Shavanasa

Savasana (Corpse Pose) is the easiest of all Yoga postures to perform physically, yet is sometimes neglected as being the most important asana within the Hatha Yoga practice.

Savasana is a crucial closing of the physical practice where prana, life-energy, has a moment to become grounded, purposeful and collected. As one practices yoga flows, the yoga postures and breathing saturate the energy channels with prana. To exit a yoga practice (especially an extended one) without Savasana, this powerful energy may leave one with sense of disconnection. With this settling of prana in Savasana, an additional practice of internalizing, connecting and meditative observance can be explored.Practise of Yoga-Nidra here is complementing relaxation and isvery beneficial.


The process of conscious relaxation acts as a deep healing for the nervous system, thus can be helpful in reducing stress, tension headaches, and anxiety. Though simple in its application, Savasana can be an uncomfortable Yoga pose to perform for some. The basic position of lying on the back can pose as a challenge and, without being completely comfortable, achieving a state of full relaxation and beneficial healing is diminished.

Tight Hip Flexors and Low Back Tension When you lay flat on the back, the extension of the legs creates a lengthening of the hip flexors (the hip flexors begin at the proximal region of the thigh bone and come across the hip bone to attach at the inner hip crest region and partially at the lower lumbar vertebrae). When the legs lay heavy and the hip flexors are lengthened, a pulling motion is transmitted onto the pelvis and spine. If the hip flexors are tight, a large enough pull can occur on the spine such that the lumbar vertebrae experience a minute, but uncomfortable back-arch effect. This pulling motion on the spine can create an echo of back tension and send negative stimuli into the nervous system.


To reduce the effect of the hip flexors pulling on the lumbar vertebrae and pelvis, simply place a bolster, thick pillows, or a rolled up blanket under the knees. As the legs settle on the support, open the legs wide as well. The opening of the legs and the bend maintained in the knees creates a light outwards rotation of the thighs and reduces the lengthening of the hip flexors. You then basically reduce the distance between the origin and insertion of the hip flexor muscles, thus reducing the muscles' tension acting on the pelvis and spine.


Article writen by Kreg Weiss, B HKin

Yoga-Nidra Yogic Relaxation

Tonights Yoga-Nidra, Guided Yogic Relaxation at Himalaya Cafe audio record.The link is valid only for 3 months.You can download it by pressing 'save as'.
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Benefits of Reiki for Cancer Patients

Reiki is a health treatment that was developed in Japan to manipulate the energy levels in a person’s body. A Reiki therapist will use their hands to transmit energy to the patient’s body. More and more cancer patients are finding relief through Reiki treatments during their fights with cancer.The majority of cancer sufferers will experience extreme pain, nausea and anxiety at some point in their illness. Reiki is particularly effective at treating these symptoms. It is especially effective for those people who are suffering the evils of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer. Those with aggressive forms of cancer, such as non-hodgkin’s lymphoma or pleural mesothelioma, will often have to undergo very extreme forms of conventional therapies.

But now recent studies have proven Reiki to be much more than a relaxing or soothing agent. There have been thousands of testimonials that swear by the healing capabilities of this practice, but now there is scientific proof, for all the “see-to-believers” out there.

A recent study conducted by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine has proven Reiki to be a vital asset in the natural healing process. This study examined the effects Reiki had on white blood cells and the immune system. The study group was again divided into three groups: one who received Reiki, one who just relaxed, and the last where the group neither relaxed nor received Reiki. Blood was taken from the volunteers before a Reiki session, immediately after, and then about four hours after.

Again, Reiki proved to not only make the patient feel less pain or more relaxed, it actually had physiological benefits. The blood samples taken from the group that received an actual Reiki session had an increased amount of white blood cells; thus in-turn would enhance the immune system. The amount of oxygen carried by the red-blood cells also increased compared to before and after blood samples. One lady from the experiment was so impressed by the results that she continued to self-treat with Reiki. She was able to combat the negative results of her iron-deficiency anemia with the use of Reiki.

Many doctors have used this research to promote the use of Reiki during chronic illness treatments and intensive cancer therapies. Some hospitals even offer free in-house Reiki treatments. They agree that the physical, mental, and spiritual improvements produced by Reiki, actually aid cancer treatment. The cleared energy-blockages, allow the body to heal and function in balance.

Article writen by Complementary Therapist Allison Brooks

Sun Salutation or Surya - Namaskar

Sun Salutations, or Surya Namaskar, are traditionally performed in the morning to greet the new day. The sequence of 8 postures can be a complete practice in itself, or can prepare you for a longer asana routine. Sun Salutes are often performed in sets of 5, but if you are new to the practice it's wise to begin with 2 or 3. Each time you flow through this sequence, synchronize your breath with the movements of your body.
1. To begin, stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Distribute your weight evenly over both feet. Establish a slow, steady rhythm for your breath. Find your center.
2. Next, inhale and stretch your arms out to the side and overhead into Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute). Reach your heart and arms to the heavens, sending your greeting to the sun.
3. As you exhale, hollow out your belly and fold into Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend), connecting down into the earth. Keep your legs firmly engaged.
4. Inhale and lengthen your spine forward into Ardha Uttanasana (Half Standing Forward Bend). In this pose, the gaze is lifted, the spine is extended, and the fingertips can stay on the floor or rise to the shins.
5. Exhale and step or lightly hop your feet back behind you into Plank Pose. Your wrists should be flat on the floor, shoulder-distance apart, and your feet should be at hip distance. Take a full breath in as you lengthen through your spine.
6. Exhale and lower into Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose), keeping your legs straight and pushing back into your heels or bringing your knees to the floor. Build heat in the center of your body as you hold this challenging posture.
7. Inhale and carve your chest forward into Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog), directing that energy out from your heart. Pull your shoulders back and open your collarbones. Engage your legs but relax your gluteal muscles.
8. Exhale and roll over the toes, coming into Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose). Ground down through your hands and feet as you lengthen your spine. Remain here for five breaths.
9. On your fifth exhale, bend your knees and look between your hands. Then inhale and step or lightly hop your feet between your hands, returning to Ardha Uttanasana.
10. Exhale back to Uttanasana, surrendering into the fold.
11. Inhale, reaching your arms out wide to your sides and coming to stand through a flat back. Feel a renewed sense of energy as you draw your arms overhead into Urdhva Hastasana.
12. Exhale and return to Tadasana, your home base. Remain here for a few breaths, feeling the movement of energy through your body, or continue on to your next salute.


By Leila Easa

Vipassana

Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills.
This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation. Healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the essential healing of human suffering, is its purpose.
Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.
The scientific laws that operate one's thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear. Through direct experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace.

taken from http://www.dhamma.org/ , you can book 10days meditation retreat there by donation

Ujjayi Breath

Breathing is the most important part of a yoga pose.It used frough out the practise in Ashtanga-Vinyasa, when in other schools of yoga it is not emphesided so much to use it during the practise of asana. Ujjayi (oo-jy-ee) breath, also called conqueror breath or snoring breath is a great breath for beginner yogis. Here are the steps to practice and learn Ujjayi Breath.



1. Sit in with legs crossed or in half lotus, lengthen your spinal with your , relaxe your houlders.
2. Inhale through your nose, then exhale slowly through a widly-opened mouth. Direct the out-going breath slowly across the back of your throat with a drawn-out HA sound.
3. Try this a few times and then close your mouth. Now, as you both inhale and exhale through your nose, direct the breath again slowly across the back of your throat. Ideally you should hear, a soft sea-shell sound or ocean-wave like sound.
4. This sound, called ajapa mantra (ah-JOP-ah mahn-trah) or "unspoken mantra" it slows down and regulates your breath, allowing you to focus your awareness on your body and mind.

Its been a while...

Sorry Guys Blog have not been updated for a while and all download links are out of date, I have been training in Yoga and traveling in India for almost 5 months and all together for 6 months away.Will try to fix it up in a few weeks.Also we will be puting more reading about Yoga and Energy Healing in the future, at the moment its being developed , if you wiling to help with that, email us:)
dont forget us and come back lates for updated downloads!

Namaste With Love and Light x