Some good answers to the Yoga;Step by Step corresspondence course

June 13, 2004

Dear all

i thought that u may enjoy this good answers to the first few lessons of the Yoga;Step by Step corresspondence course

ananda

LESSON 1

1. What is Yoga ?

Yoga is a life philosophy, a way of life where all its aspects work in a harmony. It is understanding of the Oneness of the universe. Living a yoga life is conscious evolution and leeds us to happiness. Word Yoga comes from Sanskrit and could be translated as „to become one“.

2. What does Sri Krishna claim Yoga to be ?

In Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna defines yoga as a „skill in action“. It would not be sufficient to know what is good and what is bad for our body without action. We must act and bring this knowledge into our lives to benefit from what yoga has to offer.

3. Is Yoga for Hindus only ?

By no means. Yoga goes through all religions. It does not tie us down as some religions may do though but leaves us the freedom but also responsibility for all our acts and events in our life. Person of any faith can practise it and through living life in yoga develop into a better human being.

4. What is Prana and Pranayama ?

Prana is the universal energy, the vital life force. We receive most of it through the air we breathe, some through food and water and some is absorbed through the skin.Pranayama is conscious contol of breathing.

5. Describe Vajra Asana and its variations. Outline the therapeutic value.

Sit on the heels with the heels right under the buttocks. Head, shoulders and buttocks are in one line. Place your hands with palms down on the tights.

More relaxed variation of Vajra Asana is called Paravritti Vajra Asana when the heels spread outwards and we sit on the instep of the feet.

Vajra Asana improves circulation in the buttocks and legs. Regular practice of this asana can cure varicose veins as well as problems of the back such as lordosis, scolosis or spondylitis.

6. Describe Sukha Pranayama.

Preferably sit in Vajra Asana to practise Sukha Pranayama. Breath deeply in and out in the same time duration to all three parts of the lungs. Make sure the air breathed in equals to the amout of air you let out.

LESSON 2

1. Define Yoga as a wholistic concept.

Yoga brings our spirit, body, emotions and mind to the union with the whole universe. It is a journey of the spirit to discover itself and its role in the universe, or could also be said to realize the God within itself. But to fulfill a Czech saying „In healthy body healthy spirit“ yoga also offers us many asanas and krias as well as pranayamas all to keep our body healthy and yound with all our organs in a good condition. The science of yoga gives us methods on how to control our emotions so that they are positive and loving and the negative destcructive ones are understood and transformed yet not suppressed to come out later unexpected… Different

Krias and Prakrias help us to master our mind by using concentration techniques and meditations. Living a yoga life assumes taking responsibility for all events comming to our life as well as for all our future acts as all is conected and our current affairs are the base of our future.

2. Is Yoga intended to be a dull, morbid form of life ?

On the contrary, even though achieving a harmony and following the moral restrains and ethical observances (Yama and Niyama) may not be an easy task, it brings us real happiness which is not quick-termed but permanent as its source we find within ourselves and do not need to seek for it outside.

6. Name the four phases of Sukha Purvaka Pranayama.

1st phase Sukha Pranayama – inspiration- expiration

2nd phase Loma Pranayama – inspiration-retension-expiration

3rd phase Viloma Pranayama – inspiration-expiration-suspension

4th phase Sukha Purvaka Pranayama – inspiration-retension-expiration-suspension

7. Describe the variations on Vajra Asana and their values.

Ekain Vajra Asana : begin form Vajra Asana. Lift to the knees and place the top of one foot into the insteap of the other. Sit down on the heels and breath deeply. Then lift up and exchange the feet. It is an excellent asana for shallow of fallen arches and for people who stand or walk on hard surfaces offten. It also helps to release the tention from stomach by massaging the nerves from digestive organs which terminate in the sole in this area.

Gulpa Vajra Asana : begin from Vajra Asana. Lift to the knees and place the top of one foot over the back of the ankle of the other foot at the achilles tendon. Sit down on the top foot and breath deeply. Then lift up and exchange the feet. This asana stimulates reflex nerve terminals from pituitary and pineal gland in the brain. Some glanduar disturbances can be fixed by practising it regularly.

Purna Vajra Asana : when sitting in Vajra Asana open the feet apart and sit down on the floor. Asana stretches long sinews of the legs and gives massage to the thighs and calves.

Paripurna Vajrasana : while sitting on the floor in Purna Vajra Asana turn the feet outwards at the ankles. Asana helps when there is fluid retention in the feet, ankles or knees.

LESSON 3

1. What is Four-fold Awareness ?

It is a teaching of four stages which teaches us how to become aware of the Oneness – non duality of the universe.

2. Describe briefly the four stages.

1st stage is awareness of our body – to know what is best for it and care for it accordingly, to be aware of what it is doing at each and every moment.

2nd stage id awareness of the effect of emotions on our body. We should be aware of what benefit good emotions have and how destructive are the negative ones. Therefore we should learn to control the emotions as soon as they arise and let only to the positive ones to develop.

3rd stage is awareness of our conscious mind and how it controls our emotions and body. In this stage we try to achieve awareness of Buddhi – the higher aspect of the mind.

4th stage is an achievement of a Cosmic Consciousness.

3. What is Adhi-vyadhi ?

It is psycho-somatics. In Sanskrit Conscious Mind is understood under this term.

4. Review the eight considerations necessary to practise Pranayama or Hatha Asanas.

shower with warm water

wear clean, loose cloathing if not possible to stay nacked

tigh up the hair

cover the mat with clean cotton cloath

make sure the room has freash air if you can not be outside

make sure there are no distrupting elements such as insects or

lashing lights outside the windows

practise at least an our after you have eaten. Drink tea or water

ith lime of thirsty. Empty your bowels if possible.

take cold shower after practice to encouradge circulation

5. Describe the three parts of the Vibhaga Panayama.

Vibhaga Pranayama is a sectional breathing which controls the three parts of the lungs. Adham Pranayama contols the Lower Abdominal area, Madhyam Pranayama contols the Intracostal area and Adhyam Pranayama controls the Clavicular Area.

6. What are the benefits of Adham Pranayama ?

Adham Pranayama brings Prana into abdominal area. Since especially women do not breath into this area properly and therefore may suffer from menstruation problems, varicose vains, haemmoroids, cold feet, water retension in the knees or ankles of inflammation of the veins, it can be very benefitial for them as it can correct all these conditions.

LESSON 4

1. How can awareness be used in concentration ?

At first concentration is not easy to achieve. Being aware of our body and its sensations we can comply with its needs so that they are no longer distracting us. Being aware of what emotions and thoughts are arising we can curbe the distracting ones before they get out of control. Concentration on a word „Shanti“ will help us to be aware of the insights which can be revealed to us in a deep concentration.

2. Name one of the great enemies of awareness.

Disturbing thoughts.

3. Describe Madhyam Pranayama, and benefits.

There are three stages of Madhyam Pranayama, in each do 3-6 breaths and concentrate at the air comming behind the hands which you place :

on the chest between your breaths

on the sides of the mid chest

around the back mid area with the fingers pointed to the spine

Bringing Prana into the middle part of chest and the area around heart prevents heart disease or can eliminate already existing problems.

How do Mudras control lobular breathing ?

Breathing into each lobe of the lungs is governed by a specific section of the respiratory centre of the brain. By joining some of the fingers together in a certain Mudra we create a closed circuit of responsible nerves. That way the air is goverded by brain into required part of lungs.

Why do men suffer more from heart diseases than women ?

It is because they do not breath into mid chest area properly. Not enough Prana is brought to the area around the heart. Because of their shape of chest and position of the breasts women breath more properly into this area and therefore do not suffet from heart diseases as offten.

(this has changed a lot nowdays with women becoming equal to men in the heart diseas incience-gender equality?---Ananda)