Thursday, July 24, 2025

My yoga exercises Practice

 

Welcome to this page about my yoga workout practice

I am from India and I formally learnt yoga about 20 years back when I was in my 30s.

But even before that, I was introduced to yoga as a child. When we were kids, my father used to attend yoga classes. He used to entertain us (that is how we thought of yoga at that time) with some yoga poses.

He used to show us sarvangasana, shirshasana and we would try to do it. We found sarvangasana easy to do but shirshasana was tough.

We did Pavanmuktasana, the wind releasing pose was very entertaining to me and my sister, and we did it while giggling and as we invariably released wind while doing it.

As we grew up, I continued learning and doing yoga by reading books and magazines, watching on tv etc. I did it quite regularly. I also enjoyed my daily walks.

It was only in my mid thirties that I actually joined a yoga class to learn it from a teacher. I really didn't have any excuse for not joining. The class was just a few minutes' walk from my home and the teacher was very patient. That was one of the reasons I continued learning from him for more than a year.

I found that though I had been doing most of the yogaasanas, the yoga postures earlier, I was doing them better when I learnt from a teacher. Doing yoga in the class made me feel graceful.

Yoga for digestion help

I had heartburn and continous burping problems. It almost became chronic burping. But doing yoga exercises regularly helped me in improving my digestion. The heartburn and burping almost vanished. Following the yoga diet helped too.

After a year of going to yoga class, I decided I would do it at home and stopped going to the class. I continued doing my yoga practice at home.

Many days, I would do yoga in the mornings and go for walks in the evenings. Many times, mornings become hectic and yoga was given a off. But still I tried to do it at least 3-4 days a week.

My yoga practice at present

Last year, I rejoined the yoga class. The same yoga class where I learnt 20 years back. I find that I do yoga more regularly when I go to class. So I am going to continue with that.

I started this website because even when I am not doing yoga practice, I am interested by it. The yoga origin, yoga history, the various yoga poses and the way the poses are based on nature, animals, birds and so on. The benefits of yoga are so many, and I do not mean only the health benefits of yoga.

I was fortunate to be introduced to yoga in my childhood itself. I feel that for anybody, learning yoga from childhood is useful.

Through this website, I would like to get you interested in learning about yoga. If this website encourages you and your family members to learn yoga, continue practicing yoga, starting your child's yoga practice, I assure you that you will not regret it.

Yoga is something that is beneficial throughout one's life. Whatever stage of life you are, yoga can help your body, mind and spiritual life.

What is Mantra yoga - Types of yoga

 

What is Mantra yoga - Types of yoga

Mantra yoga is one of the types of yoga, a more mind related, spiritual yoga. Mantra yoga is the least complex of the types of yoga because it does not involve any strenuous yoga poses or any other complicated practices.

Mantra is said to be very effective with prolonged practice as the sounds of mantra can awaken the chakras and the serpent power, the kundalini.

What is mantra? What is mantra yoga?

Mantra is a sanskrit language word which means a powerful, sacred word, phrase or syllables.

Mantra comes from a Sanskrit word mantrana which means suggestion or advice. Each and every word is a mantra as our mind responds to it as soon as we hear it.

Word mantra is related to manas, a sanskrit word for mind. Mantra is sound and it may be the sound of silence.

You know sometimes you may be repeating a word or a phrase or a song in your mind silently the whole day or for days together. That becomes your mantra for that duration.

These silent mantras affect your life.

Words form language. Our daily life is possible because of words. That is how we carry out most our activities. Every word has a power, a force and it produces its own reaction.

We all know the power of words that we utter or hear someone say. When we understand the words it may have a positive or negative effect on our body and mind.

Even when we do not understand the meaning of the words we hear, the sound, the tone and volume affect us.

So, choosing a positive mantra is possible and desirable.

Bija - Beeja Mantra - Sound of Om

It is believed that this world came into existence with a sound Om. The vibration of this sound started everything. This vibration still exists and continues.

Om is called the bija(seed) mantra. Though the word mantra is related to Hindu religion, it is not limited to it. Mantras have been used in the native cultures all around the world since thousands of years.

What can Mantra do for you?

Mantra connects to spirituality as well. The sound vibrations produced by the repetition of mantra have the power to give you spiritual experiences.

Mantra yoga means to unite with the supreme power making use of the mantra as a tool, method or way.

Mantra can alter one’s life experience There are many mantras for different purposes.

How and when is Mantra used?

Yoga mantra is also repeated while doing the yogasanas – yoga poses.

Mantra may also be used to improve our life in many ways; to improve health, financial situation, relationships etc. Om mantra, Gayatri Mantra etc.

You may say a mantra loudly or internally-silently. In both ways it is effective.Count or not to count, use a mala (beads) or a rosary or choose not to use anything while repeating mantra.

You may recite a mantra or listen to it.

Related pages to visit

Yoga sitemap

  • Bhakti yoga
  • Mantra yoga 
  • Vinyasa yoga 
  • Yoga for Digestive problems
  • Iyengar yoga poses
  • Bikram yoga - Hot yoga
  • Yoga Stories

Iyengar yoga poses - Traditional yoga style

 

Iyengar yoga makes use of props

Iyengar yoga poses are based on hatha yoga. The alignment of body in asanas is considered very important. There is also emphasis on proper breathing while being in the pose. All the poses are held longer than the other forms of yoga.

BKS Iyengar

The categories of iyengar yoga poses are:

  • Standing
  • sitting
  • supine
  • forward bends
  • back bends
  • twists
  • inversions

BKS Iyengar first started the use of props while doing yoga. The props used are wooden blocks, straps, cushions, folded blankets, pillows, chairs etc.

How does use of props help in Iyengar yoga?

If you are beginning yoga or if you have not been practicing yoga and want to get back to it, the use of props makes it easier to do that.

These props help students to attain proper body alignment even though the body may not be flexible enough.

Because of the use of props it is easier to go back, to restart your yoga practice after a break. The props help in performing the yoga positions even when your body is not ready for the yoga positions, not flexible enough to do simple or complicated postures.

Iyengar yoga help in acute as well as chronic health problems. Problems such as lower back pain, acidity, indigestion, nervous disorders, circulatory problems, hormonal imbalance etc. There are postures in iyengar yoga which can help in these health problems.

For women the menstrual and menopausal problems can be reduced.

Whatever your age, Iyengar yoga improves physiological and psychological health for children as well as grownups.

It helps improve concentration. As each pose is held longer, the benefits are more. Each pose needs concentration and you can learn to be in meditation while being in a yoga pose.

26 Hot yoga - Bikram yoga Poses

 Health benefits of Bikram Yoga - Hot yoga poses

There are 26 hot yoga or Bikram yoga poses (also known as hot yoga poses) that are practiced in each session. Each session is of ninety minutes. These Bikram yoga postures are selected carefully by Bikram Choudhary, the founder of Bikram yoga.

According to him, these poses give the exercise to the whole body when practiced. They are to be practiced in the given order as that gives the maximum benefit to the entire body.

The specialty of Bikram yoga is that these 26 yoga poses are practiced in a heated room. This heated room adds to the health benefits of Bikram yoga.

Where and how to learn bikram yoga poses

You can learn these poses by attending a licensed Bikram yoga center or by using Bikram yoga DVD or video cassette or with the help of a book.

Learning at the heated studio gives the additional benefit of practicing in the prescribed heat. These 26 Bikram yoga postures include 2 pranayama - yogic breathing methods.

There are standing yoga poses, kneeling or seated yoga poses and lying down yoga poses.

The list of the 26 Bikram yoga postures is given below along with their Sanskrit names as well as the English equivalent as they are generally known.

The list of the 26 Bikram yoga postures in Sanskrit - English

  1. Pranayama - Standing Deep Breathing
  2. Ardha - Chandrasana 
  3. Utkatasana - Awkward Pose or chair pose
  4. Garudasana - Eagle Pose
  5. Dandayamana - Janushirasana - Standing Head to Knee Pose
  6. Dandayamana - Dhanurasana - Standing Bow Pulling Pose
  7. Tuladandasana - Balancing Stick Pose
  8. Dandayamana- Bibhaktapada - Paschimotthanasana - Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose
  9. Trikonasana - Triangle Pose
  10. Dandayamana- Bibhaktapada- Janushirasana - Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee Pose
  11. Tadasana - Tree Pose
  12. Padangustasana - Toe Stand Pose
  13. Savasana - shavasana - Dead Body Pose – corpse pose
  14. Pavanamuktasana - Wind releasing Pose
  15. Pada- Hastasana - Half Moon and hands to Feet Pose - Sit-up
  16. Bhujangasana - Cobra Pose
  17. Salabhasana - Locust Pose
  18. Poorna- Salabhasana - Full Locust Pose
  19. Dhanurasana - Bow Pose
  20. Supta- Vajrasana - Fixed Firm Pose
  21. Ardha- Kurmasana - Half Tortoise Pose
  22. Ushtrasana - Camel Pose
  23. Shashankasana - Rabbit Pose
  24. Janushirasana with Paschimotthanasana - Head to Knee Pose
  25. Ardha- Matsyendrasana - Spine Twisting Pose
  26. Kapalbhati pranayama - Blowing in Firm Pose

You may have already learnt these yoga postures if you have attended any yoga classes earlier. But doing it in the Bikram yoga way is supposed to give you more health benefits.

Related pages to visit

Yoga sitemap

  • Health benefits of bikram yoga
  • Raja yoga
  • Mantra yoga
  • Vinyasa yoga
  • Yoga for Digestive problems
  • Iyengar yoga poses
  • Bhaktiyoga

About yoga

International Yoga Day - June 21st

Types of Yoga

  • Raja yoga
  • Mantra yoga
  • Vinyasa yoga
  • Iyengar yoga
  • Bhakti yoga

Bikram Yoga Hot Yoga

 

Bikram yoga - Hot yoga
Started by Bikram Choudhury

Health benefits of Bikram Yoga poses

Bikram yoga was started by Bikram choudhuri, a yoga guru of Indian origin. It is also known as hot yoga.

About Bikram Choudhury

Bikram Choudhury was born in Calcutta, India. He started learning yoga at the age of 4. He has won the national Indian yoga contest many times. He had an athletic career as a weightlifter and marathon runner.

He had a weight lifting accident at the age of 17 which caused serious knee injury. The European doctors said Bikram would never be able to walk again.

Bikram came back to India to his yoga guru, Bishnu Ghosh,. After doing yoga therapy for his knee for 6 months, his knee was completely healed. And after that Bikram Choudhury started bikram yoga classes.

Bikram choudhari has been teaching yoga since he was 20 years old. Bikram and his wife Rajashree are both in involved in teaching yoga.

Bikram opened yoga schools in India and worldwide. The teachers have to attend a two month certification program in Los angelis before they can teach hot yoga on their own.

Bikram insists that anybody wanted to teach his style of yoga should get a license from him. There are also books, video cassettes or dvds available to learn hot yoga.

He founded 'Bikram's yoga college of India'. He has also written books on yoga. He has written a book about how yoga can be used for getting maximum health benefits.

About Rajashree Choudhury

Rajashree Choudhury, Bikram's wife, is also a yoga expert.

Born in India, she won the all India yoga championship from 1979 to 1983. She is actively involved in teaching yoga therapy for chronic diseases and disorders.

Rajashree has helped in the creation of the training program offered by bikram yoga. She also teaches pregnancy yoga classes.

Why is Bikram yoga called hot yoga?

Bikram Choudhury's yoga is also reffered to as hot yoga because it is done in a heated room.

It a set of traditional hatha yoga poses done at a higher temperature. . The room is heated at 105F and is kept at about 60% humidity.

A person has to be in a good physical health to do hot yoga. The Bikram Choudhury himself refers to his studio as 'torture chamber'.

About Hot Yoga poses

Bikram or Hot yoga  style is derived from traditional hatha yoga. So how is it different than traditional yoga?

In Hot yoga, poses are done in a heated room at 105, for 90 minutes and the a session consists of 26 hatha yoga postures and pranayama(yogic breathing).

The vigorous bikram hatha yoga poses produce heavy sweating and makes body warm and more flexible. There are many health benefits of bikram yoga.


Related pages to visit

Yoga sitemap

  • Health benefits of bikram yoga
  • Raja yoga
  • Mantra yoga
  • Vinyasa yoga
  • Yoga for Digestive problems
  • Iyengar yoga poses
  • Bhaktiyoga

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Iyengar yoga - started by BKS Iyengar

Iyengar yoga - started by BKS Iyengar

Iyengar yoga poses - Traditional yoga style

Iyengar yoga style is created by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, a much respected Indian yoga guru.
It is an established yoga practice based on the principles of the Sage Patanjali, who formulated the yoga sutras.


 
BKS Iyengar
This is a form of Hatha yoga and has integrated all the eight aspects of Ashtanga yoga. It strictly follows the traditional ashtanga yoga method. B.K.S.Iyengar has his yoga center 'Ramamani Iyengar Memorial yoga institute' which is located in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

This is a popular style of yoga worldwide. Every year, students from different country stay and learn Iyengar method of yoga at the institute in Pune. Iyengar yoga teaching style has worldwide recognition. He has many followers and there are many centers teaching Iyengar yoga.
 
B.K.S. Iyengar was born in1918.  B.K.S.Iyengar passed away on 20 th August  aged 95. His daughter Geeta and Son Prashant continued to teach yoga at the institute.
The Indian government awarded Iyengar the Padma Shri in 1991, the Padma Bhushan in 2002,
In the year 2014, he was awarded Padma Vibhushan - Second highest award given to a civilian in the Republic of India to recognize exceptional service in any field.

B.K.S.Iyengar was physically weak as a child and practiced yoga to improve his health. He learnt yoga from a scholar and a yogi, Sri T. Krishnamacharya in Mysore, Karnataka, India.
 

Speciality of Iyengar yoga poses - Use of props

The specialty of this yoga style is that, props are used to perform asanas. The use of props is new to yoga and was started by B.K.S. Iyengar. The props used are belts, blankets, wooden blocks, benches, straps, sandbags, chairs, pillows, bolsters etc.
 
Iyengar yoga is user friendly and sate for all. It is great for beginners as well as advanced students. The props help the students to get the body in ideal alignment for that pose, even if his body is not yet flexible enough.

Use of props the Iyengar method makes yoga poses easier for the student. The props are used according to the students needs. The props are used in the yoga studio.
 
If you are practicing at home, you can use what you have at home.  Even tired or sick persons also can do some of the asanas with used props without feeling any strain and can get benefit from it.
 
Everyone can practice using props. There is attention to detail and there is emphasis on body alignment.
This yoga is helpful in relieving the modern life stress. 

Yogasana (yoga poses), pranayama (yogic breathing), meditation, all are part of Iyengar yoga Iyengar yoga is referred to as 'meditation in action'.
 
The students get the fundamentals of yoga right. The benefits of regular practice increase and the awareness stretching improves. It is spirituality through physical methods that encourages proper breathing while in a yoga pose. The concentration helps in meditation.
 



Yoga for health - Iyengar method for yoga health benefits

The physical benefits of yoga are many and Iyengar has developed ways of practicing certain yoga poses to treat various diseases and ailments.

Digestive problems , high blood pressure, depression, menopause etc. can be treated with yogasanas and this yoga can be used as physical therapy.

If Iyengar yoga classes are available to you, do make use of them. After attending classes and learning the basics, you may also use the books below to understand yoga better and practice.
 
B.K.S.Iyengar has written many books on yoga that are bestsellers. The books have lots of illustrations and a student can learn yoga using these books.

Hasya yoga - Laughing yoga

Hasya yoga - Laughing yoga

Laughing Therapy - Laughter clubs
Laughter Workshops

Hasya yoga is the Sanskrit name of Laughter yoga or laughing yoga. Hasya means 'laughter' in Indian languages.
Laughter yoga is not a form of ancient yoga but it has some similarities with the traditional yoga. It originated in India and it helps your physical as well as mental health, same as traditional yoga.

What is laughter yoga - Laughter therapy?

Hasya yoga or Laughter yoga combines laughter with yogic breathing - pranayama.. This may be self triggered laughter for a reason or without reason.
You know that laughter is the best medicine. The basic concept with laughter yoga is that our body cannot differentiate between real or artificial laughter.The laughter language is understood and appreciated everyone in the world.
But laughter can affect your mind positively. So if you laugh, with or without reason, it has positive effect on your body as well as your mind.

Who started laughter yoga?

Laughter yoga was started by Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian doctor in India on March 13 1995. He has written a book 'Laugh for no reason'.
Laughter yoga has spread all over the world now and that is because people are benefiting from it. There are 8000+ social laughter clubs in more than 60 countries and are still increasing.

World laughter day

World laughter day was started by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of laughter yoga. It is celebrated on 1st Sunday in May. The first time, it was celebrated on Jan 11 1998, in Mumbai, India.

How is laughter yoga done?

The laughing yoga club members gather in a park, mostly in the mornings. These members are of all ages.
The yoga laughter is done as a form of body exercise in a group of members.
Eye contact, childlike playfulness and humor are used. Forced, artificial laughter turns into real laughter at some point of time.
Both artificial and real laughter provides the same benefits to body and mind. A laughter yoga session includes simple stretches, and deep breathing (pranayama)  .

Health benefits of laugher therapy - Laughter yoga

  • Laughter is free. you do not have to pay anything for it but it can give you physical, mental benefits.
  • Reduces stress. Laughter provides physical and emotional relaxation and release.
  •  Releases endorphins, the feel good hormones. Laughing reduces the stress hormones.
  •  It is a complete well being workout. It is a good internal workout. The abdominal muscles, diaphragm get exercised. A good body shaking laughter gives some exercise to the shoulders too.
  • People feel happy, healthy, energized. 
  • Negative thoughts, guilt, anger go away.
  • Many experience transformation in life. Get positive energy Helps to deal with everyday stress.
  • Your attitude towards life changes from negative to positive.
  • Laughing more, positive attitude towards life makes you more acceptable in society. You see your attitude reflected in other people too.
  • Saves from depression. Many claim not to need any anti depressants.
  •  General health improvement. Regular laughing makes you an optimist and you may live a happy, longer and healthier life.
  • Laughter helps in fighting illness. Reduction in respiratory infections such as Common cold, flu etc.
  • Seniors benefit too with laughter yoga
Related pages to visit