...systematic method of yoga in the Yoga sutras. Patanjali is considered to be the father of yoga.

According to Patanjali, there are eight limbs of yoga, which lead to the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

Yama - abstaining from violence, stealing, lust, greed

Niyam - developing devotion, purity, studiousness, contentment, discipline

Pranayama - controlling the breath

Pratyahara - going inward and withdrawing attention from the outside world

Dharana - concentration

Dhyana - meditation

Samadhi - merging with the universal consciousness

The ...more

Yoga and Meditation Meets Science - anatomy of Yoga

...>Then, there are those (and I happen to fall into this camp) who like to understand WHY something works. not necessarily a scientist, but we would like to know enough about the premise of yoga and meditation to be able to satisfy our own minds and more important, any skeptics out there, why yoga and meditation has an impact on your mind and body.

I just finished reading "anatomy of Hatha Yoga" by H David Coulter, and l...more

The Purpose of Yoga - Empowerment with Jnana Yoga

...Jnana Yoga is one of the four primary forms of Yoga. Raja, Karma, and bhakti Yoga are the other three primary forms of Yoga. When you consider the potential of Jnana Yoga applied to life, you will see that success is also a coordinated effort and a spiritual path of compassion, discipline, study, visualization, and meditation. Jnana Yoga is coordinated power.

Anyone can improve himself or herself with applied thought, acti...more

Take a Yoga Class - Five Solid Benefits You Can Experience from Yoga

... into taking a Yoga class that does not suit your lifestyle.

Reduce Stress through the practice of Yoga. This is a universal benefit of all styles of Yoga. If you have stress, when you walk into a Yoga class, you will have much less when you leave.

Some Yoga schools use a variety of methods to purge stress from the body, but the most common are Pranayama (breath techniques), Asana (posture), Mantra (sound), Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques. After a few classes, you will know what works and what does not.

Positive Thinking is a by product of every Yoga class and style, with the rare exception of a dogmatic Yoga teacher. If you discover you are in the midst of a drill sergeant, disguised as a Yoga teacher, you have to make a...more

Alignment Yoga Mat