It is to gift ourselves a state of natural being - a place wherein we are able to realise the depth of that being and its relation to the whole.
This section is a building resource of information as diverse as yoga itself - hopefully as beneficial. Please however forgive us if it lacks information you are looking for - building it takes time and we want to bring you only the most useful and pertinent. Let us know what you would like to have here - mail us your yoga information comments
Finding good, reliable information is important. Yoga is a new territory for many and unravelling the ins and outs can be a little daunting. We hope to help the adept and beginner alike in their search for yoga information.
Yoga information - What is Yoga?
Yoga is probably the oldest defined practice of self development. Founded on principles that promote development of self awareness, through the practice of physical asanas (postures), the understanding and practice of pranayama (breath control) insight and awareness is gained of the physical, mental and spiritual nature and well-being of the individual. With this knowledge and practice, one has the opportunity to adjust and change aspects and habitual patterns that have discouraged the development and attunement that leads to a balanced life.
This enables an individual to glimpse and live a reality that is even more alive than many experience as the normal state of living.
Today yoga is interpreted as either:
- A demanding fitness program that stretches and strengthens the spine, tones the body and develops a sense of well being within
- A way of learning to relax, de-stress and practice breathing techniques that increase lung capacity, work the cardiovascular system and allow the individual to cope with the ups and downs of modern life.
- The embrace of a philosophical methodology that is based on experiential learning. One that allows the awareness of physical reality and activation within the body to be stimulated or suppressed for maximum benefit.
- A philosophy of life that codifies principles of conducting and living life so that the development of a witness consciousness might evolve and with it an understanding of the self.
- Meditation - the practice of concentration on a single object to calm the mind, cultivate inner stillness and merge into the experiential awareness of Oneness.
- A spiritual practice that develops the experience of Oneness and allows the individual to let go of all ties that create separation from this reality. Through yoga information of the world, the self and its constituencies allow dependency to be replaced by interdependency.
It can be any or all of these things - the decision is up to the individual as to which aspects they choose to develop.
Yoga information - Yoga Postures
Classically there are thousands of yoga postures, yet there are only a few hundred that comprise the basis of the asanas (postures) currently worked with.
We are compiling a whole section on this area and will be bringing you a comprehensive reference section for learning about and understanding the main postures used in yoga. Such yoga information can help both beginner and practitioner alike.
Go to the DVD section and you will find expert yoga teachers and practitioners who clearly and definitively introduce many of the postures and their context in the yoga Vinyasa.
Yoga information - Meditation
One of the primary purposes of practising yoga asanas is:
- to bring the body to a state of stillness.
That then allows the practitioner:
- to gain control, bring that stillness to the mind, ultimately harnessing its over active, uncontrolled nature which is the cause of much distraction.
- to allow the mind to maintain concentration and focus on a single point to the point of absorption.
This state is meditation. More on Meditation here
Meditation for beginners - a helpful guide
The practitioner becomes absorbed and experience of the ever present now. It is not a prerequisite of yoga to meditate but the practices that precede meditation inspire the individual to become quiet, sit still and move into the meditative state.
It is stated, in original texts, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali primarily, that meditation is the natural follow through from work in the asanas and pranayama (breath control).
