Fore word

This is a blog on 'easy Yoga lessons' for the beginners.  

The blog site starts with a brief account of the advantages of practicing yoga  along with preparations and precautions to be taken by anybody who wants to practice yoga. This is because one cannot jump into the yogic way of life without making some basic changes in his / her life-st yles and characters. 
 
The postures (asanas) are explained with  proper illustrations and advantages of each one given individually. I think from my personal experience for the past 10 years as a man who practice yoga regularly and from my Guru's advice, the given asanas are enough for  anybody to keep his/ her body and mind healthy. Children, aged and ladies (with some limitations at times) can practice these asanas (postures). Now a days we all know human beings are too busy with their lives. I request them to dedicate half an hour per day for these asanas.

Yoga and other exercises

Yoga is prominent among other exercises like gymnastics, walking, running, cycling etc. in more than one way:

1. It can be practiced at all seasons. One cannot walk or run during rainy season and at the time of heavy snowfall.

2. Yoga can be practiced by people of any age group. Both aged and children can do yoga alike. (You cannot imagine an old man lifting a weight so as to break his bones!).

3. Any exercises other than Yoga may not give positive results in changing your mental consistency and proper functioning of all internal body organs.




                         Please don't go adventurous; you may break your limbs!!

Yoga and Gymnastics

Yoga has recently turned out to be more or less a Gymnastic exercise. Now there are modern 'Fitness centers' in every small towns where you can join paying high fees. They are fortified with all modern equipments to make your body fit. ( Only recently I have heard people using the word "Power Yoga"?? etc.) Fit or no fit, your pocket will drain and that's sure. Only a few sections of the society who can afford their cost can join such fitness centers. Above all these Fitness centers only aim to make your body muscular to exhibit the external appearance as in some gymnastic contests. Where as Yoga strengthens all of your internal organs and enhances their well arrayed, co-ordinated performance.
 

Yoga and meditation are the only ways to control the human mind. That is why the Father of Yoga Rishi Pathanjali said these words:

"Yogaschitha vrithi nirodhaha" which means yoga controls your thoughts and mental capricions. Human mind is an uncontrollable stallion which gallops to wherever it likes. Everybody know that persons who cannot control their mind normally do all harms to themselves and the society.

Yoga and food

The food one eats should not only be of moderate quantity but also which his mind likes most. Remember 'overeating' and untimely eating is much more harmful than undernourishment.It is proved by modern medicine also. See the studies of Dr. David.A.Kessler (Pediatrician and former Head of FDA (USA)

Anarogyamanayushya--

masswargyam cha (a)thibhakshnam

apunyam lokavidhwishtam

thasmathath parivargyayeth

The above 'sloka' means overeating destroys health, decreases life-span. It will make other people dislike you. Over-eaters cannot go to 'heaven'. Yogasasthra proclaims vegetarian food. People generally have a wrong notion that eating meat, eggs and fish only give health.The fact is, you can stay equally healthy by eating vegetarian food.(However eating limited quantity of non-vegetarian items except fried food is not strictly prohibited by yoga masters).

Always remember the under mentioned facts: 

• Leave the stomach empty at least three hours a day.
• Masticate the food proper before swallowing
• Do not eat junk food or canned food and bakery items.
• Eat more vegetables especially leafy vegetables.
• Make fruits a main ingredient of food.
• Eat food when you are really hungry. If the mind feels tense avoid food because proper digestion will not take place.
• Do fasting once in a day each week so as to give complete rest to the organs of digestion. Use drinks and fruit only.
• Avoid alcoholic foods, tea and coffee as far as possible.
• Yoga does not prohibit eating non-vegetarian food altogether. But avoid red meat and fried food. 

Yoga has no substitutes

Yoga is not gymnastics or circus though these two may contain some yogic postures.You spread your legs, put your legs over the shoulders ,stretches arms, and do some 'inhuman'
postures so that the spectators open their mouth in aghast that a man can do such things! Dear friends, you should understand one thing. As I said earlier it in not circus. It only involves a series of exercises, pranayama and meditation ( I don't forget the fact that some Asanas are very complicated and well experienced Acharyas can do them) to keep your muslces stretched and body more flexible and fit.

                                              


Visit MAMALLAPURAM (MAHABALIPURAM) IN Chennai, INDIA 

You will get a beautiful calm beach, best south Indian hotels. The place has got wonderful rocks and the monolithic carvings and architecture of the ancient Pallava Dynasty which ruled the South India during 7-8 th centuries  The stone carvings are quite amazing. There are a number of shops which sale stone carvings where you can buy them at reasonable prices!!

 

                             A wonderful stone carving of a temple

   

A beautiful stone carvings for sale.