Category: Happiness

The ASANAS (poses)

iamdogstar

STANDING poses are invigorating. They refresh body and mind by removing tension, aches and pains. They stimulate digestion, regulate the kidneys and relieve constipation. They improve circulation and breathing. The back, hips, knees, neck and shoulders all gain strength and mobility through the practice of standing poses. Standing poses also teach the principles of correct and skeletally aligned movement. This is fundamental for the postures to become complete and for moving forward into everyday life where you can develop awareness of how to sit, stand, walk and run correctly.

CAUTIONS : Do not do standing poses if you suffer from medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems or nervous disorders. Do not practice during menstruation, in the first three months of pregnancy of if problems arise in pregnancy at any point (standing poses are strenuous). Do not jump into the poses if suffering knee or back injuries or if pregnant, instead walk the feet apart one at a time (when required).

SITTING poses are calming. They remove fatigue, refresh the brain and soothe the nerves. They regularize blood pressure and aid recovery from illness. They promote healthy sleep. They fall into two categories: upright postures that involve flexing the legs into differing positions and forward bends, where the trunk bends over the legs.

CAUTIONS : Do forward bends iwth concave movements if the lower back is weak and prone to backache or if suffering from depression. During pregnancy take care to avoid strain – utilise a belt or strap to catch the feet enabling the lower back and abdomen to lift upward.

TWISTS are very effective in relieving backaches, headaches and stiffness in the neck and shoulders. As the trunk turns, the kidneys and abdominal organs are activated and exercised. This improves digestion and sluggishness. The spine becomes flexible and the hips move more easily.

CAUTIONS : Do not do twists after recent operations or if suffering stomach or abdominal problems (especially hernia). Do not practice twists during pregnancy, except for Bharadvajasana (done gently).

SUPINE & PRONE poses include two categories of posture. They stretch the abdomen, increase mobility of the spine and they open hip and groins. Some strenthen the back, arms and legs, others are restful.

CAUTIONS : Do not do these poses after abdominal operations, during menstruation or in pregnancy. Supta Baddha or Supta Virasana can be practiced with bolsters.

INVERTED poses revitalise the whole system. They take the weight from the legs, relieving strain. By inverting the body, inner organs (parts of the which are sluggish) become activated. They improve circulation and tone the glandular system. They help concentration as blood is brought to the brain and these poses are marvellous aid to sleep. Sirsana (headstand) in particular activates the pituitary gland. Sarvangasana (the plough) strengthens the nervous system and the emotions : it activates the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

CAUTIONS : Do not do inverted poses during menstruation. Do not do inverted poses if suffering from high blood pressure, heart problems, detached retina or ear problems. If suffering from neck injuries seek advice. Remove contact lenses before practicing.

BALANCING develops lightness, strength and agility. Tremendous control is achieved over the body. Muscle tone is developed. Co-ordination and concentration increase.

CAUTIONS : No balancing 12-18 months after abdominal operations, during pregnancy or menstruation. Be careful if wrists are weak or injured.

BACKBENDS are rejuvenating. They give energy and courage and combat depression. They open the chest and make the spine flexible. The arms and shoulders become strong. The mind and body become alert.

CAUTIONS : Do not practice backbends if suffering from heart trouble, high blood pressure or other illnesses nor during menstruation or pregnancy. Bad back or knee injuries can be practiced but ony under supervision.

JUMPING is exhilarating and enjoyable and develops speed, alertness and stamina

ENJOY YOUR YOGA

UJJAYI breathing / Ocean Breath

iamdogstar

This breath technique / practice calms the mind by focussing on the breath – the interconnectedness of SOUND and PHYSICAL movement and stillness.

Mind and body intertwined. Ocean breath moves you into a state of serenity by overriding distractions (thoughts).

With closed mouth (glottis/larynx) inspire (inhale).

Allow air to pass through your constricted throat making a friction sound, like the Ocean (or imagine that Darth Vada haaaaaa sound)

This victorious (ocean) breath is soft, whispering like the wind through the trees or the waves coming to the shore

Persistent practice can reduce BMI – can improve weight reduction – it soothes the thyroid

Ocean breath stimulates the gland responsible for metabolism – so, if sluggish, utilise this breath to inspire, lift and increase the breath action

It stimulates the Vagus nerve and facilitates a relaxed response

Focus on breathing through the nose, ensure no force is used, have patience …..

JUST BE

iamdogstar

Sit Quietly

Watch

Observe Yourself

Grow

Remain quiet for longer periods of time

Allow life to flow through you whilst you sit in stillness

Be gentle and restorative

Breathe in and out taking slightly longer than you normally would

This will assist with an increase in circulation and oxygen flow

Your body and mind respond well to kindliness and tenderness

Re-connect with your natural human rhythms

STOP ! and LISTEN !

‘Proper’ Breathing

iamdogstar

Breathing exercises help us to control the breath, to bring a deep inner peace and a regulated flow of life energy. Many of us pay very little attention to our breath. It is important to be mindful of how you breathe for good ‘proper’ breathing revitalises the whole nervous system and brings harmony to all systems of the body and mind.

Yogic awareness of the breath can bring far reaching benefits

} decrease stress

} improve sleep quality

} increase mindfulness

} reduce blood pressure

} improve lung function

} enhance memory (cognitive performance)

} improve mental clarity

} develop lung capacity

} diminish anxiety and fear

} dissipate cravings and addictions

STOP ! CONNECT ! BREATHE

open the heart and make space – aim for a ‘state’ of self-compassion and acceptance

find a natural pace, live slower

Shanmukhi Mudra – a Mana Mudra (of the Head)

iamdogstar

Shanmukhi Mudra is a mudra of hands and head

It is used to close the six gates of perception : the eyes, the ears, the nose and the mouth

In the Sanskrit language Shan means six and Mukhi means face

Practice this to seal yourself from all surrounding chaos and to progress inward to hear your subtle vibrations

help build the energy in your body by withdrawing the senses (perception) to the outside world and instead turn inward to make a deeper connection with the self

by cutting off the sensory realm of ears, eyes, nose and mouth, your gaze follows a fixed focus inward

this practice becomes Nada Yoga – connecting to your inner sounds, removing fluctuations of the mind and aligning yourself to a state of calm

cultivate sensory withdrawal to meet with your inner self – see, hear, smell and taste You

Seven Minute Sofa Yoga Mudras

iamdogstar

a Mudra is a hand gesture and can enhance your yoga practice through the promotion of energy flow

very subtle changes can develop through the ‘sealing’ or ‘locking’ of energy

Mudras assist in the guidance and awakening of your ‘life force’

a deeper sense of overall health and well-being will expand from the simple practice of hand gesture

Yoga is your guide

iamdogstar

It comes to us all at some point in our lives … the calling. But do we listen? do we miss the opportunity to open ourselves to new potential both physically and mentally as a human being. Yoga is a choice. You can choose to ignore the calling and carry on regardless (yoga is for everyone but might not be considered so) or you can make the decision to practice because inherent in you is the realisation that it might just bring those health benefits you’ve been searching for. If you start your practice and then continue with patience and perseverence, not setting yourself any egotistical goals just for the form of the body, but for deeper and more meaningful wisdom of health for the lifetime journey, then you begin to experience changes for the better. You return time and again to your natural built-in state of preservation and maintenance because you feel the improvements taking place in your life. Remember, you are the Guardian of your well-being, and Yoga is your guide.

Yoga With Alicia blog

iamdogstar

This blog offers insightful and helpful documentation for your journey into and along the path of Yoga.

My writing regarding this scientific art aims to help ease transition into a potentially more positive and healthy soul and derives from many hours, days, months and years of studying, practising and teaching. I write a fusion of Iyengar, Hatha, Bikram and Shivananda Yoga.

That said, let’s begin with Hatha Yoga the ‘philosophy of physical well-being’.

Hatha Yoga is the branch of Yoga which deals with the physical body (its care, well-being, strength and health).

It teaches a natural mode of living promoting good health together with a heightened sense of inner peace and relaxation. Results can be immediate, lasting and powerful.

The tree of HathaYoga has its roots set in being grounded, tapping in to nourishment of the earth and its core elements and to then lift, rise, grow and elevate to the skies and universe above. The wisdom of it all is unrivalled.

The Yoga Tree Swan Pose

Hatha Yoga is a form of exercise that involves three components:

  • The 1st component : ‘Asanas’ – these are a series of postures that stretch, tone and nourish flesh, muscles and bones. They promote flexibility and suppleness of joints, help soothe and balance the nervous system and improve circulation, concentration and sleep.
  • The 2nd component :   ‘Pranayama’ – this is the ‘art’ of breathing. This series of breathing exercises helps induce a feeling of relaxed calm whilst decreasing levels of stress and tension felt within the mind and body. Understanding about breath is an immediate all round general health promoter.
  • The 3rd component :   ‘Dhyana’ – this is relaxation/meditation that encourages positive thinking, sharpens concentration and increases clarity of vision. It enables the mind to open fully and to embrace all possibilities whilst encouraging the ability to reach for full human life potential.

Biostrata ……….. continues 7

iamdogstar

Mind is intelligence, awareness, consciousness, perception, mind exists in and with everything. It is the inherent and most basic quality of active prana. Therefore you will see that the human body, being made up of prana and displaying infinite complex behaviour patterns, is also Mind.

Consciousness makes us see ourselves sometimes as ‘bodies’ and other times as ‘minds’.

It is always the observation (the point of view) which changes, not that which is being observed, and so it is, with every single one of us human beings, we can all be observed as mind, body or spirit.

Now upon having gathered the knowledge of all of the above we can now look at the true nature of Mind and consider too the 3 sections it is divided into …. Conscious, Subconscious and Unconscious.

The human ‘conscious’ mind belongs to the Sensory Stratum, the ‘subconscious’ and ‘unconscious’ belong to the Cellular Stratum, with the ‘unconscious’ reaching all the way down to the Pranic Stratum (after passing through the molecular and atomic strata too).

The conscious mind possesses a number of faculties, ‘Consciousness’ being just one of them.  Consciousness (otherwise termed ‘Awareness’) is introspective and results from exclusive components which make up a unit, i.e the consciousness of ‘cells’ and/or ‘molecules’ and the intelligence displayed therein of those components/units.  When awake and fully conscious, we rely on the combined consciousness of all cells for our normal functioning, together all combinations give us our Awareness.  During sleep however, ‘sensory’ consciousness can become ‘patchy’ as not all cells are still functioning, some have suspended their activities. Sensory experience (in sleep) is fragmentary and incomplete and inclined to seem slightly less ‘real’ than that of the fully awake sensory consciousness. Hence the phenomenon ‘Dreaming’.

All levels of the Biostrata need each other, no one level can exist without the others for this is all about a progressive, unifying process in the development of inert Prana to Human Being.

Communication throughout the Biostrata is strictly from one stratum to the adjacent stratum so it is not possible for say, the Sensory Stratum to communicate directly with the Molecular Stratum, the communication must pass through all intermediate strata wherever the communicating strata are not adjacent with each other. This communication is much the same as any form of communication, whereby it is an influencing of awareness of one entity, reaching out to the awareness of another.Usually this communication is for one of two reasons. Either for controlling the units of another stratum, or for the purpose of being controlled by the units of another stratum.

Consciousness is unique, it belongs to one unit and is its inherant part. when a number of units of one stratum unite they constitute a ‘complete’ unit in a higher stratum and thereby produce a ‘collective unit consciousness’ .. i.e another ‘one exlusive unit’.

Awareness (Human Consciousness) is the ‘agent’ for all communication in the Sensory Stratum, it is not only a ‘receiver’ susceptible to other strata but it is also a ‘transmitter’ which has capability of influencing all units of its own, and other, strata.

The Human Consciousness is better able to communicate with strata below its own level rather than the levels above and this makes it more understandable to us how we can appreciate being ‘stuck’ in the Sensory Strata, often unable to progress upwards to the Spiritual Strata. Consciousness marks the extent of our singular development within the Biostrata, having ascended from the Pranic Stratum and being made up of units of the Cellular, Molecular and Atomic Strata, you will understand that when any unit of the Sensory Stratum is communicating with units of the lower strata, it is indeed actually communicating with parts of itself.  Whenever we use our physical apparatus such as moving limbs or swallowing morsels of food we are communicating within the Cellular Stratum, making appropriate cells action and respond in accordance with our wishes, and those cells composed of molecules and atoms are all receiving communication from the Sensory Stratum, continuing, automatically, down and down the entire number of components until the Pranic Stratum is reached and all necessary communication has been actioned.  You will recognise for instance, when you are hungry, you are made aware of this by Sensory Consciousness, it is a message from the Cellular Stratum telling you (human consciousness) that you must eat. Therefore these are the busiest lines of communication, the interchange of influences between the Sensory Stratum and all strata below.

If you take yourself to your current level of Sensory Stratum you might think that communication on this level is the easiest but alas, even with all the lines of help brought about by Post, Radio, Telephone etc there still remains some of the most difficult, if not impossible obstructions regarding communications between human beings on a Sensory Level.

When a human being (one unit of the sensory stratum) communicates with another human being it is possible for there to be awareness of who is the receiver and who is the transmitter, both can occupy consicousness at the same time, however, when one human is communicating with another, what has to be remembered is that communication is happening with a ‘separate’ consciousness and therefore, this is not as easy as communication with one’s own component cells.  If you have little understanding of your own Sensory Self and all parts below (and above if possible) then you will have greater challenge in communicating with other conscious beings (especially if they have little or no understanding of their development).

Finally, to reach up and communicate to the strata above proves the most challenging and is probably the Sensory Stratum units’ upmost difficult communication. When a human being ‘reaches up’ it is doing so into the ‘unknown’ and the awareness is that of the actual reaching rather than of which level is being reached.  The Spiritual Stratum is intuitive and when the Sensory Stratum does manage to communicate with the Spiritual Stratum it receives intuition and inspiration. Human consciousness must expand and transcend the Sensory Stratum if it is to successfully communicate with the Spirit and the Godhead of the Biostrata. Only when Human consciousness has made itself receptive by negating the significance of all sensory stimuli can it expand, can it reach up, can it communicate with a unit of the Spiritual Stratum and thereupon receive Intuition and Inspiration.

Biostrata ….. continues 6

iamdogstar

Now the true nature of development is taking place. Between the Sensory Stratum and that of the Godhead, rests the Spiritual Stratum.

As shown already, the trend is ever upwards as the units of one stratum come together to form units in a higher stratum. Just as the cells join to form human bodies, human bodies also join and unite to form spiritual units.

The spiritual stratum is perhaps the most complex of all the Biostrata for the human bodies from the sensory stratum unite in specialized groups to form a plethora of interrelated unit types, those such as ‘family’ which is first in the field of spiritual unit types what with its genetic bonds and those qualities of unique loyalty. Then coming up closely behind the family unit is the vast and ever-widening racial unit. There are far less racial units than family units in the Spiritual Stratum and here is where complexity kicks in even more so for both family and racial units are dependent upon each other for their components (human bodies) and therein lies the fact that each race becomes composed of a greater number of families because more and more we find families belonging to more than one race.  Parents of differing races come together to make new families. Atop of all this we then have the multi-complex combining of units via nations, cultural societies, religion and religious organizations, politics and political groups, idealists and their seedlings.  Despite all of this mixed up overlapping, the spiritual intelligence is of the highest order, it is the link between the sensory (human) intelligence and the godhead infallible. Spiritual intelligence is infallible at its very best and far more reliable than sensory intelligence at its very worst.

Again, reverting to your triangle Biostrata diagram you will see that the Spiritual Stratum is but one step from the Godhead Infallible.  But what is infallibility?

The Godhead holds ‘exclusive’ rights to infallibility, being the most elevated level of intelligence. Being at the most elevated level of intelligence is always by courtesy of the Godhead for the complete Biostrata is an extension of the Godhead. All essential and absolute qualities for Life becoming ever more fallible and as yet, less vital as disintegration and dissipation co-exist in ever readiness to dilute existence back to the basic Pranic stratum, and as such behaviour and intelligence and all extensions exist only as an inert promise to great propensity.

Within the Biostrata, there are three possible states to existence and they are Life, Stagnation and Deterioration.

True Life exists when progress within the Biostrata is in upward motion, moving toward the Godhead. Any movement in the opposite downward motion is a resulting deterioration, life diminishing descent toward death. Stagnation is the state of there being such an enormous variety of inanimate substances present in the Universe about us. Inhibiting influence causes stagnation within a stratum, almost stopping the upward trend of the Life-state. Life forms from every level of evolution all play a role appropriate to its biostrata status and all of these so to contribute to the ascendance or descendance through life and death.

Life status is an ascent, Death status is from descent but stagnation occurs in an outward direction on a horizontal plane. All interact and influence each other and this can have a stabilizing effect but also ensures no single state can gain supremacy without a struggle.  Life is indeed a struggle, a continual battle against Stagnation and Death.  But deterioration does not just happen, it is brought on by units failing to resist the lure of stagnation. Instead of resisting stagnation, those units who collaborate will eventually lose their vitality and thus must surrender to Deterioration.

Dependent upon which state is exerting the greater influence at the time when stagnation is allowed to succeed on one particular level will rely heavily on whether Life continues or Death ensues and from this we can learn that Stagnation means remaining too long with the bounds of one stratum.

You will see this clearly in this so-called civilized world that there is far too much stagnation. Within the consciousness of almost every human being there is a choice to stay outbound in direction over the whole of the Sensory (mind) stratum of the Biostrata rather than continuing to expand upwards to the Spiritual Stratum and eventually the Godhead. Stagnating in the Sensory Stratum not only increases the struggle for existence but it so weakens life’s upward ‘thrust’ too – as a result, Deterioration’s chances of gaining supremacy greatly improve.

One of the biggest and most valuable lessons to learn from this piece of knowledge is that the most successful, wholesome form of life and living can be experienced whilst ascending the Biostrata. It would be most prudent to seek avoidance from stagnation and deterioration. Remembering that all of this applies to the impermanent Self (the bodily vehicle) for the Essential Self moves in one direction only, and that is toward Godhead enlightenment.

We have only to resist Stagnation in order to deter and delay Deterioration and prolong life as the impermanent Self thus hastening the Essential Self’s ascent to the ultimate haven of spiritual bliss – the Godhead.