WHAT IS PROPER EXERCISE?

There are many types of physical exercise, but the Yogic system of Asanas (a Sanskrit word meaning “stable, steady pose”) is the most complete, benefiting far more than just the physical body. The asanas emphasize deep breathing, relaxed movements, and mental concentration.

ASANA BENEFITS

PHYSICAL BENEFITS:

It is often said “you are as young as your spine”. Asanas initially focus on increasing and maintaining flexibility of the spine, toning and rejuvenating the nervous system. The gentle stretching, twisting, and bending movements bring flexibility to the other joints and muscles of the body, as well as massaging the glands and organs. Circulation is also improved, ensuring a rich supply of nutrients and oxygen to all the cells of the body.

MENTAL BENEFITS:

Steady postures free the mind from disturbances caused by physical movement, promoting steadiness of mind, balancing the emotions, and improving your outlook on life.

PRANIC BENEFITS:

Asanas work in much the same way as acupuncture or shiatsu, but the Yogic system of pranic balancing is more subtle. To gain the benefit, you must practice asanas regularly over a period of time but once you feel the benefits, they will last longer. The different poses put pressure on various points, purifying and strengthening the nadis.

Urdvah Mukha Svanasana

‘Upward dog’ posture

Want to learn more?

<previous page  go to  next page >

It all starts with ethics..

Yamas and Niyamas: 10 life-rules made practical, first for yourself and then for the world.

Most of us know those ethical rules, but do we really live them? Once we really live them, we are enlightened beings.
At the yogi course we work on the integration of several of the Yamas and Niyamas.
They are not just meant as ‘you should or should not do that’ rules. Why should you?

By applying them in our real life, you really experience, you become lighter, healthier, happier and more lovable as a person. And as you change, so does the world.

One of our yogis figured out: Once you get to know one and live it fully, you understand them all in a better way. All is actually one. It is that deep and consequent.

The Yamas (restraints) are: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brachmarchaya, Aparigraha.

Ahimsa means: Non-violence. First of all people say: ‘But I am not harming anyone’. But if you look deeper, you can be very strict to yourself, you can think harsh about others, or don’t you eat meat? Violence already starts with a single violent thought. More interesting is, where does this thought come from and how can you transform it?

Satya means: Truth. As soon as you start with ‘I think...’, this is not absolute truth. We project ourselves all the time on the things we see and to the people we talk to, and this is the cause why we always want to be right about the truth. But what is actually true? You can only learn this by detaching from the ‘none-truth’.

Asteya means: Non-stealing: Also here most people say, ‘I have never stolen anything, except for some candies in my mothers kitchen’. This is cute, but do you really not steal? How about stealing each others energy in the unseen world? Or buying products which are fabricated in third world countries, without the people being decently paid for their efforts? Or being jealous on your neighbors beautiful car?

Brachmarchaya: Choosing the middle, abstinence. This is our yogis favorite, and the hardest one to keep, especially in a modern city, with so much information, input and so many demands. How do we stay centered when your world wants so much from us?

Aparigraha: Non accepting gifts. Firstly people don’t understand what this means. Aparigraha asks you to be critical to what you do accept in your life. Everything you do accept, you must carry energetically. Do you need to wear that ugly sweater, just because your mom gave it to you? Do you need to accept a feeling of guilt? No, of course not. Life can be a lot lighter.

The Niyamas (observances) are: Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Swadyaya and Isvara Pranidhana.

Saucha: Purification. You do so by practicing yoga according to the five principles. Also you need to purify your thought system and your daily life actions. Lift up your energy frequency and shine your pure light. Moreover you need to open up the old cellar of your subconscious. Puff....

Santosha: Gratefulness. We attract what we feel. If we do feel grateful, it will be rewarded naturally. When we feel greedy, unthankful, we will meet more lack and become more grumpy. All we need can be found in nature. But we forgot to see the natural flow of things...

Tapas: Persistence. Only by effort one grows. Nothing sustainable is 100% easy. Tapas learns us to move on, even if it is sometimes hard. This hardship only purifies and makes us stronger. We have to overcome our feeling of failure.

Swadyaya: Self-study, study of scriptures. How well do you know yourself? What is yourself? Everything starting with ‘I’ is not yourself. So who are you? What is the highest truth and how do you get here? Study yourself and you will know the world out of one molecule. You will see that you are the world and that the world is you.

Isvara Pranidhana: Surrender to the Divine. Besides our ego, there is a bigger truth at work. If we surrender to this bigger truth, our ego doesn’t have to fight, to struggle that much. It is out of fear for this, that we want to control everything. This is not necessary. Just let go and surrender.

THE EIGHT STEPS OF RAJA YOGA

By observing their own thoughts, scientifically and objectively, the ancient Yogis studied the many obstacles to bringing the mind under conscious control. The sage Pantanjali compiled their findings in ‘The Yoga Sutra’s’ a text that describes the aims of yoga and the inner workings of the mind.

Pantanjali provided an eight-stepped blueprint for controlling the restless mind and enjoying lasting peace