Articles
Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga
Yoga is control of the fluctuation of the mind, then establishment of the jivatma (human soul) in its own self leading to the realization of the Divine Supreme spirit of the universe (That is, Paramatma or God).[1] In the Kathopanishad, it is said, that when the senses, mind (mana), intelligence (buddhi), i.e., the entire organs of experience are completely stilled, inversed and vested in the atma at total peace, that is the state of yoga.[2] The Gita says, that the state of yoga is not only the total peace and stillness of the mind, sense and intelligence,
Benefits of Yoga: Its Scientific Basis
Definition: Yoga can be defined as “control the faculties of mind (chitta)”. Sage Patanjali defines it as “Yogaschitta vritti nirodhah” or to control the faculties of mind/Chitta”.Scriptures, including Vedas, Upanishads, Yoga Darshan, Manusmriti and others have described the following basis for the practice of Yoga to achieve the above goal as follows:Besides the physical body, made up of elements of nature, we have nonphysical elements which leave the body with the soul when a person dies and stay with the soul. These elements are responsible for makeup of the personality and fate of a person along with the environment and
An Introduction of Yoga
BENEFITS OF YOGA: ITS SCIENTIFIC BASIS BENEFITS OF YOGA: ITS SCIENTIFIC BASIS BENEFITS OF YOGA: ITS SCIENTIFIC BASIS The first reference to the principles and practice of yoga is found in the Vedas. Subsequent literature, namely the Brahman Grantha, Upanishad, and other Vedic literature also contain the principles of yoga. Maharishi Patanjali has given uniformity to this knowledge by creation of yoga darshan. On the basis of these principles, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati has detailed the principles of yoga very well for the benefit of humanity at large, as he had realized God. When a person is able to control the
Yoga and Brain
Studies by Streeter and colleagues demonstrate that regular practice of gentle yoga, but not walking, releases a chemical called GABA in the thalamus.1,2 GABA is sort of the “grand inhibitor” in the brain, and plays a central role in suppressing neural activity3. Classical anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, work by encouraging the release of GABA in the central nervous system. GABA was shown to be significantly higher in the brains of those subjects who had been doing yoga. The study also compared GABA levels directly before an after an hour of yoga, and showed a 27% increase! GABA is what