Balasana | Child's Pose

image source

Balasana - Child's Pose

Sun and Moon

Just like the sun and moon, everything has an internal source of energy. In our bodies, the sun and moon occupy opposing halves similar to the concept of yin and yang. The moon represents the left energy channel (ida nadi) and the sun represents the right energy channel (pingala nadi). Our goal is to achieve and maintain BALANCE between both.

"As above, so below. As without, so within."

Halasana - Plow Pose

Halasana - Plow Pose

• Stretches the spine
• Stimulates the abdominal organs
• Stimulates the Thyroid gland
• Balances throat chakra

Yoga is Yoking

Yoga

The meaning of the Sanskrit word yoga is "yoking" or "connecting." Yoga is basically a state of interconnectedness, where we exist in everything and everything exists in us. In our asanas, we take the shape of a fish, boat, tree, dog, and/or cat (etc) to feel more deeply connected with all of the life around us. These poses urge us to dissolve the separation derived from ego, along with fear, isolation, and cynicism. Oh heavens, we are ONE.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesleybray/1457924951/sizes/z/in/photostream/

image source

The Purpose of Sun Salutations

The Purpose of Sun Salutations
Sun salutations lengthens and strengthens, flexes and extends the main muscles of the body while creating a prana flow of energy throughout the system.  It involves a rhythmic stream of breath while reaching towards the sky in mountain pose (tadasana), falling gracefully into a forward fold (uttanasana), raising up halfway with a flat back parallel to the earth, and repeating the flow.  You should feel heat rising evenly throughout your body with an invigorating, refreshing calm.
image source

Mountain Pose - Tadasana

Mountain Pose - Tadasana

• Spread your toes and plant all four corners of your feet solidly beneath you.  Imagine roots growing out of the soles of your feet grabbing deep into the earth below you.
• Lengthen and lift your straight spine and feel your head floating evenly above you. 
• Tuck in your tailbone as if you were carrying a full bowl of water in your hips you do not want to spill.
• Pay subtle attention to your breath.
• Expand your side ribs with each inhale and let your roots grow deeper into the earth, sucking in earth energy.  Exhale and soften your belly.  Feel energy flowing in through the crown.
• Allow your in-breath and out-breath amplify svaha ("Hail" or "So be it")
• Accept each inhale as a divine blessing and with each exhale surrender to the present moment.
• Feel a sense of weightlessness and connectedness with all beings and all energies in the universe.

Image Source

Downward Facing Dog

Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svasana

• Releases and lengthens neck and spine
• Calms & stimulates the mind and CNS
• Balancing
• Strengthens shoulders & arms
• Cleanses and massages internal organs
• Tones the sciatic nerve
• Improves the flow of blood & prana to thyroid, thymus, pituitary, and pineal glands
• Stimulates the Endocrine system
• Improves strength of spine and increases bone density in the spine
• Stretches shoulders, wrists, ankles, and hamstrings
• Stimulates the 4 upper chakras

Buy on ETSY!

The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
This eightfold path of yoga describes the Hatha yoga we practice today:

1. Yama- non-violence, truth, non-stealing, non-lust, non-possessiveness, honesty
2. Niyama- purity, contentment, austerity, study of sacred text, awareness of divine
3. Asana- postures, exercise positions
4. Pranayama- life force or energy
5. Pratyahara- withdrawal of the senses
6. Dharana- concentration
7. Dhyana- uninterrupted meditation
8. Samadhi- absolute bliss, enlightenment

image source

Patanjali

Patanjali, a humble physician, lived sometime between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D. and is considered the father of modern yoga.  He compiled 195 sutras or concise aphorisms called The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, which is a fundamental text on the system of yoga, yet it does not describe postures or exercises.  Rather, it is a guide to help you cultivate body, mind, spiritual awareness, achieve a meditation practice, and ultimately attain enlightenment.

Asana

Asana
Originally meant the seat of yogi's.  In the Yoga sutras, Patanjali suggests that asana is "to be seated in a position that is firm, but relaxed" for extended, or timeless periods.
image source

Yoga Teacher Training - Day 3

Yoganize Teacher Training - Day 3
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Yoga is not simply an exercise, a work-out, or even a meditation.  Yoga is a state of mind- a stillness of our thoughts; a quietening.  It releases us from stress and illness, bringing us back to our pure existence.  We maintain a practice to achieve this state of mind by focusing on the body, mind, and breath.  We arouse a sense of peace, harmony, and balance.  We feel centered when we are calm and we quell any trace of Ego.  It is in humility that we connect with the divine light in ourselves.
Yoga encourages:

• movement that works to relax the body
• relaxation to quiet our frantic minds
• chanting to arouse and release emotions
• meditation to center the spiritual elements

image source