As the holiday season is approaching fast, here are some book suggestions for holiday gifts. They are not mainstream books available in most book stores but the books are available online. For asana (physical movements/postures) and all aspects of yoga: Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda is an excellent choice with a comprehensive yoga therapy index. This... Continue Reading →
Do Yoga Classes Hurt Your Back?
As yoga related injuries are rising, can yoga classes hurt your back is a relevant question to ask. You are invited to share positive and not-so-positive experiences so we can all learn from each other. In reading about the subject of back pain and injuries, I came across http://www.alisoneastlandyoga.wordpress.com and her blog posts Are yoga classes bad... Continue Reading →
Updates on Surya Namaskar Practice
I need to clarify that the sequence of 12 movements in surya namaskar is half a round the way we do it. A full round is 24 movements. I will post a chart in a later post when we have our Internet services back after this last storm. For now, I have listed the positions... Continue Reading →
Q&A:How To Practice Surya Namaskar
The results of the study in the previous post are in line with expectations. Studies often raise more questions and the blog has received several questions on how to practice surya namaskar. I hope this answers the questions. 1. How does one define slow versus fast surya namaskar? I don't think that the study in the previous blog post... Continue Reading →
Physiological Effects of Slow and Fast Surya Namaskar
Surya Namaskar, or sun salutation, is the most popular dynamic sequence of asanas that are coordinated with the breath. There are many variations of surya namaskar. The traditional sequence of 12 movements can be performed slowly or rapidly. In the International Journal of Yoga, India, web publication date September 27, 2011, researchers have published a study of... Continue Reading →
The Hidden Meaning of Diwali Revealed
Some days have deep meanings that are now lost in the frenzy of festivities. Diwali is revealed as the allegory of our lives in this article, Navaratri, October 2004, Yoga Magazine. Navaratri is commonly the worship of the three goddesses--Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. There is also the connecting story of Durga's nine-day battle and victory over the asura... Continue Reading →
Savor Family Holiday Stories
We never outgrow stories in some form or another! Perhaps the earliest open-ended learning tools, and form of entertainment, they help us understand the allegories of holidays. Good stories engage every generation in the family gathering to find its own level of meaning in the story. The stories grow with us. Holiday stories bring as much emotional warmth... Continue Reading →
Karma or Karma Yoga
People often ask the meaning of karma and karma yoga. What is the difference? Karma is what you do for your family and friends. Karma yoga is what you do for others who have nothing to do with you. That is how Swami Satyananda (Bihar School of Yoga) succinctly summed it up once. Karma is action... Continue Reading →
Navaratri:Fall Cleansing in Yoga
We are in the middle of the Hindu festival of Navaratri (September 28-Oct 6, 2011) meaning nine nights. There are several Navaratris and this one is the most celebrated. It is a time of mental clean-out! Shiva is Supreme Consciousness and Shakti is Cosmic Energy in yoga. Shiva has no form of expression without Shakti... Continue Reading →
Mahasri Yoga 