What is Prana and what does yoga has to do with it?

Some people are wondering what yoga can give to me? Why have I do all this kind of inhale-exhale exercises, why have I to control the breathing rate during the asanas? What is the difference between yoga and the quick exercise?

There is one answer for all this questions: Prana. Prana is a life energy, that full the universe, the food, the human body, animals, trees etc. Because of prana everything moves in the world. Swami Sivananda said : „It is the sum total of all the forces in nature. It is the sum total of all latent forces and powers which are hidden in men and which lie everywhere around us [...] Prana is the link between the astral and physical body” (Swami Sivananda, The science pranayama).

We can find prana everywhere, but some place or things has more prana than others. The most pranaful source is the air. That's why we are feeling good and relaxed during the walk in the wood, in the park or other place where the clean air is. Prana gives us the energy. Those who can control the prana can control the emotions. Pranayamas helps us to fill our body with energy. Because of controlling breathing during asanas we do the same- slowly prana flows all over the body.

The only important difference between asanas and simple physical exercise is the direction of energy. During yoga classes we keep the prana in the body, whereas during the simple exercise the energy goes out, and you feel that you need the rest.

Where can we find prana except in pranayama? Everything that is clean, natural and alive has a prana. Did you noticed that everybody likes the little animals, babies, flowers, fruits, woods and happy people? Why? Because of prana. They are full of clean energy, we fill it, and it's attract us.

But it's not only that we can get prana. We can loose also. The conversation without sense, too much physical activity, heavy food, anger , unhealthy habits, disorder etc makes us to loose prana faster. When you fill depressed, no will to do anything- you need the prana. Then do kapalabhati, go for a walk, eat satvic food.

Than you will enjoy every day, every activity becomes easy to do, prana moves correctly in the nadis.

As Swamiji said “Become a Yogi and radiate joy, light and power all around you” (Swami Sivananda, The science pranayama). 

Sunday's mantra

Finally, we are in the new year ! Hope he will bring you the peace and happiness!

   

So today is a Sunday, so I thought it can be good to write something special for this day.

Traditionaly, Sunday is a day of Rama. Rama is the greatest king of the solar dynasty. He was the sun of Dasaratha king and his wife Kausalya. It was a great warrior, he had fought Maricha and Tataka demons, he saved his wife Sita from tenheads deamon Ravana. Thats why we see Rama always with a bow in the hand. He is always ready to fight!

   

Rama is an energy of virtue, truthfulness and perfection in every aspects of the life. There is a lot different mantras to worship Rama. Today, I will share with you one of my favourite mantra to Rama. I learned it when I was on my yoga teachers training. It's a beautiful mantra, easy to read, to sing and it fills the heart and mind with happiness.

Prema Mudita Manase Kaho

Prema Mudita Manase Kaho

Rama Rama Raam

Sri Rama Rama Ram

Papa Kate Dukkha Mite

Lete Rama Nam

Bhava Samudra Sukhadanava

Eke Rama Nam

Sri Rama Rama Raam

Parama Shanti Sukhanidhana

Divya Rama Nam

Niradharako Adhara

Eke Rama Nam

Sri Rama Rama Raam

Parama Gopya Parama Ishta

Mantra Rama Nam

Santa Hridaya Sada Vasata

Eke Rama Nam

Sri Rama Rama Raam

Maha Deva Satata Japata

Divya Rama Nam

Kashi Marata Mukti Karata

Kahata Rama Nam

Sri Rama Rama Raam

Mata Pita Bandhu Sakha

Sabahi Rama Nam

Bhakta Janana Jeevana Dhana

Eke Rama Nam

Sri Rama Rama Raam

   Translation:

With mind filled with love and happiness

Repeat Ram's name

Ram's name burns all sins and sorrows

Ram's name is the only boat 

with which the ocean of Samsara can be crossed

Ram's divine name gives great peace

His name is the only support 

to those who is looking for

His name is the greatest secret and divine mantra

he always resides in the heart of sages

Mahadeva always sings Ram's divine name

Freedom is given by Siva

to those who repeat Ram's name

His name is mother, father, relation, friend and all

Ram's name is life's treasure for the devotees

Om

 To hear how to sing, you can go to this link.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwyQCIwHTSc&feature=related

    

Hari Om Tat Sat!

Tongue cleaner

One of yogi's Niyama is Saucha- cleanliness of body and mind. It's easier to begin with body. Everybody knows what to do for it : Neti , Nauli, Dhauti, Basti, Kapalabhati and Tratak. But not everybody knows about the simple cleaning practice that we can do everyday (even twice). Tongue cleaning. It's hase been use since ancient time in Asia (India and China). Now in  India it's a daily practice. Some of teeth-brush company are trying to do the reverse side of brush for it, but its not cleaning well. The best way is the real metal or silver tongue-cleaner. It can be in different size, but it is cleaning really well.

It removes the mucus with bacteria that we have and   reduces the probability of caries. It's very easy to use, just take it after teeth-brushing. But there also we have to be careful, do not press too much, it can harm the tongue, especially when we have a little bubbles on (it happens sometimes). Except it there no contraindications. You can use it everywhere, everyday and enjoy the cleanness of your body!
 Om!

When you fall asleep or advantages of Sirsasana (headstand)

   Now, when the days are shorter and shorter we fill the tiredness more then before. How to wake up in the morning  when the sun is still far? Headstand. This is a good way to make move the energy, oxygen will fill the brain and our mind becomes more clever. We can stay as long as we can (until it's comfortable for us!). Of course, don't do it immediately after leaving your bed, do 3-4 rounds of surya namaskar (sun salutation) before, it will facilitates to do asanas after, and reduce the probability of harm.

   Recommended also for students during the exams (don't do it  when you are already in the university in front of the teacher's room :) ) but during the studying, do the break for a walk with pranayamas, some asanas.
    I was doing it during my exams, sometimes I thought that I am loosing the time, that it can be better to continue read and learn hall day, and the walk will only disturb me, but it wasn't. Just 15 minutes of walk and 15 minutes of asanas, especially headstand, improves the condition of the brain.
   My first exam is already the 3th of January, so I will begin to keep longer my asana ;) And if you are interesting about advantages and anatomical explaining of headstand you can read more in the "Anatomy of hatha yoga" of H.David Coulter.
  I would like to finish today's post with the Swamiji's words that I read today “Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.”  These words need not to be commented

Mouna Sadhana

Mouna- is the spiritual practice of inner silence. Not so much to do, just stop  talking, even to yourself, for an hour or more if you want conserve more energy.

Swamiji says that during speaking as during any other activity we lost our energy. "The organ of speech brings great distraction of mind. Control of speech really means control of mind" So it can be a good practice when you are feeling realy tired and you need "reload" your nervous system. Even in psychology we are talking about advatages of "no speaking". When we are suffering from professional burn-out, russian psychologists recommend to practice as they call it"white days". Dont talk for one day, or more, or just try to talk less as usually. It helps to calm your mind and learn us to control the emotions.

By my own experience I can tell that after "lot of speach day" :) even after one hour of mouna I was felling more calm in my mind, and I realise that my mind likes it. Of course, other part of me tell me "to much silence, its so boring, turn on the music, sing something", but if you always remember that your mind is powerful you will never give up.

So, let begin only by one hour for today!

Yogi's smile

   Om to everybody who read me. My name is Yulia, since 2009 I am practicing yoga in Sivananda's tradition, since september 2011 I am a yoga teacher. In my blog I would like to share with you my own experience in karma bhakti raja and jnana yoga.
   As a practitioner and a psycholog I know that its not easy sometimes to practice alone, maybe we have no time or possibility to go the yoga school, so here I will describe different methods for body and mind that Swami Sivananda teached during his life.
   This blog is also to show you other interesting things that concern the yoga. Music, people, cuisine, sanscrit, mantras etc are filling our daily life. Yogi's way can be easy and difficult in the same time. The day when we decide to be a yogi we tackle ourselves and it is the biggest fight in our life, but then we realize the beauty of  the simply things, the peace of mind and the love to human beings.
For the beginning just one advice : Smile and think in positive way! Everything starts in our mind. So, are you smiling now? :)