 
When faith
is present, vision is pure and knowledge is true, the yogi transcends
the suffering of the world and its innate limitations. We all contain
the ability to live each moment in complete bliss and happiness,
yet we continue to struggle, to suffer, to become agitated and depressed.
In the Yoga
Sutras, Patanjali states that our inner obstacles create mental
distraction, which in turn leads to our constant suffering. These
obstacles affect us when we want our lives to be different from
how they are in this present moment, when we lose our connection
to our true reality. These inner obstacles can be removed by the
practice of concentration, meditation or pranayama, leaving us rooted
in the present and awakened to our true nature.
Om Shanti,
 
Timothy Burgin
Founder & Executive Director
YogaBasics.com |
New Premium
Content
In our membership section we have added three new Yoga
Therapy pages: epilepsy, vertigo, and sexual/reproductive problems.
We’ve also added five new yoga
posture sequences, including two energizing and two calming/relaxing
flows.
New Membership Tour
We have created a new
tour to our membership
site, listing all of the premium contents and benefits.
|
Healing Depression with Yoga.
It
is common to feel the blues from time to time, and when this happens
it can be healing to simply feel and be with your emotions. Acute
feelings of depression can be sign that your body needs rest and
your mind needs a break. Take a nap, read a book, let yourself be
lazy and accept what you are feeling. If you are experience depression
for more than a few days, however, you may need to take action and
work on moving through it.
Yoga’s regulating and energizing properties can help alleviate
many of the symptoms of mild depression*. Yoga
postures will activate and move prana in the body, open the
heart center, stimulate the nervous system and balance the body-mind-spirit.
If you are mostly feeling frustration, use postures that open the
insides of the legs (bound angle, standing angle) and stretch the
sides of the torso (half circle, half moon). For feelings of sadness
and grief, focus on postures that open the chest and inner arms
(fish, threading the needle, boat). For low motivation or low energy
use back and forward bending postures (cobra, forward fold, sun
salutations). A slow, gentle practice is recommended; do not overexert
yourself or you may end up more tired than you began. Practice as
often as possible; daily is most beneficial.
Other yogic exercises are very effective at moving through depression.
Practice Kapalabhati Pranayama
to energize the body and Nadi Sodhana Pranayama
to reduce stress and anxiety. Meditation
reduces stress, calms the mind, reduces negativity and creates a
positive attitude.
Severe or chronic depression (over four weeks) needs to be treated
by a medical professional. If you are having thoughts of suicide,
get help immediately, calling 911 if necessary. If you are not sure
of the severity of your depression, take this quick
on-line quiz.
*Yoga is contraindicated with severe depression or other serious
mental disorders. A yoga practice should be used to supplement conventional
therapy, not replace it.
A complete list of postures and practices that benefit depression
is now available in our premium yoga
therapy section. |
Kala
Rupa: Explorations in Rhythm by Greg Ellis.
The percussionist of Vas
takes you on an exotic journey to the East on the reverberations
of the drum. Kala
Rupa is richly textured and layered with African, Middle
Eastern, Indian and Asian drums, bells, and wind and string instruments.
Greg Ellis goes far beyond his previous work by intertwining complex
patterns with flowing melodic forms and creating an amazing exploration
of rhythm and beat.
To have a listen or to buy Kala Rupa, click
here.
The
Spirit of Yoga by Cat de Rham and Michele Gill.
This book is a gift, a blessing, a work of art and a source
of endless inspiration. The Spirit of Yoga is an amazing and magical
interpretation and guide to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The eight
limbs or stages of the yogic path to liberation are described with
clarity, wisdom and insight and illuminated with poems, photographs
and illustrations. Open to any page and discover new insights, inspiration,
guidance and wisdom for your practice.
For more info or to buy The Spirit of Yoga, click
here.
Yoga
Journal’s Yoga for Meditation by Rodney Yee.
Rodney emits pure Zen in this great instructional video on meditation.
Perfect for beginners, yet full of details and wisdom to engage
seasoned practitioners, Yoga for Meditation has five programs that
can be practiced together or separately. Mountain is a slow, relaxing
and de-stressing flow of postures to prepare the body for stillness.
Garden uses chair yoga postures to open the hips, twist the spine
and stretch the back muscles. Tree describes four traditional yoga
postures for seated meditation. Wind gives detailed instruction
on breathing fully and effortlessly. The program ends with Sky,
a guided seated meditation. Rodney creates an accessible and easy
approach to the ancient art of meditation, allowing one to reduce
stress, quiet the mind and feel connected to the oneness of life.
For more info or to buy Yoga for Meditation , click
here for VHS and here
for DVD. |
Question:
I
keep hearing that yoga benefits the spine and back, but what exactly
are the benefits of spinal hyperflexion or back extensions such
as Camel, Bow or Wheel?
Answer: Back bending poses stimulate the adrenals and uro-reproductive
organs. They also open and stretch the front of the body, activating
the heart center, and facilitate deeper breathing. However, doing
back bends past the point of comfort can actually strain the back.
Twisting poses are excellent for back and spine health, and forward
folding postures are helpful for stretching the low back in particular. |
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