Surya Namaskar - The Sun Salutation - Posture 8

In the Sun Salutation, let us see the 8th posture:

Posture 8:

1. Ensure that the you are still facing the sun. Throughout all the 12 postures, you have to be facing the sun;
2. Exhale slowly and bring the left foot backward and align it with the right foot; try to stretch your leg as much as possible; you would feel the nerves pulling and responding;
3. Keep the arms straight with both the palms touching the ground;
4. Raid the back towards up as if you are forming an upward arch;
5. Bend the head downward as if you are trying to touch your neck with your chin;

The posture is similar to posture # 5 with the exception that you're pushing your left foot backwards in posture 8 versus pushing the left leg forward in posture 5.


Breathing: Exhale

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Surya Namaskar - The Sun Salutation - Posture 5

In the Sun Salutation, let us see the 5th posture:

Posture 5:

1. Ensure that the you are still facing the sun. Throughout all the 12 postures, you have to be facing the sun;
2. Exhale slowly and take the left leg backward to place it along with the right leg;
3. Both the legs toe should be touching the ground;
4. When you take the leg backwards, your hip the body should raise up as if you are forming an arch with your body;
5. Your back should be facing the celing or sky;
6. Palms still touching the ground firmly.
7. Bend your head towards ground as if you are trying to touch your neck with your chin; So, bend as much as possible, but do not strain yourself

Breathing: Exhale

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Surya Namaskar - The Sun Salutation - Posture 4

In the Sun Salutation, let us see the 4th posture:



Posture 4:

1. Ensure that the you are still facing the sun. Throughout all the 12 postures, you have to be facing the sun;
2. Inhale and move the right leg towards back with the toes touching the floor;
3. The left leg should be bent and the feet touching the ground;
4. Place both the hands in the ground palms touching the ground;
5. Tilt the head towards up as if you are seeing the ceiling or sky;
6. The final position is: move right leg backward, left leg bent, both the hands are kept with palms touching the ground and they are placed either side of the left leg, head is raised upwards as if you are seeing the ceiling / sky.

Breathing: Inhale whle moving forward

Click here to read about Posture 1

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Click here to read about Posture 8

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Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is concerned with the cultivation of the mind using meditation techniques (dhyana) as against the Hastha Yoga which is concerned with the physical asanans--postures.

The Raja Yoga mainly focuses on the mind. The mind is the King of the mental and physical structure which does it bidding. Because of the relationship between the mind and the body, the body must be disciplined and purified first.

The King of Yogas--Raja Yoga is seen as potential tool for obtaining the selfless state. This is considerd as a starting point in questioning to clense karma, obtain Moksha and Nirvana.

Raja Yoga aims at controlling the thought waves or mental unstability. This is where Raja Yoga helps and is sometimes referred as "Astanga (eight-limbed)"--the eight aspects helps to find the path one must attain. The eight limbs are:

Yama--Code of Conduct
Niyama--Religious Observance
Asana--Integration of Mind and Body through physical activity
Pranayama--Regulation of Breath leading to integration of mind and body
Pratyahara--Abstraction of the Senses, Withdrawal of the senses
Dharana--Concentration, One-mindedness
Dhyana--Meditation
Samadhi--Quite state of blissful awareness, superconsciousness state

Hatha Yogi starts his sadhana with Asanas--postures using physical activity whereas Raja Yogi starts his sadhan with the mind, although minimal asanas and pranayama are gernally included as a preparation for the meditation and concentration.

We will see the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga in the next articles.

Hatha Yoga or Hatha Vidya

The word Hatha is a compound of the word "Ha" and "Tha" which means sun and moon respectively, referring to Praana and Apaana, and also the principal nadi--energy channel, of the subtle body that must be fully operational to attain a state of meditation or samadhi.

In Western Countries, Hatha is associated with the word Yoga and is practiced for mental and physical health.

As per the Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva is credited with Hatha Yoga. It is said that on a lonely place, assuming nobody else is around, he gave the knowledge to Goddess Paravathi, but a fish heard the entire discourse. Lord Shiva took mercy on the fish and made him a Siddha, who came to be known as Matsyendranatha.

Hatha Yoga mainly focuses on the physical health and represents opposite energies such as hot and cold, male and female, fire and water, etc. It attempts to balance mind and body via physical exercises called asanas, controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. More correctly the techniques described in Hatha Yoga harmonise and purify the body systems and focus the mind in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices.

The Hatha Yoga system includes asana along with the six shatkarmas (physical and mental detox techniques), mudras and bandhas (psycho-physiological energy release techniques) and pranic awakening practices. Fine tuning of the human personality at increasingly subtle levels leads to higher states of awareness and meditation.

Different Forms of Yoga - Introduction

I have given below the various yoga types best to my knowledge. I hope you find it useful and interesting to implement in your life and others! As usual, please always contact a good Guru and consult with him based on your needs and current health conditions!

Jnana Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Karma Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Raja Yoga
Kriya Yoga

Click on the type of yoga you want to understand!

Introduction to Yoga

What is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient practice introduced more than 3 centuries ago by saints in India for the well being of human mind, body and spirit. It keeps all the parts including mind healthy, provided you practice it regularly with full devotion.

The Yoga was introduced by Patanjali, with clear principles called Yogasutra. These Yogasutras are eternal and the proof is that it is still being recognized and practiced by millions of people across the globe.

Yoga does not mean doing physical exercise or replacing the physical exercises that one normally does. It also does not mean meditation. Of course, it does have physical exercises to help our body to be free from toxic elements, but it is not only that!

Yogic practice involves

1. Asanas, nothing but postures, to balance the body and mind through the physical body;
2. Pranayama, nothing but breathing exercises, to work on the energy body; and
3. Meditation to clam and focus on the mind.

So, working on the attitude and aspects of Yoga is very important. They are:

1. Gnana Yoga - the path of knowledge;
2. Bhakthi Yoga - the path of heart and emotion;
3. Karma Yoga - the path of service; and
4. Other Yoga - the spiritual path

We will see these in detail in this site. But, please remember the following:

I have included descriptions of some common yogas in this website, however, the list is by no means complete and exhaustive and it is recommended to receive these and other advanced teachings from a competent master. Doing it alone without proper guidance may or may not help you or it can hurt you, so please be careful!

Thank you, All the Best!