Saturday, July 30, 2011

Ideal time for the yoga practice

General question is that what time should one practice Yog every day? 


If I say Brahma Muhurta time how many would accept the fact.
What's Brahma Muhurta time?


According to Vedic astrology, the day is divided into 30 periods called muhurtas. The brahma-muhurta begins 1 hr 36 minutes before sunrise and lasts for 48 minutes.
Sivananda Yoga says Brahmamuhurta is the morning period between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. This sacred interval is also known as the Amritavela.


If one is serious about a yoga-based lifestyle, one should be awake and performing some spiritual activity during the Brahma-muhurta.
After a good night's sleep, the mind is refreshed, calm and serene.The mind is like a blank sheet of paper,free from thoughts and one can easily meditate.


This started off when I started with my early morning yoga session with my students.Despite the fact that I usually felt like staying in bed, I had to be ready by 4 :45 am which forced me to get up and slowly I started realising that , I almost always rose early as early as 4 :15 am.I noticed from very early that I used to feel very good all day, as a result of being awake that time of the morning. 


The days when I used to get up early and practised my Yog for 2 hrs inclusive of Pranayama, I noticed myself more active during the day time, even afternoon sleep was not needed,which was was quite surprising.
This made me wondered how this early hours rising and practising Yog could do wonders on you.
I noticed that my body awareness and inner awareness increased to great extent.I was entering into moving/active  meditation without any effort.


I would fit so much more in a day if I had been awake before the 'crack of dawn', even if I had taken a nap later in the day to refresh myself.


Now practically speaking for the beginners who started off with the practice, the early morning may or may not suitable as their body is not flexible and usually the very early morning practice the body tends to be rigid and more so if one is a beginner then he may not have learnt many yogic poses, which would help him attain some warmth to his body.


Once one learns Yog thoroughly and would like to make it as his life style then Brahma Muhurta time is ideal, as there are certain asanas like suryanamaskars and some stretches which would bring flexibility to his body ,before one enters to the more advanced asanas.


If one doesn't have enough time in the morning hours then one can practice Pranayama and meditation in early morning as meditation comes by itself, without any effort.


Asanas can be practised in the evening, as evening hours one's body tends to be more supple and one can enjoy practising the asanas much better way, especially for beginners.
This evening hours practice is also ideal for those who have  hectic work schedule at their office and wants to relax ,so one can relax in yoga asanas  and which  further leads to increased circulation towards many joints and better absorption of oxygen.


Guidelines for early morning  practice 
  •  If you are not in the habit of getting up early, use an alarm timepiece. Once the habit is established, there will be no difficulty. The subconscious mind will automatically wake you up at the particular time.
  • Do not waste much time in morning ablutions. Answer the calls of nature quickly. Clean your teeth quickly. Be quick. Otherwise, the Brahmamuhurta will pass away quickly.
  •  If you suffer from constipation have vigorous practice of Salabha, Bhujanga and Dhanur Asanas for 5 minutes as soon as you get up from bed. Otherwise, do Meditation as soon as you get up. You can answer the calls of nature after finishing your morning Meditation with the help of a cup of hot milk.
HARI OM TAT SAT













Sunday, July 17, 2011

Obstacles in regular practice of Yog

It has become common trend to say that "I go for Yoga classes".

Many often demand about daily classes so that they can come for the class and practice it.But my question is why you need daily.You can practice daily at home, once you learn it or you can practice other days when you don't attend the classes.In this way you will get used to practising alone and come with many doubts in next class.
So this way you learn more.

Yog has to be practised alone not in groups except in class which cant be avoided.When you practise alone you are more aware of your body,breath and your thoughts and hence later leads to meditation easily.

Yog practise has to be continued through out your life, as a lifestyle.There are many of us who discontinue once the teacher is out of sight which seems to be as if one is practising for the teacher not for themselves.

There are many reasons for not practising it-

  • Sickness
  • Doubt about one's own practise
  • laziness
  • Invalid knowledge
  • Lack of concentration
  • Pain
  • Over eating
  • Useless talk
  • Undisciplined act
  • Bad company
  • Over exertion
  • Excessive sleep or Lack of sleep
  • Self destroying emotions like-lust, anger, fear, greed, hatred, jealousy
  • Never ending  material desires
To over come these obstacles according to Bhagwad Gita  moderation in all or right balance in all activities destroys all pain and sorrow.

Yog Guru and Sage Patanjali has mentioned us to be friendly, compassionate, and avoidance of  feeling superior than others.These kind of thinking help us to be more accepting ,develop trust and have more faith on teachers and patience.

So Sadhaka or Practitioner to overcome their problem should work wisely and active life in harmony and moderation and mostly they should be single minded, and devoted practise.
Hari Om  Tat Sat


Monday, July 11, 2011

Breath influences our Body Mind complex

How many of us are truly aware of breath in everyday basis?


The answer would be none of us.As most of us think breathing is just happening involuntarily.
But how many are aware that we are controlling our breath, through the way we think?
Our thoughts have great impact on our breathing pattern which in turn controls the other organs.


Our emotions and thinking pattern have greater impact on our body mind complex.
The person who is constantly under stress at work or at home would surely end up having problems like diabetes or high BP or thyroid problems etc.Stress here means mental stress,which affects the way we breath.


Many of us would have been aware of how the left and right  nostril breathing controls and influences our body mind and vice versa.


You can change the nostril dominance and control your thoughts, emotions,thinking pattern and reduce the stress and even better control on acidity and pressure(low and high) etc.


This study of breathing pattern is called Svara Yog.

  •  Ida  Nadi represents left nostril that is when one breath  more with left, represents Chitaa(mind).When left is more dominant then there is more of mental energy than pranic energy.
  • Pingala Nadi  represents right nostril,controls Prana or the life force. Prana controls all sensory nerves, Prana controls all the  organs of actions in our body.When right nostril is more dominant there is more of pranic energy than mental energy.
  • When both the nosril are equal then Sushumna nadi is active.
  •  Ida and Pingala and Sushumna flow at specific times in synchronization with the solar and lunar rhythms.
  • There are many internal and external factors responsible for the svara changes.
  • Sun, Moon, Weather, food, types of work, hormones,stress, play an important role in the flow of the Nadis.
  •  Eating banana induces IDA and drinking hot water induces PINGALA ,etc.
  • But in general for a healthy person it is considered to be auspicious if IDA(left active)  is at sunrise and PINGALA(right active) at sunset in general.
  • Success comes,if Surya  nadi is active at sunrise on Sun,Tue and Sat of dark fortnight and Chandra nadi is active at sunrise on Mon, Wed, and Thu of the bright half of Lunar month.
  • These are the natural and normal flow in a healthy man else indicates internal disorder. 
  • These order may change according to their  physical and mental conditions for eg- if one is physically active when Chandra nadi is dominant then one can’t perform well as he is having less of Pranic energy .  
  • It would be ideal if Left nostril is more active when getting out of bed, calm and silent work, meeting friends, religious practices, marriage, wearing new clothes taking new appointments , studies ,new work etc.
  • Eg: one of student  was suffering from heaviness in her head and continuous  sneezing in the early mornings ,  later on found that she was Ida dominant and had deviated septum .Certain pranayamas helped her to over come her problem in period of 1 year.

  • Active right nostril is good for eating, good digestion, bathing, physical activity, sleeping  towards left side to avoid dream and restless sleep and all acts which are transitory or temporary in nature is pingala or surya nadi.
  • Eg-due to continous  mental stress one of my student had severe acidity  who  was pingala dominant later on with the pranayamas  he could balance the energy levels.

    • But weather tends to influence the  flow of the Nadis could balance the energy levels.
When both Nadis are free and clear then sushumna nadi opens up which can helps us for meditation  and , concentration, spiritual growth and negativity may occur if it continues for a long time. It is better to do work which require minimum attention and exertion.

Change the Svara to solve your problems



  • If either Nadi predominates for a long time it is a sign that one of the branches of the ANS is being overstressed and only one of the brain hemispheres is being fully utilised.
  • If IDA flows for a long time then it indicates imbalance in mind and if Pingala flows then,it indicates imbalance in the Pranic body. 
  • One can train the mind to control the flow just like controlling the bodily muscles, by a mere thought of the mind.
  •  If you are lying on the left side the flow will be through right nostril and vice versa.
  •  One can also try breathing from the nostril which you want to open up for a while it also works.
  •  During olden times Rishis used YOG DANDA or you can keep your own arm in the  shape of yog danda which was kept under the arm pit to change the Svara .
  • Sickness depends on the NADI which is flowing excessively.
  • DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH OVER ACTIVE PINGALA NADI-high Bp, acidity, ulcer, pyloria, hyperthyroidism  and other stress related disorders.
  • DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH OVER ACTIVE IDA NADI -indigestion, gas, diarrhoea, cholera, flatulence, respiratory, hypothyroidism, rheumatism, diabetes etc.
  • Before the onset of a disease the flow of SWARA becomes disturbed and this noted beforehand then the imbalance can be rectified and sickness averted.
  • For eg:- before the onset of severe viral infection  or throat pain, cold they usually are left dominant , if they change in to right  nostril breathing it may help them.
  • Svara YOG specifies the use of NADI SHODHNA pranayama for gaining awareness and control over the svara and better control over your thoughts ,emotions and solving body mind complexities . 

  • Science and Svara
  • Scientific investigations shows that many AUTONOMIC AND VOLUNTARY functions are related to the breath and  these nerve components , which are situated at the base of the nose. 
  • Nerves in nasal mucosa are connected with the Visceral, Excretory, Reproductive organs .Improper breathing or irregularity of breath in nostrils can create disturbance in these organs  and vice versa.
  • Science also concludes that  the kind of breathing affects  many organs  as is stimulated by the nerves in nostrils.
  • Obstruction of nasal passage can slow down the heart rate and blood circulation, prevents proper tissue oxidation. Since autonomic nerve fibers in nasal cavities are 20 times  greater than in other parts of CNS and nose is the peripheral organ ANS AND what we breathe and how we do it affects our emotions and vice-versa.

  • Hari Om Tat Sat

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Which Yoga?

There are different styles of Yog you can hear esp. Power Yog, Laya Yog, Artistic Yog  etc; which has been developed according to people's demand.

Though these types follow the original yog like Ashtanga Yog, Hatha Yog, which originated many years ago.

Yog was practiced those days as a preventive measures but as times changed Yog has been introduced as therapeutic also.

Today's lifestyle is so that, very few people are totally fit physically and mentally.

There is more demand for Therapeutic Yog, which again is from traditional ones.

Since there are more types and styles of Yog, you have to understand what your problem is, in first position.
As there are many medicines available in the chemist shop but you take only the prescribed one.So do here too, for general well being.

If you are physically unwell you must take up Asana and Pranayama  of  Hatha Yog. It improves the quality of the body.


If you are suffering from depression, hypertension or insomnia you must practice more of meditation, Raj Yog. It teaches you how to control the mind, mental force and bring it to one central point.


If you are mentally exhausted then you must take up Pranayama. It leads to better absorption of oxygen by the body.


If you are suffering from doubt,suspicion or insecurity then  practice Mantra Yog. It  leads to Tattwa shuddhi.The powerful vibrations, which you get by chanting certain combination of letters have powerful impact in mind and emotions.


If you have no faith in anything,neither God or this law or any law and do not want to live  then take up ,Jnana Yog. It improves the quality of the intellect.You know what you are doing and the emotions and tensions born out of your karma or wrong thinking will be stopped.


If you have unchecked emotions like greed, anger then practice Bhakti Yog. 
It improves your relationship with your emotions.When you transfer you faith on some power or divine energy then you can start enjoying your life more.You start thinking more positive rather than being angry or greedy about others.


If you do not want to do any of the above and want to occupy your mind ,improve your personality and get rid of negative traits in your personality then practice, Karma YogIt improves your relationship with your own life and you are a better person and where ever you are placed as small troubles don't bother you much.You can face all situations in a better way, with a more steady mind.You become more compassionate and  forgiving than others.

To avoid lopsided development or imbalance in overall personality these paths can be practised together also.
The different branches of Yog should be integrated into your life, according to the predominant qualities of your's.
Hari om tat sat