Learn the principles and benefits of Ananda yoga, the mediation technique for energy control and higher awareness.
Ananda Yoga has been developed with the help of
Paramhansa Yogananda, the first yoga master who settled in the
West. By studying his teachings, Swami Kriyananda, one of his
direct disciples, managed to develop the Ananda type of yoga into a
very definite practice system that is widely followed even
today.
What is Ananda Yoga?
Ananda Yoga represents a classical type of yoga meant to
harmonize and assimilate all the levels of the human being, meaning
the spiritual, the physical and the mental one. Moreover, this type
of yoga is also meant to raise the consciousness level by the
reinforcement of the natural effects that certain body positions
have.
This classical approach of yoga includes an applied yoga
philosophy, special yoga postures named asana, meditation
techniques and energy-control techniques plus special breathing
ones known under the name of pranayama.
Ananda Yoga principles
Ananda Yoga becomes more and more challenging once you
become experienced in it. However, as a beginner, you get to
practice a gentler type of yoga, so you should not be scared of
being asked to practice a very challenging discipline from the
start. Moreover, you should know that this kind of yoga is not
aerobic or aggressive, but an inwardly directed one.
While practicing Ananda yoga, you must have a correct and safe
alignment. In addition, you have to try and continuously be
relaxed, even in the middle of effort. More importantly, you have
to always increase awareness on and participate actively in this
yoga’s inner aspects, meaning that your state of mind and your
energy movement must arise from practicing this very type of
yoga.
Finally, you must adapt each posture to your abilities and needs,
as one of the Ananda Yoga[/b] principles is that it does not force
anything on its practitioners.
Benefits of Ananda Yoga
As far as the benefits of practicing Ananda yoga are concerned,
these are numerous. When it comes to bones, this discipline can
increase circulation to them, soften and stretch the ligaments, the
tendons and the cartilages and shape the bones altogether.
In addition, it can also help muscles, meaning it can improve their
ability to relax and contract, improve circulation to them and also
strengthen them. Furthermore, it can provide digestive efficiency
and functionality, massage the internal organs and improve overall
health.
Basic Ananda Yoga poses
Ananda Yoga has three main poses. The first one is called
the Child Pose. Its mantra is related to relaxing from outer
connection and into a heaven of peace. In order to do this certain
pose, you must go down on your knees with your legs slightly open.
Then you have to raise your arms and at the same time bend forward
so that you touch the ground with your forehead. You then have to
stretch your arms down ahead of your head.
The second basic pose is named the Tree Pose and its mantra is
related to staying calm. In order to do it, you have to keep your
feet on the ground, keep your entire weight on your right foot and
then lift the left one with your knee bent. The sole of the left
foot must be placed on the right one and your hands must be raised
above your head. Periodically, you must also do this on your other
foot.
The Chair Pose is the last one. In order to do it, you have to
believe that your body is very light and raise your arms while
keeping your entire weight on your heels and with your knees
bent.
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