this information you will have a clear foundation on anusara yoga to build your practice on.

Anusara yoga is a hatha yoga system that unifies 5 biomechanical principles of alignment that can be applied to all physical positions and postures, along with a non-dual tantric philosophy.

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WHAT DOES ANUSARA MEAN?

Anusara means, among others, “the soul that flows with the universe.” It is a type of yoga that is based on hatha yoga, but with an important philosophical and intentional component.

ANUSARA: go with the flow |follow what your heart dictates

Anusara is a hatha yoga method that is based on 3 pillars:

1- The universal principles of alignment that are precise actions based on the natural biomechanics of the human body making the practice elegant and therapeutic.

2- Non-dual tantric philosophy, which is a celebration of life since it considers that the entire Universe is a manifestation of the Divine, both light and darkness, from the most gross or unpleasant to the most subtle or luminous. Unlike classical or Vedanta philosophy, it does not aim to transcend reality or the illusion of maya, but rather to awaken to this reality. Therefore, the postures are expressed as a devotional expression from the internal feeling of connection with everything (hence why it is often said that it is a yoga of opening the heart).

3- Kula or community of the heart. From the previous philosophical vision, it is considered that all people need others to grow and reflect ourselves, we are stronger together than alone and this generates a deep feeling of compassion and shared humanity.

On the other hand, the 5 biomechanical principles, called “universal principles of alignment”, are:

1. Establish the foundation and open yourself to grace.

2. Muscle energy.

3. Expanding spiral.

4. Contractive spiral.

5. Organic energy.

Through the application of these principles, anusara yoga aims for each posture to help us achieve the optimal body pattern in which there is an increase in the circulation of internal fluids and energy. This energetic increase and expansion is reflected from the inside out, and can be felt clearly at the end of each practice.

WHAT AN ANUSARA YOGA CLASS IS LIKE

Anusara yoga classes revolve around a specific topic with a deep meaning. These themes are based on connecting with your inner self and maintaining that connection throughout the practice. The most likely thing is that with this we enter a meditative state; Every movement in the Anusara yoga practice is done in flow. That is why these types of yoga classes are more practical.

However, these classes have some unique components that differentiate them from other styles of yoga:

An intention or theme focused on love, compassion, forgiveness, courage…

Highlight universal principles of alignment.

Asana practice.

Communicate sequence and intent clearly and inspiringly.

Do practical demonstrations.

If you want to know what differences there are with other styles (ashtanga yoga, kundalini, jivamukti…) and what the different types of yoga are, I recommend reading this post.

BENEFITS OF ANUSARA YOGA

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The benefits of practicing anusara yoga are practically the same as those of any other type of conventional yoga, only different in terms of perspective or vital meaning. So that:

Helps gain flexibility: as in other styles, anusara yoga produces benefits in terms of body flexibility, the circulatory system and the lymphatic system.

It provides mental breadth: it helps us change our way of seeing things, to accept them as they are and to enjoy everything that surrounds us.

Improves sexual life: Anusara yoga, due to its tantric origin, is closely related to sex. It facilitates orgasm in women, helps gain stamina in men, stimulates libido in both genders and helps increase sexual appetite.

Reduces stress: practicing this type of yoga increases the level of endorphins, which makes us live in a more relaxed state.

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Spiritual awareness: when you become a follower and practitioner of this type of yoga, you will see the power and well-being of being part of this awareness, of living “awake”.

DISCOVER THE POSTURES OF ANUSARA YOGA

The postures that characterize the practice of anusara yoga aim to open the heart and expand; that is, connect with yourself andrelax it externally through the body (from the inside out). They are normally conventional hatha yoga postures, although avoiding those that are more forced, in order to maintain inner peace. The essential ones are these three that I explain below.

CRESCENT MOON POSE

Anjaneyasana is an extension posture, where one foot is aligned and stretched behind and the spine is arched with the arms towards the ceiling, creating a kind of crescent moon (hence its name). Strength is worked in the lower trunk and produces benefits in the digestive system.

learn what anusara yoga means and start doing yoga

DOWNWARD DOG

Adho mukha svanasana is one of the basic asanas not only in anusara yoga, but in almost all styles of yoga. It is often used to begin classes, as a transition pose (for example, in vinyasas), or as a resting pose to reverse blood flow or relax. It is done face down, from four supports, raising your hips towards the sky, as if you were building a triangle with your body. The flexibility of the hamstrings and abdomen is worked, and digestion improves.

CRANE POSE

Bakasana is a more advanced pose. It is a balance asana or balance on arms where the entire body rests on the hands. Helps work on concentration, balance and mobility. A variant can be to go from bakasana to tripod.

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Aerial Yoga

Take a swing at aerial yoga at home

February 25, 2016

Over the past decade, aerial yoga classes with names like “anti-gravity,” “flying” and “acrobat” yoga have appeared on studio schedules – and with names like those, there’s an intimidation factor.

But many people don’t realize that if you’re capable of sitting on a playground swing or lying on a hammock, you’re actually capable of doing aerial yoga.

Despite its sexy appearance, aerial yoga isn’t just about the spectacle of hanging from a silk swing. Like traditional yoga, it actually has many stress- and pain-relieving benefits. In fact, being able to invert with the swing’s support can decrease spinal compression in the same manner as inversion tables used by physical therapists and chiropractors. Personally, I find that supported inversions in a yoga swing ease pressure and release my low back in a satisfying way no other technique ever has. Because of this, I was inspired to hang one in my garage gym and recommend it to anyone who gets relief from low-back decompression or simply wants to add a fun tool to their health and wellness arsenal at home.

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Courtesy D. SantasYou can find numerous yoga swings online with prices ranging from $50 to $150. Although swings are generally made of silk or silk-like fabric in a consistent hammock size (I refer to the U-shaped section of the swing as the “hammock”), there are variety of handle styles available. Some swings feature only drapes of fabric as holds on either side, while others have single, double or triple sets of handles. My swing has three sets of handles of varying lengths, which I think offers added support and comfort for navigating different positions.

When hanging your swing, follow all of the directions to ensure that you have it at the right height with enough space for safe freedom of movement. It’s essential that you use a solid support that can sustain your swing’s maximum weight capacity, usually about 300 pounds. If you install permanent anchors in the ceiling, you must use studs; if you’re unsure of how to establish the proper mounts, get a contractor to help you.

Aerial lunge

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Courtesy D. Santas

Stand behind your swing. Hold the middle handles on either side for support as you step your right foot through the hammock center. Allow the swing to support your upper leg, just above the knee, while your lower leg hangs above the floor. Your left foot remains grounded, pointing straight ahead. As you gently lean forward into a lunge position, your left heel can rise, but keep your toes down. Center your weight through your core and leverage the resistance of the swing to help balance. Take five long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side. Once you’ve mastered balance and comfort in your lunge, add a twist.

Twisting aerial lunge

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Courtesy D. Santas

From the lunge position with your right leg forward, move your hands from the handles to the sides of the hammock at shoulder height. Gently press your left hand forward as you release your right hand and reach behind you, rotating from the middle of your back. Turn your head to look back toward your open right palm. Take three to five long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Start swinging

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Courtesy D. Santas

Remember that your swing is only about 3 feet off the floor, so try not to be intimidated by the notion of “flying.” When you’re ready to take both feet off the floor, approach it like you would a playground swing.

Stand in front of your swing and back up into it so that the fabric is touching your bottom. Reach up and back to grasp the highest handles on either side. Come up onto your tiptoes, pulling on the handles to help elevate yourself into the swing. Engage your abdominal muscles and hinge from your hips to push your bottom into the hammock. Slide your hands down the sides of the fabric or take hold of the middle handles. Relax into your swing the way you did when you were a child. Try extending your legs. Bend your knees. Do whatever feels comfortable. Take 10 or more long, deep breaths.

Turn upside-down

Note: Inverting is contraindicated if you have untreated high blood pressure. If you are unsure of whether being upside-down is safe for you, check with your doctor.

Once you’ve established a level of comfort with being in your swing, you should be ready to try an inversion of a simple yoga pose, which will give you all the spine-decompressing benefits I mentioned earlier.

Inverted cobbler’s pose

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Courtesy D. Santas

From a basic seated position in your swing, holding the sides of the fabric hammock, spread your legs out in a straddle as far as you can. Slowly lean backward, letting your hands slide down loosely, allowing the hammock to support your hips and low back as you turn upside-down. Once you’re inverted, release your hands to the floor to rest with your arms out wide. To finish the pose, bend your knees to wrap around the front of the fabric and bring the soles of your feet together (as pictured). Take five or more long, deep breaths. Return to the seated swing position by reversing the steps you took to get there, ultimately pulling yourself upright using your core and arm strength while holding the handles or fabric.

If you’re OK with being upside-down and you’re a more seasoned yogi on the mat, you might want to move into a familiar, more advanced, posture from cobbler’s pose.

Pigeon pose

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Courtesy D. Santas

From inverted cobbler’s position, look up at your legs. Keeping your left leg wrapped around the front of the hammock, move your left foot up and over to wrap around the fabric again for extra support (as shown). If desired, you can hold the lower handles or the sides of the hammock while you move your legs. Allow your right leg to release from around the fabric and rotate it back as you would in a traditional pigeon pose on the floor. You can then rest there in an aerial version of pigeon, letting your hands return to the floor, or you can move into the King Pigeon variation I’m doing in the photo. To progress as pictured, bend your right knee so that your foot drops toward the floor. Reach back with your right arm to catch your foot or toes in the crook of your elbow. Finish by sweeping your left arm up and back to clasp your hands over your head. Hold your version of pigeon for five long, deep breaths. Reverse the steps to return to your upright seated posture and repeat on the opposite side.

Do what’s comfortable

As you play with your yoga swing, don’t be afraid to move in ways that feel comfortable to you. Relax and find ease in your swing.

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Courtesy D. Santas

To learn more traditional aerial yoga poses, take a class at a studio or hire an aerial yoga instructor for a private lesson. You can also find a plethora of YouTube tutorial videos.

If, like many of my strength coach friends, you aren’t quite ready to make the leap to purchase a yoga swing but you’re interested in the benefits of aerial inversions, you still have options. Many gyms and performance centers have gymnastics rings, and TRX offers a dual-anchored suspension training system.

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Courtesy D. Santas

Both offer alternative ways to get off the ground and turn yourself upside-down. Just remember, these require more strength and creativity to get upside-down, since they lack the support of the yoga swing’s hammock.

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Acro Yoga

EVERYTHING YOU’VE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ACROYOGA

January 1, 2016

You’ve probably heard about Acroyoga or you might have witnessed group of people doing acroyoga in Bondi or in Sydney and wonder what is it really? Read on to learn everything you’ve wanted to know about acro yoga?

1. What do I love about Acro Yoga?

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One thing that Acro Yoga gives is that connection between two people. I’ve read lots of studies about the benefits of touch, and without a doubt with the right partner the and bond you get with Acro Yoga is just sensational!

What many people love about Acro Yoga is how much fun it is! Without a doubt, there are so many health benefits of Acro Yoga too, just like practicing normal yoga. I’m just so thankful to be able to do Acro Yoga at Bondi – the world’s best beach!

2. What is Acro Yoga – how is it different to yoga?

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In Acro Yoga, any areas you need to develop (strength, flexibility, coordination etc) becomes immediately noticeable. Why? Because you have a partner relying on you. Can this be scary? Absolutely, however I truly believe this is a safe environment to look honestly at yourself, find where you need to develop and take the path to self-improvement in a really supportive group setting. There’s a beautiful exchange that occurs in Acro Yoga where you work with your partner to strengthen and develop each other for the benefit of the partnership. One of my greatest joys teaching Acro Yoga at Bondi is seeing my class grow together – it’s such a beautiful thing!

3. What are the practical differences between yoga and Acro Yoga?

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Quite simply, AcroYoga is done in a group! There’s a base, flyer and spotter. Like the names suggest, the base supports the flyer. The spotter provides back up to make sure everyone is safe. Everyone in the partnership are extremely important – we can’t have one without the other! With Acro Yoga, all the moves are done in collaboration. Everyone works together to do the poses – it’s teamwork at it’s finest!

4. What benefits do you see people get when they do Acro Yoga?

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I talk a lot about connection – real connection. I feel today it’s so easy to be superficial, or ‘facebook’ friends but go through life without connections. I think that’s a shame. One of the main benefits I see with Acro Yoga is developing a sense of connection and trust with those who you practice with you. Acro Yoga involves a lot of trust, and a lot of touch. Of course, we always make sure our touch is appropriate and safe! But to see people grow in their trust of each other, to feel confident to hold each other and support each other – the connection honestly is something that so many of my Acro Yoga friends say benefits them the most!

The second massive benefit I see people have is an increase in their self-confidence. Exercise in general is always great for self-confidence, but not everyone likes to join a team or a gym. Acro yoga really builds a sense of esprit de corps and helps foster that team spirit. I find people who practice Acro Yoga get really comfortable with their bodies, and gain a strong sense of positive body awareness. Because there’s so much physical touch – both giving and receiving – you find your old body insecurities melt away.

Finally, another benefit would be on a more physical level: your core strength will build regardless of your position. You will see significant gains in flexibility, strength and feeling fantastic! The amount of people I practice Acro Yoga with who just walk taller and have a prouder countenance about them would amaze you!

5. Who can practice Acro Yoga?

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Do I need to bring a partner? Everyone seems to look really fit and healthy!

You know Acro Yoga really is for everyone, and it progresses as you progress. At my Acro Yoga class in Sydney, I really do welcome everyone! People from all walks of life, body shapes, levels of fitness are warmly welcome to join.

You don’t need to bring your own partner. I’m really deliberate in making sure everyone has an appropriate partner to work with. I’ve developed some really keen senses and an ability to pair people together who I think will help bring out the best in each other.

6. What are some of the moves I can expect to do in Acro Yoga?

With Acro Yoga, the sky literally is the limit. In our workshops at Bondi, we start with basic Acro Yoga poses, and work through to more intermediate and advanced skills as we develop. Some of the basic poses include:

Bird

Throne

Angel

Whale

Chair

Standing on shins

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1234568. Where can I find more information about Acro Yoga? Do you hold Acro Yoga classes?

Yes, Victory Yoga certainly do hold Acro Yoga classes at Bondi.

We have introduction classes held in Sydney. You can see our events on our Facebook page.

We also offer retreats and private classes.

We also offer monthly classes in Yamba, Manly, Bondi Junction.

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I’d love to see you at your next Acro Yoga event at Marks Park. I promise you’ll have fun, learn some pretty amazing moves and feel GREAT about yourself!

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