Can one start Yoga on his own? Myths about risks in Yoga

Many people avoid Yoga as they are not able to find an accomplished yoga teacher, so they remain away from such a useful science of remaining healthy, happy and content. Is it a must to have an accomplished teacher before someone can start practicing Yoga? is it fruitful to sit in the fence and wait for accomplished Yogi to come home and teach?

In ancient time, there were very less means of knowledge transfer, education was Gurukul based, and there were no options for common people to have a school at nearby places. There was also lack of print media, even though scriptures were used for some of ancient literature, most of it was handmade and distribution was not so easy. Due to above limitations, all the knowledge was passed on person to person, so was Yoga.

However, in today time with advancement of print, TV and internet media, Yoga knowledge should also pass on using these methods as any other form of education.

Some people advocate that one must have a teacher and then only he/she can start Yoga, Many people spread the word that doing Yoga without a teacher is fatal. The fear or extra cautiousness may have come from the fact that Yoga was passed on person to person in ancient times. But common sense says that doing some simple exercises cannot be anywhere near fatal or harming. Doing stunts or unnecessary exercises similar to a nut can be fatal, but not Yoga.

Importance of an accomplished teacher cannot be played down even in today world and person to person knowledge transfer would remain most efficient way of learning something. Advance poses would require a teacher as any other advance form of study.

Simple Asanas, simple pranayama and simple meditation cannot be harmful in any way for a common person if person doesn't use any force to accomplish a pose or breathing. People do some sort of meditation every day while doing Puja and people already do some sort of exercises without any trainer. So it is just a myth that someone have be under observation of a teacher to start Yoga. TV broadcasting Yoga programs in the morning, internet available round the clock, and with availability of good books easily; nothing should stop a person from starting Yoga on his own.

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AashiYoga Research Academy

http://www.aashiyoga.com/
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Day in a healthy professional's life

Daily routine of a healthy person as described by Swami Ramdev in his book "Yoga Sadhana and Yoga Chikitsa Rahsaya" revolves around:

1. Aahaar- Food
2. Nindra- Sleep
3. Brahmacharya - Celibacy 
4. Vyayam- Physical exercise
5. Snan- Bath
6. And Dhyana- Meditation

To live a healthy life above 6 are utmost important. First 5 are important for physical health and form the basis of a healthy mind and soul. 3rd celibacy is about away from Kama (to be away from bad temptation, wrong doings etc.). And 6th Dhyana is about daily meditation for some time, in order to get a peaceful soul and mind.

Few questions that arise naturally in context of busy professional's life in era of fast food are: 

1.     Can this be followed by people easily without changing their lifestyle too much?

2.     Is this only for retired people?

After carefully examining life of professionals, I observed that few small guidelines setup by individual for him/her can make an individual live a healthy life and follow above in peak of his/ her career as well.

1.     One can pay attention to what one is eating, can try to eat healthy food, if eating something that is not so good for health, can eat in less quantity. Every fast food has something that is low calorie. Go for replacement food (replace non healthy food items with healthy food items in food) instead of remaining hungry.

2.     Sleep well. Use common sense, if one can't sleep fully in the night due to office hours, he/she can use day time to sleep in installments.

3.     Totally controllable by an individual, change habits to more toward dharma, good will and self-less society service. Or just say no to what your inner self doesn't allow.

4.     Do some physical exercise; every one doesn't have to join a gym, yoga school or some other sports club. But yes, a common person can choose some physical exercises as per his schedule and convenience.

5.     Snan is about hygiene, personal and surrounding's hygiene are important. One can have this easily.

6.     Dhyana is about meditation for some time in the day and anyone can follow this even if someone is too busy. Dhyana ensures that mind is peaceful and person becomes more effective in whatever he/she does and saves time ultimately.  

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AashiYoga Research Academy

http://www.aashiyoga.com/
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Mind! You always run so fast

Mind! You keep running so fast,
Sometimes here; sometime there,
Sometime positive; sometimes negative,
Is it difficult to control You?
Yes for some; No for some,
Where is the rein to control You?
Can that be within me?

Aashi Yoga Research Academy
www.AashiYoga.com

Excel in long distance running by using Yoga

Yoga has amazing healing power and can be used in order to stay fit and excel in other sports as well. Today I will blog about Asanas that are helpful in long distance running.

Many of my friends of Nike run club use Yoga based exercise to avoid injuries of other sports. Nike run club in Bangalore uses Yoga based stretches after the long run. Coach Beedu and Reeth Abraham take a session of Yoga based exercises after members finish their long run. Some of Asanas variations used by them are: Ckakrasana, Ardha Matseyndrasana and deep breathing(so,hmm breathing as called by Beedu),

Some of the Asanas I have found helpful in long distance running are:
• Vira-sana (The Hero's Pose) -Good for relieving stress from tired legs- thighs, knees, and ankles
• Paryanka-sana (The Couch Pose)- Relieve legs and lower back
• Ardha Matsyendrasana (The Half Spinal Twist)- Twisting of the spine have effect on entire body
• Matsy-endra-sana (The Spinal Twist)
• Bhaddha-kona-sana (The Cobbler's Pose)- Relives hips and groin
• Dhanura-sana(The Bow Pose) -Stretches ankles, thighs and groins, abdomen, chest, and throat
• Urdhva-danuara-sana(Chakra-sana, The Wheel Pose) - Stretches back and chest

Yoga breathing is extremely helpful in long runs, it ensures all the parts of body have sufficient oxygen when body is under constant repetitive work. Can be used to re-energize on the go while running.

Yoga can be used as extremely powerful tool in order to excel in other sports. Yoga can be used to prepare mind body and soul to accept the challenge of sport, build up stamina and skill, avoid injuries, heal sport injuries, and to rest.


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AashiYoga Research Academy
http://www.aashiyoga.com/
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How can yoga help to busy professionals

Yesterday, I was talking to one of my friend, he was very-very busy with his work, was saying that he needs a break, is tired of his work, blah, blah,.. before I could suggest Yoga to him, he said "he is averse to yoga" so didn't suggest anything.. Later on I saw his FB posts of frustration with his work and people suggesting him yoga, meditation etc. on FB.

It's quite common that many of us do not find time to re-energize ourselves(physically and mentally), and this leads to more "less productive work", fatigue etc. However, Yoga, Pranayama and meditation do not need lot of one's time. 

Yoga relaxation techniques can be used in busy schedules, someone doesn't have to get up at 4 o'clock and go to a bank river in order to do yoga breathing or stretches. Some tips on how to make use of yoga when someone doesn't have time to do it.

1) Do some yoga Astana’s in the morning before breakfast of duration of whatever time you have.

2) Use hand mudras and Yoga breathing in bus or back seat of car to do some meditation on your travel time to office. This will give quite some relaxation to you mind. You will realize in few days that you are unaffected by traffic noise and avoiding a great annoyance by closing your mind to outside noise and diverting it to constructive relaxation.

3) One of the best qualities of Yoga techniques are that they do not need any equipment, outside assistance, or a partner. Some people have practiced yoga while travelling on airports, and hotels while travelling around the world.

Yoga and deep breathing techniques increase virtual time coordinates, that makes you faster in executing things with less effort. This works for both mental and physical tasks. So over a period of time, state of not having time converts to having sufficient time for all the activities.