Yoga for Health and Fitness – The Seven Major Energy Centers (Chakras)

Yoga is one of the most famous and globally widespread of India’s traditions. It has existed as a system of exercise, breathing, and meditation for over 5,000 years. The word “Yoga” means “to join or yoke together” – bringing the body and mind together into a harmonious experience. The exercises are designed to apply gentle pressure to the glandular system thereby toning the glands and improving total health. The breathing techniques are based on the principle that the “breath” is the source of life in the body. Meditation calms the mind and body and prepares one to handle stress.

The Upanishads (ancient Hindu texts) define Yoga as a state of gokumu jisho “extreme nothing self nature.” Essentially, one’s consciousness becomes himself. According to Tsuruji Sahota: “When the five senses stop their function and the judging mind stops its function as well, people call it the ultimate state. To control the organs of the body is regarded as Yoga.” The organs are controlled and toned by drawing energy up through the seven major energy centers, or chakras. The ultimate goal is to reach the topmost chakra and achieve self-illumination. When certain postures and disciplines are followed, energies that have accumulated and stagnated are moved through the chakras. The practicing of Yoga releases these stagnant energies that would potentially cause various ailments (see below).

THE SEVEN MAJOR ENERGY CENTERS (CHAKRAS)

CROWN CHAKRA – SELF-ILLUMINATION RELATED TO BRAIN, PITUITARY AND PINEAL GLANDS

THIRD EYE CHAKRA RELATED TO EYES, PITUITARY AND PINEAL GLANDS

THROAT CHAKRA (ETHER) RELATED TO LUNGS, VOICE, EARS, NOSE AND THROAT

HEART CHAKRA (AIR) RELATED TO HEART AND CIRCULATION

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA (FIRE) RELATED TO DIGESTION

SACRAL CHAKRA (WATER) RELATED TO GENERATIVE AND SEXUAL FUNCTIONS

BASE CHAKRA (EARTH) RELATED TO GENERATIVE AND SEXUAL FUNCTIONS

Each chakra is related to a specific area of the body, such as the head, heart, sacral area. Some add an eighth Thymus Chakra.

Even though Yoga predates Hinduism by several centuries, it is often mistakenly associated with this religion. It must be emphasized that Yoga is not a religion it has no creed or fixed set of beliefs. One does not need to be concerned about conflicts with one’s beliefs.

The scholar, Patanjali, compiled one of the earliest texts related to Yoga. He devised basic Yoga theories and practices in his text called Yoga Sutras as early as the 1st to 5th century B.C. Most forms of Yoga practiced today are based on variations of his system often referred to as Classical Yoga. Even though Americans were first introduced to Yoga during the late 1800’s, it didn’t become popular until the 1960’s, and then as part of the youth culture. In recent years, many are realizing the value Yoga to manage stress, limber a stiff body, improve health and well-being and better understand oneself.

One can better decide if Yoga offers something of personal benefit by considering the eight steps of Classical Yoga:

1. “Restraint” – Refraining from violence, stealing, lying, hoarding and casual sex.

2. “Observance” – Attributes of purity, contentment, tolerance, remembrance and study.

3. “Physical Exercises” – The actual exercising step.

4. “Breathing Techniques” – Special breathing techniques.

5. “Preparation for Meditation” – Refers to “withdrawing the mind from the senses.”

6. “Concentration” – Being able to hold one thing in the mind for a period of time.

7. “Meditation” – Being able to focus on one thing, or nothing, indefinitely.

8. “Absorption” – The realization of the essential nature of self.

Physical exercise, breathing techniques, and meditation are the core of most modern Western Yoga classes. Yoga practice is non-competitive. You proceed at your own pace. Relaxing the muscles and keeping them warm is very important. There is an old Yoga quote that states: “Even iron will bend when it is warm!”

There are actually over a hundred different schools of Yoga. Some of the more popular schools to consider include:

Hatha Yoga – Based on physical movements, postures, and breathing techniques (most

familiar school).

Raja Yoga – Called the “Royal Road,” it incorporates exercise, breathing, meditation

and study (a well rounded school of Yoga).

Jnana Yoga – The path of wisdom (considered the most difficult path of Yoga).

Yoga is a system of techniques that can be practiced by most adults of any age or physical condition. Even those with physical limitations can benefit from yoga. Women menstruating, pregnant, or nursing should not practice Yoga. Ideally, the best way to start the practice Yoga is to find a qualified instructor. A second alternative would be to purchase a good book or tape. If you’re not sure where to start your search for Yoga classes, check out adult education programs, holistic centers, family YMCA programs, health food or nutrition stores or community newspapers. CAUTION: A qualified instructor is essential to learn proper technique and to prevent injury.

Yoga – The Salute to the Sun

The "Salute to the Sun" is a series of postures designed to limber up, and tone and strengthen the body. It is a moving sequence made up of a combination of Yoga positions.

The Salute to the Sun is also known as Surya Namaskar, from "Sun" and "Greeting" or "Salutation".

The sequence of movements should be transported out in a fluid manner, "flowing" from one position to the next. This will take some practice and familiarity with the postures and positions, but the benefits are worth the effort. The Salute to the Sun is an excellent warm-up to other work, and will warm up the body and mind on its own.

1. Stand upright with spine extended, legs straight and arms together.

2. Inhale, and raise and extend your arms over your head and bend slightly backward.

3. Exhale and reach your arms and fingers up and forward. Bend forward from the hips and place your hands flat on the ground, or as close as your can.

4. Inhale and place your right leg behind you, making a right angle with your left leg. Sink into your right hip and look up.

5. Bring your left leg to join your right leg so that you are on "all fours" with your knees behind your ips.

6. Exhale and lower your chest and forehead to the ground so that you are lying flat on the ground.

7. Inhale and stretch forward and up, raising the front of your body up off the floor.

8. Exhale and lower your chest. Push up and back with your arms and raise your hips to form an inverted "V".

9. Inhale and bend your right leg, and lower your left leg to the ground, as in step 4 above.

10. Exhale and bring your left leg up as in step 3.

11. Inhale and reverse the move into position 2.

12. Exhale, return to an upright "prayer" position, and salute the sun.

These 12 posts or postures are an excellent way to put your body through disciplined series of preliminary stretches. This can form a warm-up to other exercises, or used on its own if you only have a short time to devote to your practice of Yoga.

Hot Yoga?

There are a lot of yoga types and one of them is the famous hot yoga. The hot yoga
is characterized by a series of yoga poses which is done in a heated room. The room
where you perform the exercise is conserved at a temperature of 95-100 degrees.
This kind of exercise gives off a lot of perspiration during a session.

Hot yoga is advantageous because it cleans your body and gets rid of the toxins
inside your body. Since it makes your body warm, the more flexible it gets.

When doing the hot yoga, you should have some accessories like your yoga mat and towel. Since you will be sweating severely, you should have something to wipe up
your sweat every other time.

Some people who practice hot yoga do not wear very thick clothes because it causes
them to sweat more.

If you are going to practice hot yoga, you should be ready with your clothes. The
clothes you should wear wear be appropriate. You can wear shorts during the
session.

Weaving of shorts allows your skin to breathe and give off heat. Students are the
ones who usually wear shorts. They tend to wear small clothes because they are still
vigorous and they sweat too much. If you are taking hot yoga sessions, make sure
that you drink a lot of water. If you are in the class, you can also bring along your
own bottle of water so that you can drink anytime you want. It is important to bring
along a bottle of water so that you will not get dehydrated and so that the skin will
produce more sweat. Before having a hot yoga session, you should take note that it
is not advisable to eat two hours before the class starts. This is because your body
is opt for a heavy exercise.

Bikram's method is such a good yoga style. People who want to be slim can practice
this type of yoga because their fats and cholesterol will be burned through sweat.

Although it burns your fats, you should not be burning all of it because you still
need some. Yoga started about 2500 years ago which was founded by Patanjali.
After it's discovery, it was then practiced and spread around the world. Picture
yourself doing Yoga when you are suffering from illness like Fever where your body
temperature is at 105 deg. Fahrenheit! I bet you could not stand this kind of heat. If
ever you will, you have over fatigued yourself.

At the compassion of the disagreement is choudhuryís wish to put off anyone
teaching yoga in a heated room from calling their class 'Bikram Yoga'. He would like
to put to one title only for those teachers who are qualified by his Yoga
Image of India and who stick to his arranged process precisely. This has been
handled upon because there are a lot of people who imitate his teachings.

Now that you have learned the difference of hot yoga among all other styles, think
again if it satisfies your desired to release your sweat and excess toxins. Remember
that in doing hot yoga, all your energy is taken away. If your body has not a single
energy to waste, then hot yoga is not the 'perfect' yoga style for you.