From the category archives:

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Savasana ~ A Great Pose for Practicing the Art of Doing Nothing

June 28, 2009

“…every day, a little ‘bit dying.” Pattabhi Jois

Perhaps you’ve discovered, as I have, that you have some of your best do nothing time when you’re laying on your mat in Savasana (“Corpse Pose”). For another take on the subject, check out the article “Find Serenity in Savasana” over at Yoga Journal.

And for an amazing analysis of savasana, click on the resting stick figure below:

Tagged as: asana, pose, relaxation, savasana, yoga

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Book: Hatha Yoga Pradipika

December 28, 2008

Find out what Hatha yoga is all about by reading the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

From Wikipedia

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Sanskrit: Ha?hayoga Prad?pik?) is a classic Sanskrit manual on Hatha Yoga, written by Svami Svatmarama, a disciple of Svami Gorakhnath. Said to be the oldest surviving text on the Hatha Yoga, it is one of the three classic texts of Hatha Yoga, the other two being the Gheranda Samhita and the Shiva Samhita.

The text was written in 15th century CE. The work is derived from older Sanskrit texts and Svami Svatamarama’s own yogic experiences. Many modern English translations of the text are available.

The book consists of four Upadeshas (chapters) which include information about asanas, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis and mudras among other topics. It runs in the line of Hindu yoga (to distinguish from Buddhist and Jain yoga) and is dedicated to Lord Adinath, a name for Lord Shiva (the Hindu god of destruction and renewal), who is alleged to have imparted the secret of Hatha Yoga to his divine consort Parvati.