Yoga: a better understanding

Everyone says “Yoga karo, sab thik ho jayega” (Do yoga, everything will be fine). Does anyone has thought how, when, where and why to do yoga. In the morning, in any park, many people, few are in group and many as individual can be seen as doing yoga.  It’s good to do yoga, inhale fresh air in the morning, but what about the rest of the things to be remembered.

Few points must be remembered and followed so that one can perform yoga in a better manner and optimum result may be achieved:

• Always breathe through nose. Try to coordinate the practice of asana with breathe.
• Be aware what you do, such as sensations in your body, physical movement, posture, breathing, concentration on part of body or chakra. Also don’t forget to witness any thoughts or feelings that arise while practicing
• Generally, it has been seen that right handed people find it easy to commence asana on the right side. Once the asana is learned, try to lead with left side.
• At any time during asana practice, especially when feeling physically or mentally tired or after completion asana practice, perform shavasana.
• After completing shatkarma, asana should be done, followed by pranayama, then pratyahara and dharna which lead to meditation.
• It is important to structure the program of asana in such a way so that backward bending is followed by forward bending and vice versa. Whatever is practised on one side is followed by other side.
• Asanas may be practised at any time of day except after meals. The best time to practice the asana is two hours before and including sunrise and in the evening two hours around sunset.
• Many asanas are helpful during pregnancy, but it’s important to perform under the guidance of yoga guru.
• Asanas are practised by people of all age groups, male and female.
• Practice should be done in a well- ventilated room, where it is calm and quiet. If practising outdoors, then the surroundings should be pleasant, beautiful garden, trees and flowers.
• A folded blanket of natural material or yoga mat should be used for the practice.
• It’s good to wear loose, light and comfortable clothes during practice. Do remove spectacles, wristwatch, belt or any jewellery before commencing the practice.
• Before commencing the asana program, the bladder and intestines should be empty.
• The stomach should be empty while doing asanas. So, three to four hours after having food one should practise asana.
• It’s good to eat natural food and in moderate quantity. It is advised to fill half of the stomach with food, one-quarter water and the remaining quarter empty.
• Do not strain your body while performing asanas
• Asanas should be performed under the guidance of yoga guru.
• If one feels excessive pain in any part of the body or feels discomfort then asana should stopped immediately.

Om Shantih Shantih Shantih…..