A special memories to all the Indian teachers they lit me the bright way towards yoga, they are Mohan , Dhiren , Chandraveer.
First gave me the feel of yoga was HK teacher Gary who taught me yoga asanas and recommanded me to Dickson . Most important part is a DVD and book of a true Indian
yoga teacher Mohan were given to me then my eye can be widen to see the field in yoga is so wide and deep.
Remember the day me and my colleagues to find Yogiyoga yoga center in GZ Tin Ho park which is very large and without clear road map that we had round the park for nearly an hour but still couldn't found it , already wanted to give up then at entrance saw the sign, the center was in a quiet and surrounded by woods ( center belongs to Mohan's wife )
Receptionist was a sweet girl who offered tea and offered a free lesson for us to try before join. Then saw a girl practising with difficult asanas, who said just joined for a month, so good to be like that so we arranged a date for free lesson trial.
My spine waqs very poor that time so we choose a spine yoga , teacher was Indian , after lesson feel good although my back still pain.We signed contract for one year.
Then start my yoga practise every week , Mohan , husband of center owner was my idol but he stayed in Beijin I seldom saw him, one day his brother came from Beijin to join GZ for lesson , he taught Iyanga and Astanga, I joined his Iyanga and Hatha , day by day my interest in yoga was increased , not for a occupation for yoga job but I still join the teacher training course again ( although I already have cert from HK Dickson yoga )teacher was an ugly Indian and me with serious back pain sitting at the mat for whole day really killing me but I still very conventrated in the lesson as all were new to me.
Bcos of the back pain , I hire an Indian teacher for a private teaching. First was a happy time but later when he had Chinese girl friend then felt his want to rush back after each lesson then I quit his lesson , bcos when doing corp pose , it's relax and quiet but he already changing clothes made me sick about the noise and disturbance and his non professional in the class arranging, I beleived in his whole life he'll never know why I drop his class in a sudden ( he always proud of his good look , many female members were crazy and chase after him )
To avoid any ambarrassing to bump into him , I joined another yoga center Rama yoga, there I met Amin an Iraq teacher , he knew how to teach and make student comfortable
but he left after breaking up with his girl friend she's owner of the center.
The first encounter with a Raja yoga teacher Ranjay was a disastrous as he always pressed me to extreme I complained after the lesson, funny later he changed his way in teaching then I like to join his lesson.
The most important teacher in my yoga journey was the meeting of Chandraveer from Dehli , he know my back problem then offered to give me free lessons , then I was so greedy that for few free lesson it turn out I asked more and more , much later he also taught me theories in yoga , he 's so generous to give what he learn to me , so with gratitude and great respect I always repay him by means of material things, he always rejected to receive but I always find way to push that to him.
Then later went to India for yoga learning , that will begin yoga 3 -India
2008年11月1日 星期六
2008年9月30日 星期二
My Yoga Journey 1-2-3 ( Hong Kong )
The intermediate class was real hard , my private teacher Gary did not think good for my attending, but other private teacher Patrick said yoga could be obtained by hard working, anyway , after hectic and boring dialy office work it's nice to have other students getting together , chatting ;laughing and helping each other.
A Japanese joined in , Dickson assigned me as his partner , when demo teacher i have to speak Eng to him, imagine the explanation in Chinese already hard , in Eng then it's a bouble up hardship, that guy was nice that time was easy to pass with him.
Then the trouble come , Dickson paired us for playing teacher and student , the girl assign as my partner one day was using great force to bend me forward ( in sitting pose ) felt the sharp pain afterward.( this is a very good reminder that never using force to bend someone that isn't flexible , it will hurt other without knowing it)
Then , ceased the TTC training with ten thousands of dollors reamin in Dickson Yoga later become a wastage.
The chaper in Hong Kong for yoga 1 was ended , to be continue ...........China 2
A Japanese joined in , Dickson assigned me as his partner , when demo teacher i have to speak Eng to him, imagine the explanation in Chinese already hard , in Eng then it's a bouble up hardship, that guy was nice that time was easy to pass with him.
Then the trouble come , Dickson paired us for playing teacher and student , the girl assign as my partner one day was using great force to bend me forward ( in sitting pose ) felt the sharp pain afterward.( this is a very good reminder that never using force to bend someone that isn't flexible , it will hurt other without knowing it)
Then , ceased the TTC training with ten thousands of dollors reamin in Dickson Yoga later become a wastage.
The chaper in Hong Kong for yoga 1 was ended , to be continue ...........China 2
2008年9月28日 星期日
My Yoga Journey 1-2-3 ( Hong Kong )
Yoga teacher training started day I felt so excited, went to Wan Chai Dickson Yoga early 30 mins. the reception girl saw me with weir expression , later I knew that Dickson never started his class on time so it's no need to be early, waiting with other TTC students for quite a long time.
When finally began I saw Dickson the first time, he's short in build but his skin so transparent and with healthy color , I asked him how he kept in such good condition , his skin was even better then girls , he said bcos of yoga and vegan, but taken meat for so many years it's hard to cut it.
The asistance was a fatty girl , she's just finsihed her TTc and help in the class for experience but when we doing downward facing dog she pushed me real hard for my forehead to touch ground , she's too brutal , i decided if any member choose teacher she would be out from student's list & took this as example I would never like this. She just came for few lessons then disappeared , might be Dickson also found her short coming.
Dickson taught us all the techniques in class ( even how to handle accidents )how to improve other's skill etc, just asanas ( poses )but no yoga theory. He also taught pranayama ( breathing ) a bit.
In the class a few student were from China, their demo with heavy accent always made us laugh , and some girls dressed sexily , hope those males could concentrate and not be affected.
In the class I found I was the poorer one , so when the new assistance came I asked his private lesson on how to teach and improve other skill.He charged $500 per lesson.Teacher Patrick was a multi hobbies man , he's in the field of stock and financa but he also incharge Dickson's constructing new center , screw diffing, running yoga center, and dating etc, didn't know how he arrange his time.
In Dickson's lesons we had to learn all basic poses and each pose we needed to remember how to tell it's benefit, quite hard when one need to demo pose and speak at the same time.
After nearly a year practise , the most horrible time for exam was coming. Rehearsal few times with Patrick , he said that I was too nervous , sometimes I would think I wasn't aim to be a teacher why should I bother with the exam that make me that tight in nerve.
The exam with few judges ( including Patrick ) my leading the class wasn't good bcos a fat boy in the class was a real first time beginner ( usually second level teachers would be pretend as beginner but suddenly changed a real one , it's killing me to help him at each pose )It's horrible but Dickson let me passed and I paid for the intermediate TTC
To be continue..............HK2
When finally began I saw Dickson the first time, he's short in build but his skin so transparent and with healthy color , I asked him how he kept in such good condition , his skin was even better then girls , he said bcos of yoga and vegan, but taken meat for so many years it's hard to cut it.
The asistance was a fatty girl , she's just finsihed her TTc and help in the class for experience but when we doing downward facing dog she pushed me real hard for my forehead to touch ground , she's too brutal , i decided if any member choose teacher she would be out from student's list & took this as example I would never like this. She just came for few lessons then disappeared , might be Dickson also found her short coming.
Dickson taught us all the techniques in class ( even how to handle accidents )how to improve other's skill etc, just asanas ( poses )but no yoga theory. He also taught pranayama ( breathing ) a bit.
In the class a few student were from China, their demo with heavy accent always made us laugh , and some girls dressed sexily , hope those males could concentrate and not be affected.
In the class I found I was the poorer one , so when the new assistance came I asked his private lesson on how to teach and improve other skill.He charged $500 per lesson.Teacher Patrick was a multi hobbies man , he's in the field of stock and financa but he also incharge Dickson's constructing new center , screw diffing, running yoga center, and dating etc, didn't know how he arrange his time.
In Dickson's lesons we had to learn all basic poses and each pose we needed to remember how to tell it's benefit, quite hard when one need to demo pose and speak at the same time.
After nearly a year practise , the most horrible time for exam was coming. Rehearsal few times with Patrick , he said that I was too nervous , sometimes I would think I wasn't aim to be a teacher why should I bother with the exam that make me that tight in nerve.
The exam with few judges ( including Patrick ) my leading the class wasn't good bcos a fat boy in the class was a real first time beginner ( usually second level teachers would be pretend as beginner but suddenly changed a real one , it's killing me to help him at each pose )It's horrible but Dickson let me passed and I paid for the intermediate TTC
To be continue..............HK2
2008年9月27日 星期六
My Yoga Journey 1 -2- 3 ( Hong Kong )
If I do not write it down I afraid that the inprint in my mind will be evaperated one day and it's a pity.
In year 1999 my body was getting fatter and and fatter , one day when I bought the swimming suit & looked at the mirror I saw few wheels of fat around my body , so ugly so i decided that i need to get back to my shape.
Enroled to Miselok nutrition control with few thousand dollors, my advisor Josephine was a beautiful lady she helped me to plan my food , at the beginning her recipe to me to eat was very large then gradually reduce. Beside calories control I need to attend exercise classes , I joined nearly all available classes , it's fun especially trainer Gary was a handsome guy , a bonus for hard working, after few months my company moved into China I could not attend any regular class so I joined
Gary's private lesson that's expensive but for good shape I got no choice.
Besides Gary's class I also joined California fitness and Physical, spending lot of moneys, today when I looked back I doubt about the neccessity for wasting so much moneys.
One day my private lesson was interrupted by Gary's yoga trainer training exam, he asked me if I want to see other's performance ,I got nothing to do then I followed to see what's going on, the trainees were with different age and some with poor performance. After the good show it triggered my interest , i begged Gary to teach me TTC but he refused , he said if I joined his class I could not bear his strightness , he brought me to Dickson yoga to get information about how to join the beginner yoga TTC. To be continue..............hk1
In year 1999 my body was getting fatter and and fatter , one day when I bought the swimming suit & looked at the mirror I saw few wheels of fat around my body , so ugly so i decided that i need to get back to my shape.
Enroled to Miselok nutrition control with few thousand dollors, my advisor Josephine was a beautiful lady she helped me to plan my food , at the beginning her recipe to me to eat was very large then gradually reduce. Beside calories control I need to attend exercise classes , I joined nearly all available classes , it's fun especially trainer Gary was a handsome guy , a bonus for hard working, after few months my company moved into China I could not attend any regular class so I joined
Gary's private lesson that's expensive but for good shape I got no choice.
Besides Gary's class I also joined California fitness and Physical, spending lot of moneys, today when I looked back I doubt about the neccessity for wasting so much moneys.
One day my private lesson was interrupted by Gary's yoga trainer training exam, he asked me if I want to see other's performance ,I got nothing to do then I followed to see what's going on, the trainees were with different age and some with poor performance. After the good show it triggered my interest , i begged Gary to teach me TTC but he refused , he said if I joined his class I could not bear his strightness , he brought me to Dickson yoga to get information about how to join the beginner yoga TTC. To be continue..............hk1
2008年9月7日 星期日
yoga & Health
Yoga and Health
Written By Tradyann Ferraiuolo
Yoga is not one thing but many practices that lead to the same goal to become enlightened. Yoga is becoming more and more popular in the west now that we have the knowledge and ideologies behind it that relate to our health. There are many types of Yoga; however they all are practiced to enlighten our mind, our physical bodies, and our souls. Yoga is mysticism and some of its principles are a part of many religions. Yoga is not a sport but it is an exercise that can be practiced by anyone at their own ability. The poses can be modified for people with conditions such as high blood pressure, limited suppleness, and if one is pregnant.
The type of Yoga that I am going to focus on is Hatha Yoga. This Yoga is a practice that involves poses, breathing techniques, cleansing the body and meditation. All of these elements combined are what contribute to a strong healthy, cleansed body and mind.
Hatha is the combination of the word sun and moon. The breath through the left nostril is the moon, and the breath from the right nostril is the sun. Breathing through the nostrils harmonizes positive and negative energy and male and female energies. It is a practice that leads to relaxation and a healthy life. It is a way to purify the body of impurities in and out. It also is associated with hygiene.
The poses that Yogis practice are mainly what contribute to the physical body. The practices of these poses strengthen the muscles; improve flexibility and suppleness, aid in digestion, and a way to massage many internal organs. It is very important to warm up the body by stretching and performing some limber ups so that injury will not occur. Warm-ups and limber-ups are very important in a yoga class especially for beginners. They circulate blood, and loosen up muscles and joints. These procedures can prevent injury. Some important warm-ups are standing and twisting the waist, standing and bending the back backwards, placing your body in a divers position, and the spinal rock.
The spinal rock is very important and is performed by sitting and hugging your knees to your chest. Then allow your body to rock backward and exhale and inhale as you come back up. This is great for the spine. The neck should also be warmed up by placing turning the neck to the left and right so that the ear touches the shoulder.
This can be enhanced by using you hand to put slight pressure on the head to achieve a maximum stretch. Sitting with the legs straight out and reaching the arms as far down the legs as possible is a great stretch for the back and the hamstrings. This is similar to the standing stretch when you lean over like a limp doll and reach as far to the ground as possible.
Sitting postures are very important. The main goals of asanas or postures are to purify and condition the mind and body. They also affect mental health and muscular tone, and hygiene. Asanas massage and exercise the body in and out.
One very popular asana that is a sitting posture is called easy posture. This posture is one of the simplest sitting poses, yet it is very important. The legs are crossed tailors style and the knees should be as close to the floor as possible to achieve a maximum stretch for ones own body. It is very important that the neck, cervical spine, thoracic spine, the lumbar spine and the sacrum are all in a straight line perpendicular to the floor without arching. The hands should be placed on the knees. The goal of this posture is to strengthen the spine and improve posture and also to stretch the thigh muscles to be more supple and able to touch the floor with ease.
This posture will usually be replaced with the lotus position as one becomes more advanced. There is the full lotus is also a cross legged position but it is most difficult and not always mastered. Both legs are folded with the knees to the floor and the feet are placed on the opposite thighs. This posture provides excellent stability. This posture is modified by placing one leg on the opposite thigh and the other is placed the way it is placed in easy posture.
There are standing and laying postures as well. Some of them are meant to relax the body and release stress and tension. Stress can have severe negative effects to the body and take years off a normal life span. Some of these postures are posture, salaam posture, child posture, cat posture, and crocodile posture. These postures keep the spine aligned so that breathing can be controlled.
Breathing during holding postures and meditating is very important. When practicing Yoga, breathing through the nose is the correct way to breath. This is called Pranayama, or Yogic breathing. It is a way that we use energy without exercising. Retention of breathing is another way that our body uses energy. Some methods used by Yogis to achieve perfect relaxation are finding a quiet environment, clearing your mind of distractions, yogic breathing, and positioning the body in a comfortable pose.
The ratio of inhalation and exhalation in advanced Yoga is 1:4:2. This means that the holding of the breath or Kumbaka, should be held the longest because it is believed to allow the breath to diffuse more efficiently. However a more realistic ratio for beginners is 1:1:1 or 1:1:2. In all cases of yogic deep breathing, the process is inhalation, pause, exhalation, pause and repeat.
Yogis also follow a healthy diet and practice many hygiene rituals to cleanse the inside of the body. Some of these practices are very old and are not as common in the west. The general purpose of these practices is to cleanse the colon, the stomach, the eyes, and the nostrils. Trataka is a cleansing process that cleans the eyes by gazing, not staring, at an object without blinking until the eyes water. Basti is a colonic procedure that cleans and purifies the digestive system. It is done by squatting one ones heels with the buttocks in water. This can also be done today by using an enema. This process and all the hygienic procedures are to beautify the body.
It is believed that it is beneficial to be a vegetarian and that eating animals and flesh is harmful to our health. Diseases such as cancer and of the heart are more popular among carnivores. It is also beneficial to be a vegetarian because the food ingested by a vegetarian is easier to digest then meat. This puts less strain on the liver and other vital digestive organs.
Meditation is also a crucial part to Yoga and a healthy stress free lifestyle. It is said that Pranayama and mediation should be performed everyday or twice a day. Pranayama should be 15-20 minutes in a session and mediation about the same. A new Yogi may have to work up to 30 minutes of mediation by practicing each day and increasing the time spent in mediation. The best position is to sit up so that one does not fall asleep. If the mind drifts try and come back to the mediation by focusing on the breathing and listening. Pranayama has many benefits to the body and respiratory system. It also cleanses the bloodstream, massages internal organs, improves digestion and calms the mind. Mediation is also a calming and cleansing of the mind and helps in finding oneself or the I.
Mediation and finding one true self is one of the most important parts of practicing Yoga. Some beginners find it very difficult to relax so calming music can be used for beginners but is ideal to mediate in silence. Some people repeat mantras or words when they are mediating such as ohm. Guided mediation is another form of relaxing but it is guided by listening to someone speaking and using your imagination to achieve a sense of relaxation and peace.
Another way to relax is called stage by stage relaxation. This is usually done in the corpse position. The student should control his/her breathing for a few minutes and then isolate and bring attention to each muscle. Every muscle from the toes to the face should be isolated and relaxed by listening to or thinking about relaxing each muscle in the mind. A pastoral or tranquil scene can also be visualized or soothing music to aid in relaxation.
Chakras are powers heightened during mediation. Chakras are centers in the body or concentration points in the physical body. There are seven in Kundalini Yoga. Root center is the chakra between the anus and the genitals. The pelvic center is the location of the genitals. Solar Plexus is another chakra. The heart center is located at the heart. The throat centre is at the throat. The Brow centre is right between the eye brows. It is also known as the third eye. Lastly, the crown of the head center is located at the cerebrum. This is the place of self realization.
The goal of Yogic teaching is to help find inner consciousness. It is a practice that purifies mind, body and soul. It has physical and psychical components, as well as breathing, cleansing, and beautifying the body. Two different aspects of Yoga science are the views of the East and West. In the West they focus on conquering nature such as life outside of the human consciousness. In the East they believe to look within one, and find the secret of nature. Today both views are acknowledged. Prana is a life force and cosmic energy in the breath of life. It is in our respiration, circulation, and digestion. It is the most important force of every being.The main storage center for Prana is the solar plexus which is the pit of the stomach. This holding of Prana helps in warming up any part of the body and mind control.
The main goal for all the Yogas is to produce enlightenment of the mind, a healthful lifestyle and purification of the physical, mental body, and the soul. The benefits of posturing are steadiness the body and the mind, health, suppleness, psychophysical poise, and perfecting the body and benefitting the internal organs. Meditation is very beneficial to a yogi. It helps cleanse the mind and relieve stress and to promote tranquility. The supreme goal is to find ones true self. The body, the breath and the mind are all cleansed. Meditation is mental hygiene.
I think Yoga is growing more and more in the west because of there is more stress and pressure than ever before. People are learning more and more about the dangers of stress and anxiety and how it can take years off ones life. Westerners are looking for a new alternative than prescription drugs and therapy. Yoga is a practice that strengthens mind body and soul. It is also a great practice to enjoy a fulfilled and healthy lifestyle.
Tradyann Ferraiuolo is a certified Yoga teacher from Staten Island, New York.
Written By Tradyann Ferraiuolo
Yoga is not one thing but many practices that lead to the same goal to become enlightened. Yoga is becoming more and more popular in the west now that we have the knowledge and ideologies behind it that relate to our health. There are many types of Yoga; however they all are practiced to enlighten our mind, our physical bodies, and our souls. Yoga is mysticism and some of its principles are a part of many religions. Yoga is not a sport but it is an exercise that can be practiced by anyone at their own ability. The poses can be modified for people with conditions such as high blood pressure, limited suppleness, and if one is pregnant.
The type of Yoga that I am going to focus on is Hatha Yoga. This Yoga is a practice that involves poses, breathing techniques, cleansing the body and meditation. All of these elements combined are what contribute to a strong healthy, cleansed body and mind.
Hatha is the combination of the word sun and moon. The breath through the left nostril is the moon, and the breath from the right nostril is the sun. Breathing through the nostrils harmonizes positive and negative energy and male and female energies. It is a practice that leads to relaxation and a healthy life. It is a way to purify the body of impurities in and out. It also is associated with hygiene.
The poses that Yogis practice are mainly what contribute to the physical body. The practices of these poses strengthen the muscles; improve flexibility and suppleness, aid in digestion, and a way to massage many internal organs. It is very important to warm up the body by stretching and performing some limber ups so that injury will not occur. Warm-ups and limber-ups are very important in a yoga class especially for beginners. They circulate blood, and loosen up muscles and joints. These procedures can prevent injury. Some important warm-ups are standing and twisting the waist, standing and bending the back backwards, placing your body in a divers position, and the spinal rock.
The spinal rock is very important and is performed by sitting and hugging your knees to your chest. Then allow your body to rock backward and exhale and inhale as you come back up. This is great for the spine. The neck should also be warmed up by placing turning the neck to the left and right so that the ear touches the shoulder.
This can be enhanced by using you hand to put slight pressure on the head to achieve a maximum stretch. Sitting with the legs straight out and reaching the arms as far down the legs as possible is a great stretch for the back and the hamstrings. This is similar to the standing stretch when you lean over like a limp doll and reach as far to the ground as possible.
Sitting postures are very important. The main goals of asanas or postures are to purify and condition the mind and body. They also affect mental health and muscular tone, and hygiene. Asanas massage and exercise the body in and out.
One very popular asana that is a sitting posture is called easy posture. This posture is one of the simplest sitting poses, yet it is very important. The legs are crossed tailors style and the knees should be as close to the floor as possible to achieve a maximum stretch for ones own body. It is very important that the neck, cervical spine, thoracic spine, the lumbar spine and the sacrum are all in a straight line perpendicular to the floor without arching. The hands should be placed on the knees. The goal of this posture is to strengthen the spine and improve posture and also to stretch the thigh muscles to be more supple and able to touch the floor with ease.
This posture will usually be replaced with the lotus position as one becomes more advanced. There is the full lotus is also a cross legged position but it is most difficult and not always mastered. Both legs are folded with the knees to the floor and the feet are placed on the opposite thighs. This posture provides excellent stability. This posture is modified by placing one leg on the opposite thigh and the other is placed the way it is placed in easy posture.
There are standing and laying postures as well. Some of them are meant to relax the body and release stress and tension. Stress can have severe negative effects to the body and take years off a normal life span. Some of these postures are posture, salaam posture, child posture, cat posture, and crocodile posture. These postures keep the spine aligned so that breathing can be controlled.
Breathing during holding postures and meditating is very important. When practicing Yoga, breathing through the nose is the correct way to breath. This is called Pranayama, or Yogic breathing. It is a way that we use energy without exercising. Retention of breathing is another way that our body uses energy. Some methods used by Yogis to achieve perfect relaxation are finding a quiet environment, clearing your mind of distractions, yogic breathing, and positioning the body in a comfortable pose.
The ratio of inhalation and exhalation in advanced Yoga is 1:4:2. This means that the holding of the breath or Kumbaka, should be held the longest because it is believed to allow the breath to diffuse more efficiently. However a more realistic ratio for beginners is 1:1:1 or 1:1:2. In all cases of yogic deep breathing, the process is inhalation, pause, exhalation, pause and repeat.
Yogis also follow a healthy diet and practice many hygiene rituals to cleanse the inside of the body. Some of these practices are very old and are not as common in the west. The general purpose of these practices is to cleanse the colon, the stomach, the eyes, and the nostrils. Trataka is a cleansing process that cleans the eyes by gazing, not staring, at an object without blinking until the eyes water. Basti is a colonic procedure that cleans and purifies the digestive system. It is done by squatting one ones heels with the buttocks in water. This can also be done today by using an enema. This process and all the hygienic procedures are to beautify the body.
It is believed that it is beneficial to be a vegetarian and that eating animals and flesh is harmful to our health. Diseases such as cancer and of the heart are more popular among carnivores. It is also beneficial to be a vegetarian because the food ingested by a vegetarian is easier to digest then meat. This puts less strain on the liver and other vital digestive organs.
Meditation is also a crucial part to Yoga and a healthy stress free lifestyle. It is said that Pranayama and mediation should be performed everyday or twice a day. Pranayama should be 15-20 minutes in a session and mediation about the same. A new Yogi may have to work up to 30 minutes of mediation by practicing each day and increasing the time spent in mediation. The best position is to sit up so that one does not fall asleep. If the mind drifts try and come back to the mediation by focusing on the breathing and listening. Pranayama has many benefits to the body and respiratory system. It also cleanses the bloodstream, massages internal organs, improves digestion and calms the mind. Mediation is also a calming and cleansing of the mind and helps in finding oneself or the I.
Mediation and finding one true self is one of the most important parts of practicing Yoga. Some beginners find it very difficult to relax so calming music can be used for beginners but is ideal to mediate in silence. Some people repeat mantras or words when they are mediating such as ohm. Guided mediation is another form of relaxing but it is guided by listening to someone speaking and using your imagination to achieve a sense of relaxation and peace.
Another way to relax is called stage by stage relaxation. This is usually done in the corpse position. The student should control his/her breathing for a few minutes and then isolate and bring attention to each muscle. Every muscle from the toes to the face should be isolated and relaxed by listening to or thinking about relaxing each muscle in the mind. A pastoral or tranquil scene can also be visualized or soothing music to aid in relaxation.
Chakras are powers heightened during mediation. Chakras are centers in the body or concentration points in the physical body. There are seven in Kundalini Yoga. Root center is the chakra between the anus and the genitals. The pelvic center is the location of the genitals. Solar Plexus is another chakra. The heart center is located at the heart. The throat centre is at the throat. The Brow centre is right between the eye brows. It is also known as the third eye. Lastly, the crown of the head center is located at the cerebrum. This is the place of self realization.
The goal of Yogic teaching is to help find inner consciousness. It is a practice that purifies mind, body and soul. It has physical and psychical components, as well as breathing, cleansing, and beautifying the body. Two different aspects of Yoga science are the views of the East and West. In the West they focus on conquering nature such as life outside of the human consciousness. In the East they believe to look within one, and find the secret of nature. Today both views are acknowledged. Prana is a life force and cosmic energy in the breath of life. It is in our respiration, circulation, and digestion. It is the most important force of every being.The main storage center for Prana is the solar plexus which is the pit of the stomach. This holding of Prana helps in warming up any part of the body and mind control.
The main goal for all the Yogas is to produce enlightenment of the mind, a healthful lifestyle and purification of the physical, mental body, and the soul. The benefits of posturing are steadiness the body and the mind, health, suppleness, psychophysical poise, and perfecting the body and benefitting the internal organs. Meditation is very beneficial to a yogi. It helps cleanse the mind and relieve stress and to promote tranquility. The supreme goal is to find ones true self. The body, the breath and the mind are all cleansed. Meditation is mental hygiene.
I think Yoga is growing more and more in the west because of there is more stress and pressure than ever before. People are learning more and more about the dangers of stress and anxiety and how it can take years off ones life. Westerners are looking for a new alternative than prescription drugs and therapy. Yoga is a practice that strengthens mind body and soul. It is also a great practice to enjoy a fulfilled and healthy lifestyle.
Tradyann Ferraiuolo is a certified Yoga teacher from Staten Island, New York.
2008年8月28日 星期四
Attitude Training in Yoga Therapy
In yoga therapy there are many misconceptions. Most of the asana and Pranayam are classified as if they are for particular physical or mental problems. For example, Matsyendrasan is “good” for a diabetic patient or Savasana is good for controlling high blood pressure. However, many patients suffer from multiple problems. If the person is over weight and can’t even sit on the ground, how you are going to teach him Matsyendrasan?
Any one pose or Pranayam cannot cure any particular physical, mental or psychosomatic problem!
As a matter of fact, only asana or Pranayam is not going to help if it is done in a mechanical pattern or form. There are other factors, which are playing a major role in the recovery process. The Yoga therapist must and should impart the technology and philosophy of this science while providing the training to their patients. Plus the traditional poses are not at all suitable to the needs of the man of this age where our life style is completely different from those of the old days! It is very important to teach more simplified versions as Yoga is non-specific when it comes to effective and positive results, especially if other factors are not incorporated, for example, diet, routine, positive attitude, openness to accept the changes and learning new healthy habits etc. These other factors are:
Awareness: A person who is practicing yoga as a therapy must understand the reason for this practice. It is not important that the pose should be perfect in order to get its benefits but more important is the awareness of the body and attitude.
Concept: The concept of the pose and Pranayam must be explained and should be very clear before its practice. The scientific explanation is a must.
Commitment: There has to be a commitment from both the sides – the therapist and the practitioner. There must be a mutual understanding that one is there to explain & teach and the other is there to learn, recover and gain.
Dedication: Quite often people are taking up Yoga as an experiment. Some times when all other doors are closed, they come to yoga practices and expect a miracle or instant change or recovery! Just as there is a big difference in Allopathic medicines and Herbal medicines, likewise there is a big difference between other holistic physical training and yoga. Once the person feels some positive results, he has to practice on a regular basis as a routine. Once a week, one-hour practice is not going to help!
Trust and faith: Just as a patient trusts his doctor or any other health practitioner, in the same way there has to be a faith & trust in whatever the patient is practicing during Yoga therapeutic sessions. It is very important that a good rapport is maintained during the treatment and follow-up sessions.
Attitude: Often, people who believe in other faiths or religions are not ready for certain yoga practices when it comes to the philosophy and devotional practices for relaxation and meditation. The attitude is that ‘I want to learn yoga but I don’t want to learn the philosophy; I’m here to learn only poses and breathing.’ In other words, ‘I want to learn swimming but without getting wet!’ Here, it is very important for a therapist to provide the scientific explanations instead of giving the religious reasons. All yoga practices are based on the laws of the nature and nature has nothing to do with various faiths or religions. It is very true that the science of Yoga was developed in India and majority of Hindu persons practice that. The base is of Hindu faith – but as a way of life. All Hindu scriptures and literature are explaining Yoga and its various paths. To teach and learn Yoga, one has to have some sort of knowledge of Bhagawat Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Hath-yoga Pradipika and such texts.
Here the intention is not to teach the religion but the philosophy behind the practice. If certain techniques are practiced with a certain attitude, then it helps more than just a mechanical practice. E.g. Chanting of OM as a universal sound!
Many attitudes are cultivated while practicing any pose. Each and every move can provide a space to learn a certain attitude if explained and developed during its regular practice. It could be from the gross to the subtlest level! That will help the patient in the long run to change his life style and in cultivating healthy habits for good!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This article has been written by Manjari Bhatt, She is Yoga Teacher & Therapist and Founder of Yoga Education Centre Ontario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Courtesy: http://www.healthandyoga.com A popular website that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification.
Discover health and beauty…. Naturally!!
Any one pose or Pranayam cannot cure any particular physical, mental or psychosomatic problem!
As a matter of fact, only asana or Pranayam is not going to help if it is done in a mechanical pattern or form. There are other factors, which are playing a major role in the recovery process. The Yoga therapist must and should impart the technology and philosophy of this science while providing the training to their patients. Plus the traditional poses are not at all suitable to the needs of the man of this age where our life style is completely different from those of the old days! It is very important to teach more simplified versions as Yoga is non-specific when it comes to effective and positive results, especially if other factors are not incorporated, for example, diet, routine, positive attitude, openness to accept the changes and learning new healthy habits etc. These other factors are:
Awareness: A person who is practicing yoga as a therapy must understand the reason for this practice. It is not important that the pose should be perfect in order to get its benefits but more important is the awareness of the body and attitude.
Concept: The concept of the pose and Pranayam must be explained and should be very clear before its practice. The scientific explanation is a must.
Commitment: There has to be a commitment from both the sides – the therapist and the practitioner. There must be a mutual understanding that one is there to explain & teach and the other is there to learn, recover and gain.
Dedication: Quite often people are taking up Yoga as an experiment. Some times when all other doors are closed, they come to yoga practices and expect a miracle or instant change or recovery! Just as there is a big difference in Allopathic medicines and Herbal medicines, likewise there is a big difference between other holistic physical training and yoga. Once the person feels some positive results, he has to practice on a regular basis as a routine. Once a week, one-hour practice is not going to help!
Trust and faith: Just as a patient trusts his doctor or any other health practitioner, in the same way there has to be a faith & trust in whatever the patient is practicing during Yoga therapeutic sessions. It is very important that a good rapport is maintained during the treatment and follow-up sessions.
Attitude: Often, people who believe in other faiths or religions are not ready for certain yoga practices when it comes to the philosophy and devotional practices for relaxation and meditation. The attitude is that ‘I want to learn yoga but I don’t want to learn the philosophy; I’m here to learn only poses and breathing.’ In other words, ‘I want to learn swimming but without getting wet!’ Here, it is very important for a therapist to provide the scientific explanations instead of giving the religious reasons. All yoga practices are based on the laws of the nature and nature has nothing to do with various faiths or religions. It is very true that the science of Yoga was developed in India and majority of Hindu persons practice that. The base is of Hindu faith – but as a way of life. All Hindu scriptures and literature are explaining Yoga and its various paths. To teach and learn Yoga, one has to have some sort of knowledge of Bhagawat Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Hath-yoga Pradipika and such texts.
Here the intention is not to teach the religion but the philosophy behind the practice. If certain techniques are practiced with a certain attitude, then it helps more than just a mechanical practice. E.g. Chanting of OM as a universal sound!
Many attitudes are cultivated while practicing any pose. Each and every move can provide a space to learn a certain attitude if explained and developed during its regular practice. It could be from the gross to the subtlest level! That will help the patient in the long run to change his life style and in cultivating healthy habits for good!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This article has been written by Manjari Bhatt, She is Yoga Teacher & Therapist and Founder of Yoga Education Centre Ontario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Courtesy: http://www.healthandyoga.com A popular website that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification.
Discover health and beauty…. Naturally!!
2008年8月25日 星期一
靜坐和冥想
靜坐和冥想 目標相同
坊間談禪修、靜坐的書很多，教如何禪坐的單位也不少，相信有不少朋友已經去修習過了。不過，您會發覺，如何讓自己「靜」下來、「定」下來，各有各的說法，莫哀一是。
以英文來說，不論靜坐或是想，都是Meditation。但中文就有不同意義，也代表不同境界。基本上，靜坐與冥想的目標相同，都是透過練習，讓我們的身體與心靈都靜下來，達到什麼都不想，無我的狀態。到達那個狀態，可以說是「三摩地」，也就是瑜伽的最高境界，是心中水波不興，完全靜止的情況。
但是，這種無我的狀態非常難到達，除了不斷的練習之外，加上一些幫忙會好一點。靜坐(有人叫禪坐，它們兩者非常接近)和冥想就是幫助我們達到無我的最高境界的過程。不過，這兩者有過程上的差異。
靜坐，望文生義，就是坐在那邊儘量什麼都不想。冥想則相反，我們在冥想中是有主題的，思想儘量圍著它繞。
冥想想什麼？
您在靜坐與冥想之間，可以同時並行(早上練冥想，晚上練靜坐；或前一段是冥想，接下來是靜坐時間)，也可先選擇每天練習冥想。
那麼，冥想想什呢？有幾個方向可想：想顏色、想畫面、想聲音…。這些在冥想中的主題，千萬不要和現實生活中有緊密的連結。請不想在冥想中想工作、家庭、子女、財務等您每天都在困擾的事。相反的，您要想的是可以讓自己集中去想且能放鬆，但又不會在過程中睡著的主題。
想顏色怎麼想呢？您可以以一週一個顏色來進行，若是能配合著脈輪的顏色來冥想更好。比如：海底輪的紅色、生殖輪的澄色、臍輪的黃色、心輪的綠色、喉輪的藍色、眉心輪的靛色或是頂輪的紫色(或白色)。在冥想中一方面想著顏色，可一方面觀想它相對應的位置。
或是您可以在心中想像一個美麗的風景，如藍天、碧海….，在把自己放在這個美景中，很舒服的冥想並觀察自己呼吸與身體的變化。或著您可藉著先盯著一幅圖畫(有宗教信仰者可以看上師或宗教符號)，在看得很專心後，慢慢的閉上雙眼，靜靜的觀想著之前的圖案。
有另一種可以幫助自己靜下來的方法，是用聲音。也可以用它來冥想。您可在心中默唸OM。或是在吸氣時默唸SO，吐氣默唸HUM，就這樣SO~HUM~SO~HUM~在心中反覆地唸。
靜坐觀想何處？
至於靜坐時，放掉冥想所想的主題，要進入什的不想，會比冥想還難。隨時有雜念浮現是很正常的事，我們不能控制不起雜念，但可以做到的是不去「尋思」。也就是當雜念出現時，不要跟著它一直想下去，而是讓它輕輕的離開。就像我們仰望天空的白雲，它怎麼來，也怎麼走，在腦海中不留痕跡。
但是，單這樣還不容易做到，您可以試著把您的專注力放在身上的某個位置。可以是眉心，可以是前額，也可以是鼻尖，也有人放在肚臍。當您把意念放在那個位置時，就集中精神注意那個部位的變化，把其他感官的知覺與想法，逐漸降到最低。
要注意的是，靜坐與冥想時，是有意識，專注在您想的事物上或是觀想的部位上，不要讓自己坐著坐著跌入睡夢中，這樣不但失去堋坐或冥想的意義，坐睡浪費時間不如逕自休息去；時常在靜坐中睡去，還可能養成一練就睡的習慣
坊間談禪修、靜坐的書很多，教如何禪坐的單位也不少，相信有不少朋友已經去修習過了。不過，您會發覺，如何讓自己「靜」下來、「定」下來，各有各的說法，莫哀一是。
以英文來說，不論靜坐或是想，都是Meditation。但中文就有不同意義，也代表不同境界。基本上，靜坐與冥想的目標相同，都是透過練習，讓我們的身體與心靈都靜下來，達到什麼都不想，無我的狀態。到達那個狀態，可以說是「三摩地」，也就是瑜伽的最高境界，是心中水波不興，完全靜止的情況。
但是，這種無我的狀態非常難到達，除了不斷的練習之外，加上一些幫忙會好一點。靜坐(有人叫禪坐，它們兩者非常接近)和冥想就是幫助我們達到無我的最高境界的過程。不過，這兩者有過程上的差異。
靜坐，望文生義，就是坐在那邊儘量什麼都不想。冥想則相反，我們在冥想中是有主題的，思想儘量圍著它繞。
冥想想什麼？
您在靜坐與冥想之間，可以同時並行(早上練冥想，晚上練靜坐；或前一段是冥想，接下來是靜坐時間)，也可先選擇每天練習冥想。
那麼，冥想想什呢？有幾個方向可想：想顏色、想畫面、想聲音…。這些在冥想中的主題，千萬不要和現實生活中有緊密的連結。請不想在冥想中想工作、家庭、子女、財務等您每天都在困擾的事。相反的，您要想的是可以讓自己集中去想且能放鬆，但又不會在過程中睡著的主題。
想顏色怎麼想呢？您可以以一週一個顏色來進行，若是能配合著脈輪的顏色來冥想更好。比如：海底輪的紅色、生殖輪的澄色、臍輪的黃色、心輪的綠色、喉輪的藍色、眉心輪的靛色或是頂輪的紫色(或白色)。在冥想中一方面想著顏色，可一方面觀想它相對應的位置。
或是您可以在心中想像一個美麗的風景，如藍天、碧海….，在把自己放在這個美景中，很舒服的冥想並觀察自己呼吸與身體的變化。或著您可藉著先盯著一幅圖畫(有宗教信仰者可以看上師或宗教符號)，在看得很專心後，慢慢的閉上雙眼，靜靜的觀想著之前的圖案。
有另一種可以幫助自己靜下來的方法，是用聲音。也可以用它來冥想。您可在心中默唸OM。或是在吸氣時默唸SO，吐氣默唸HUM，就這樣SO~HUM~SO~HUM~在心中反覆地唸。
靜坐觀想何處？
至於靜坐時，放掉冥想所想的主題，要進入什的不想，會比冥想還難。隨時有雜念浮現是很正常的事，我們不能控制不起雜念，但可以做到的是不去「尋思」。也就是當雜念出現時，不要跟著它一直想下去，而是讓它輕輕的離開。就像我們仰望天空的白雲，它怎麼來，也怎麼走，在腦海中不留痕跡。
但是，單這樣還不容易做到，您可以試著把您的專注力放在身上的某個位置。可以是眉心，可以是前額，也可以是鼻尖，也有人放在肚臍。當您把意念放在那個位置時，就集中精神注意那個部位的變化，把其他感官的知覺與想法，逐漸降到最低。
要注意的是，靜坐與冥想時，是有意識，專注在您想的事物上或是觀想的部位上，不要讓自己坐著坐著跌入睡夢中，這樣不但失去堋坐或冥想的意義，坐睡浪費時間不如逕自休息去；時常在靜坐中睡去，還可能養成一練就睡的習慣
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