HIP-HOP YOGA might be perfect for you

“A photographer gets people to pose for him.  A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves”.

~Terri Guillemets

If there is one word that has become an important part of the modern day dictionary, it is “option”. The 21^st century offers to us an unending list of choices. These options whether in the areas of business, sports or even something as trivial as social networking have evolved with scintillating pace over the last decade due to creative pioneers in every field. One of those fields that have been revamped by the very pioneers aforementioned is yoga.

With facebook replacing football, our priorities and affiliations have changed over the last decade. We see many young people fighting the same old battle of survival. What have changed are the magnitude and the rules of the game. Unlike our grandparents we do not have the time to sit and introspect and try and foresee life plans for the next ten years. Today’s life is a receptacle of extremes which can be seen from the fat salary packages to the even fatter hospital bills. What we have learnt is the art of managing these extremes by finding the calmer waters of yoga and meditation.

“YOGA” or “YOG” is not just an ancient Indian practice confined to the jungles of ancient India but one of the most cosmopolitan forms of workout routines which can be seen in the plush lanes of Manhattan. Contrary to popular interpretations yoga is not just a practice of body postures known as “asana” but an ideology in itself, which strives towards helping a person attain total mental, physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. Ancient Indian gurus commonly known as “yogis” (someone who knows a lot about yoga) considered man’s journey to eternal bliss a 3 fold process. They believed that happiness had a hierarchy too with mental being at the apex followed by emotional and physical. This comes as revelation for those people who till now believed that “Yoga” or “yog” was just a physically oriented practice. But despite it spreading like wildfire to almost each and every country in the world within a very short period of time, it has started to lose its sheen. The reason for the same can be seen in the words of many young people practicing it. They often snub it as “boring”. And yes, sitting in front of an instructor badgering you with multiple instructions on how to do “surya namaskar” (greeting the sun), the right way can be physically rejuvenating but sometimes mentally tiresome. This is how a new wave of yoga called “HIP- HOP” yoga has been developed over the last 5 or 6 years. It contains all the quintessential elements of yoga as a whole but with a modern twist. This form has done away with the concept of silent absorption of instructions. On the contrary by giving yoga and its students a rhythmic structure to follow HIP-HOP yoga has eliminated the word “boring” from the yogic dictionary.

With live DJs replacing accompanying the wise old yogi to class at a nightclub at 1 Leicester square in London, HIP- HOP yoga has revolutionized the concept of yoga as a whole. Unlike its elder brother which attracted middle aged and elderly men and women, the registers of a HIP-HOP yoga center are filled with the names of young and enthusiastic dancers who leave the streets and give their talent a more definite shape. By associating a set of peppy beats with the existing values of yoga, the efficiency of the process increases. But when these two forms are combined their calorie busting powers also unite to give us some shocking results, a glimpse of which can be seen in the table below:

TYPE OF EXERCISE:                      CALORIES BURNT (PER H)

YOGA (AVG OF ALL FORMS)                         496

HIP-HOP (AVG OF ALL FORMS)                   450

HIP-HOP YOGA                                                   623

Thus this new age hybrid yoga, with a twist of modern hip-hop and the benefits of flexibility, strength, focus, expression and most importantly inner balance is nothing less than a dream car with the speed of Ferrari and the strength of an old school American muscle car. It burns calories and increases flexibility with an added element called “FUN”.

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

Photo credits: aquababe on flickr.

Yoga: The Path to Enlightenment (Part-2)

Practice The 8 Limbs of Yoga to Spiritual Fulfillment

As we saw in our previous Post (Yoga: The Path to Enlightenment Part- 1) Yoga, is life changing way to spiritual consciousness and the greater unknown. The Path of Enlightenment through Yoga is not a difficult one but requires dedication, openness to change and continuous practice.

The path to enlightenment according to Patanjali, the sage of yoga, involves the practice of 8 steps also known as the 8 limbs of Yoga. These 8 steps are not mere temporary rituals but a complete lifestyle and if followed, leads to a person’s personal development that in time will achieve the harmony of the mind, the body and the spirit which leads to Samadhi or Enlightenment.

Here’s a closer look at the 8 Limbs of Yoga leading up to Samadhi/Enlightenment.

1. Yamas – (Moral behavior towards others). Yama comes from the root word ‘yam’ ‘to hold’ or ‘to rule’. Yamas represent behaviors that ‘control’ certain negative tendencies enhance our own our fundamental nature when it comes to compassion, generosity, honest and peace. Necessary to change one’s attitude towards others and the world around them for harmonious living. Yamas serve as guidelines to moral behavior towards others. They include -

• Ahimsa (Non-violence): Ahimsa involves not causing any sort of harm to creatures or any person. It includes not having harmful thoughts towards others too. More than just the lack of violence, Ahimsa teaches us to practice acts of kindness and compassion for the world around you.
• Satya (Truthfulness): Satya is the Moral code for honesty. While satya means “to speak the truth” is can entail a negative consequence for another person and since this conflicts with the Yama – Ahimsa, it is best not to say anything. Constant vigilance of what one says, how it is said and the consequence of one’s words and actions is all a part of the Yama- Satya.
• Asteya (Non-stealing): Steya means ‘to steal’ while Asteya is it’s opposite which means never to steal or take what does not belong to us. It doesn’t only concern objects or material things but also ideas and other forms of possession. The practice of Asteya includes not misusing what is given to us by others including their time and energy. We have to be conscious of our actions and behavior that may result in demanding someone’s attention even though it’s not freely given.
• Brahmacharya (Non-lust): Bramacharya means to move toward the essential truth responsibly. It concerns achieving self-control through abstinence or moderation regarding sexual activity. Brahmacharya does not necessarily imply celibacy, but not doing anything in excess by giving in to our ego’s desires as that would hamper our goal.
• Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness): This yama means doing with only what is necessary and living a life free from greed. It involves not taking advantage of anyone, anything or any situation, using our power appropriately for good and not exploiting it. It also calls for not attaching ourselves to things and understanding that impermanence and change are the only constants in our lives.

2. Niyams – (Moral behavior towards oneself). Observances or actions regarding one’s attitude towards himself or herself. They are not exercises but your attitude and how treating yourself can change that. It is necessary for achieving a balance within oneself.The Niyams include:

• Saucha (Cleanliness): This niyam includes aspects of inner and outer cleanliness and purity. Detoxifying and cleansing the physical body first are necessary to achieve inner cleanliness. This is done through the practice of asanas (yoga poses) which tones the entire body and removes toxins and pranayamas (breathing exercises) that cleanse our lungs, oxygenates our blood and purifies our nerves. Apart from just our body, the mind must also be kept clean or pure by eliminating negative thoughts and emotions such as anger, lust, greed and pride. Outer cleanliness, on the other hand, means keeping a clean environment and surroundings.
• Santosa (Contentment): Being content with what you have and who you are completely. Cultivating an acceptance to whatever happens is an important part of Santosa. To find contentment one must practice humility, modesty and acceptance.
• Tapas (Austerity): This Niyama refers to keeping the body in good condition. This involves disciplined use of our energies, both physical and mental like for example- eating only when hungry, maintaining a good posture, attention to breathing patterns etc.
• Svadhyaya (Study of Sacred texts and one’s self): Using self-examination, self-awareness and self-reflective consciousness to get to know one’s self better is part of Svadhyaya. The deeper you know yourself, the closer you get to your union with all things and ultimately the higher power.
• Isvara pranidhana (Awareness of the Divine): Letting go of ourselves and the sense of control in order to connect with the Divine. Recognition that there is a force larger than man omnipresent that guides and directs the course of our lives is what this niyam teaches us.

3. Asana – (Practice of Yoga postures and exercises). This is the most commonly known aspect of yoga around the World. But, the understanding and reasoning behind the practice of Yoga Asanas is often lost. More than just health, strength, balance and flexibility, asanas meaning “staying” or “abiding” in Sanskrit, are used as a tool to calm the mind and move into the inner essence of being. They are designed to free our mind from tension, stress and to detoxify. It aims at bringing about a harmonious balance and union between the body and mind. Strengthening more than just muscles, yoga asanas strengthen our will, determination, alertness and energies through it’s discipline. It also quietens the mind, relaxes the body in preparation of meditation and important step to spiritual enlightenment.

4. Pranayama – (Practice of breathing exercises and breath control). In Pranayama, by controlling our breathing it is said to control the energy or life force (prana) within the us. This restores and maintains one’s health while promoting evolution. When you learn to control your breathing- i.e the duration of inhalation, retention and exhalation of air within your body, it strengthens and cleanses the nervous system thus increasing a person’s source of life energy. It also helps calm the mind and makes it more focused for other tasks. Pranayama breathing goes hand-in-hand with Yoga Asanas.

5. Pratyahara – (Withdrawal of the senses). Pratyahara means withdrawal. It happens in meditation when one is so focused and immersed in breathing and meditating that the senses become completely unaware of everything else. In other words, the whole world around you just moves away and you can focus solely on your inner self without any distractions whatsoever.

6. Dharana – (Concentration). Dharana means training the mind to concentrate on sheer nothingness. No external nor internal distractions. This is practiced by learning to focus intensely on one object and then letting go of that one.

7. Dhyana – (Meditation). The transition of Dharna (focus on an object to nothingness) leads to Dhyana which is an uninterrupted flow of this concentration and consciousness that is no longer focused on a single thing but is all encompassing. Achieving Dhayna heightens one’s awareness and oneness with the universe upto the extent that you feel one with the universe…it is the final step to the Goal- Samadhi or Enlightenment.

8. Samadhi – (Enlightenment). It is the result of the practice of the previous 7 steps. It’s a state of Super-consciousness. Detachment of your body and all worldly things. The merging of the self with the universe. Bliss. Peace. Ultimate awareness. In other words, Enlightenment.

The 8 steps of Yoga are not necessarily to be practiced in progression, they are in fact an integrated process that works together (hence, called limbs), leading to the ultimate goal of Enlightenment. Limbs 1 and 2 are to be practiced in everyday life all the time. Most people start with 3 the physical postures and poses of yoga meant to energize the body and relax the mind. After regular practice of this, along with step four, breath control – you will notice other changes start taking place. These eight principles if practiced regularly and adopted as a lifestyle will lean to deeper self-knowledge, love and respect towards other people and creatures and Spiritual fulfillment.

* Photo credits: photos by adhiwus.com Photography – Bali, Oude School, milopeng, Claude Morcos on flickr

Yoga: The Path to Enlightenment (Part-1)

The 8 Steps of Yoga- A Spiritual Quest for Enlightenment

One of the most sought after aspects of life for mankind is enlightenment. The answers to questions we have all asked ourselves time and time again, the mysteries of life, the desire to know and be more like the higher being we call God. This spiritual consciousness leads us to a quest for enlightenment…a way to God- The All Knowing.

There are many ways or paths to enlightenment and Yoga is one of the most ancient of them. We’re not talking about the Americanized new age aerobics they call Yoga, with its latest yoga inspired apparel and purely physical focus of what was once an ancient Indian practice for self realization, which is key to obtaining enlightenment. The true philosophy of Yoga is it’s practice to attain a state where the self is perceived as the awareness that experiences thoughts. It is a state of mind involving the detoxification of material and worldly goods, strengthening the body and achieving a higher level of self consciousness that allows one to surrender themselves completely in order to be brought closer to God.

As we saw in the Types of Yoga, only a few stress on the physical aspects of Yoga, namely Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga among the classic types. Even these types of yoga are practiced to purify the physical body and bring strength in order to lead to the purification of the mind. This disciplined path for purification of our attachments to the temporary material world of form. Even our body is considered just an object or carrier of energies or what is sometimes referred to as a Soul. The path to enlightenment is a path that people undertake various spiritual practices to attain Divinity.

Yoga places great importance in meditation. This indispensable practice involves concentrated efforts of meditation where thinking, slowly comes to a rest and becomes a non-influence whereby the mind knows that it is perceiving what is. It is considered a state of oneness with all existence. It takes great patience and a conscious effort to overcome distractions and to let go completely in meditation. Even a little meditation a day gets you closer to enlightenment, as well as offers you great health benefits.

The path to enlightenment according to Patanjali, the sage of yoga, involves the practice of 8 steps also known as the 8 limbs of Yoga. These 8 steps are not mere temporary rituals  but a complete lifestyle and if followed, leads to a person’s personal development that in time will achieve the harmony of the mind, the body and the spirit which leads to Samadhi or enlightenment. These 8 Limbs of Yoga leading up to Samadhi/Enlightenment are-

1. Yamas - Ethical restraints for moral behavior. Necessary to change your attitude towards others and the world around you for harmonious living. There are 5 Yamas-

• Ahimsa (Non-violence)
• Satya (Truthfulness)
• Asteya (Non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (Non-lust)
• Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)

2. Niyams – Observances or actions regarding moral behavior towards oneself. Necessary for achieving a balance within oneself. They include:

• Saucha (Cleanliness)
• Santosa (Contentment)
• Tapas (Austerity)
• Svadhyaya (Study of Sacred texts and one’s self)
• Isvara pranidhana (Awareness of the Divine)

3. Asana – Practice of Yoga postures and exercises.

4. Pranayama – Practice of breathing exercises. and breath control.

5. Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.Complete inward focus and attention to one’s self so you are no longer distracted by outside events.

6. Dharana – Concentration and focus of the mind without any distraction, internal or external.

7. Dhyana – Meditation. An uninterrupted flow of concentration aimed to heighten one’s awareness and oneness with the universe. An unbroken stream of consciousness that is no longer focused on a single thing but is all encompassing.

8. Samadhi - Enlightenment through a State of Super-consciousness. The merging of the self with the universe. Bliss. It is more an end result, rather than a practice.

Every step and effort towards enlightenment provides greater awareness, well being and joy. So, why not learn more about and take up Yoga as a way of life today. Take our advice, Yoga is a well-rounded physical, mental and spiritual practice that’ll energize you and bring most important benefit – the balance in your life.

*Photo Credits: photos by alicepopkorn and Marcia_Salviato on flickr

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com

The Power of ‘OM’: A Scared Word, Symbol and Sound

The symbolism, meaning and power  of the Sacred Word”Om”/ “Aum”

Did you know that the mono-syllable “OM” or “AUM” is regarded the sound of God and the basis of all other sounds. This mystical and sacred Hindu word “Om” is the highest mantra (chant) symbolizing the vibration of the Supreme and of divine energy (Shakti). It is believed that the whole universe, in its fundamental form is made up of vibrating, pulsating energy and  “Om” is considered the humming sound of this cosmic energy. It means oneness and a merging of our physical body with our spiritual being. The great Hindu sage Patanjali once said: “He who knows “Om” knows God.”

“Om” and Yoga have a long standing history. As we saw in the ‘Types of Yoga‘, Yoga is more than just a physical practice as believed in West. It’s a special connection between your body and spiritual self. So how does “Om” relate to Yoga?

“Om” or “Aum” is a way of deepening the concentration of the mind during Yoga. The sound of ”Om” is also called Pranava, runs through Prana or breath and as we know breathing is a very important part of practicing yoga. Most yoga sessions begin with the chanting of “Om” and end with it too. It is said to drive a way distractions while infusing new vigour in the body. Like a powerful tonic, ”Om” is the mood lifter and the energizing sound that replaces negative energy with fresh life bringing force.

“Om” is associated with the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) which connects to the central nervous systems as well as with the Third Eye Chakra which is the seam of wisdom, intuition and psychic power. While meditating chanting ”Om” creates a powerful focus on its sound and feeling of all-knowing, infinite and pure at heart. Scientifically, a daily dose of ”Om” and calming yoga can significantly improve your health (see how in- 7 Steps to Healthier Living).

It is widely believed that where a symbol of  the Universe is present its related energy is also present. So by wearing “Om” symbol or “Omkar” as it’s called on T-shirts or in other forms you’re opening up to God’s energy. While no symbol can really bring you good luck, wealth or power, its presence can influence your thoughts and therefore actions.

The real understanding of the sacred word, symbol and sound ”Om” or “Aum” can only be felt by hearing it internally and then becoming one with it in all creation. Such is the Power of “Om”.

This article is brought to you by YogacaraShop.com – your source for special Yoga Apparel, yoga inspired clothing, comfort clothing clothing designed according to the Colors of the Chakras and the best trendy, high quality and comfortable  Fitness Apparel do visit YogacaraShop.com