The Basics of Yoga

Yoga, is a word derived from Sanskrit, meaning the 'union with the divine'. It is a method, which teaches the individual soul to connect with the Supreme Soul or what we better relate to as, God. Yoga is the ancient art of using your concentration to attain the union of body, mind and soul. It's a discipline which teaches you to balance your emotions and intentions. It is a way of achieving holistic fitness, which is clearly above physical fitness. Learning the basics of yoga will relieve you of your stress, fatigue, and pain.

Yoga Poses for Beginners

Surya Namaskar
The surya namaskar is one of the foremost yoga poses. It literally means, 'salute to the sun'. This asana or posture, uses the entire body, from head to toe, to worship the sun. This yoga posture is practiced as a physical exercise for fitness by world at large. However, with a deeper understanding the same, a surya namaskar can be performed as total sadhana, which accomplished the asana, pranayama, mantra and chakra meditation. This exercise is supposed to be done at sunrise to reach a spiritual arousal. A full surya namaskar, consists of two sets of twelve poses. Ideally, this yoga postures is to be repeated 12 times with 12 mantras.

Ashtanga Namaskar
Yoga aims to benefit your body in the best possible way. Ashtanga namaskar is a derivation of surya namaskar. Asht means eight in Sanskrit and anga means body. Thus comes the nomenclature, meaning eight parts of the body saluting together for self healing and fitness. This yoga posture provides a thorough massage to every curve of your body and flexing and working on every important part of the body, thus giving it the required strength and shape. Performing this yoga exercise helps the heart by providing much-needed exercise to the cardiac muscles and arteries. With synchronized breathing and body movements of ashtanga namaskar and chanting of mantras, it lightens up the piled up anger, agitations and anger within. The cleanses the soul and restores the lost radiance within, which reflects on your aura.

Pranayama
Prana means is breath in Sanskrit and the vital force of life in our general understanding and ayam means control. Thus pranayama means rhythmic control of breathing for a healthy body and mind. There are many types of pranayams practiced in various schools of yoga. Surya Bhedan, Bhasrika, Ujjayi, Shitali, Sitkari, Bhramari, Murchha & Plavini Pranayama are the breathing exercises practiced in Hatha Yoga. Anulom - Vilom, quiet breathing, deep breathing and fast breathing are some more breathing exercises that are popularly practiced by beginners to experience the mental and physical harmony, which is often hidden beneath the random rantings of the occupied mind.

Shavasana
The yoga basics end with Shavasna, which is the final yoga pose. A yoga exercise session surceases with shavasan. Shava refers to a dead body and asana, needless to say, means posture. Thus this yoga posture is about getting in a relaxed position, just like a corpse, which is ready to depart the material world and enter a new life filled with hope and energy. This yoga pose resembles a dead body which is worn out, fatigued, battered and bruised its spirit which reflects the outside. But as the asana comes to an end, it rejuvenates the body, nourishes its spirit and brings it back to life, which is blessed with good health, vigor and verve.

These are the four yoga basics to begin with. Yoga, as a form of traditional exercise, is a technique of directing the human personality beyond the whimpering of the harrowed life. It aims at uplifting the broken down spirit and unfolding its inner strength for peace within for a peace outside.