June is the month when events to celebrate International Day of Yoga are held. The actual International Day of Yoga is on June 21st but you will see events organized to commemorate this day throughout the month.
Date & Time: June 17, 2023; 6PM-9PM Venue: Shanti Niketan Hall at Laxmi Narayan Temple, Surrey Organizer:Aarogya Canada Cost: Free Registration: Register using this online link
I will be speaking how Yoga can help at a Workshop organized by Touching Lives Foundation on Mental Health and Well-Being. Everyone interested in gaining more insights and practical ways to support mental health are welcome to join. I will also be guiding you for a relaxing meditation which can help relax your mind and lower your heart rate which promotes overall well-being. This event is absolutely free but registration is required. Refreshments will be served.
How Yoga Benefits Your Mental Health?
Yoga can help in reducing stress, improving mood, boosting self-esteem. Yoga can help in enhancing mind-body connection greatly. Yoga has been shown to have numerous benefits for mental health.
One of the key ways that yoga asanas and meditation supports mental health is through its emphasis on mindfulness and present moment awareness. By focusing on the breath and the sensations in the body, practitioners are able to quiet the mind and reduce the constant chatter of thoughts that can contribute to feelings of stress and overwhelm.
Other Speakers:
There are going to be few more speakers who are going to share their experience and practical knowledge to boost mental health. Read more about them at this link
Date: May 7th 2023 Venue: The Empire Banquet Hall Time: 11 am to 2 pm
If you are planning to attend, please register and confirm via the registration link.
Inhale as in complete Yogic breathing, then whilst inhaling slowly, raise the legs, hips and trunk in a continuous movement until vertical.
Take normal breaths here. Then raise the legs (knees straight) and hips by supporting the arms on the ground then bend the elbows and hold the trunk in the hands. In this position the chin is buried in the sternum (upper chest).
Practice abdominal respiration and retain the position for as long as is comfortable.
Direct the attention to the thyroid gland.
To return to the starting position, gently lower the trunk, pelvis, and legs, and relax on the ground.
Do not get up to the standing position immediately after Sarvangasana or any other inverted posture. Relax in Savasana, allowing the blood circulation to return to normal
Counter Pose: Matsyasana
Precautions
Those with high blood pressure should avoid doing this asana. Before performing this Asana, one should completely relax.
Persons suffering from eye trouble should avoid this asana
Women should not do it during menstruation as the blood released at this time is often very acidic and a back-flow could damage the womb.
Do not practice it if you feel dizzy or have palpitation while performing it.
Benefits:
In this posture, the thyroid receives an abundant supply of fresh blood. Regular practice of this Asana will make the symptoms of premature aging, produced by thyroid disorders, completely disappear. One regains youthful vigour, wrinkles soften, and the body stays supple to a very great age.
Yoga brings peace to body mind and soul. International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year on June 21.
Common Yoga Protocol has been designed by AYUSH (Government of India) with the consensus of all the experts. CYP comprises day-to-day Yoga practice for the masses to reap all the benefits of Yoga. The protocol intends to create general awareness among the masses to attain peace, harmony and well-being through Yoga practices e.g. Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, Dhyan, etc. Download the PDF version of the Yoga Protocol (link given below) and enjoy watching the video of the Yoga Protocol and keep learning and continue to reap the benefits of Yoga practices. You can watch the video and follow the instructions.
If we take Yoga as a philosophy (Darshan) then sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra’s are the final authority on the topic which includes 8 limbs of Yoga; Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyan, Samadhi. There are 5 Yamas & 5 Niyamas which are basically codes of ethics & personal practices and require control over mind and strong will-power.
Controlling the mind is not an easy task even for advanced practitioners of Yoga that’s why Hatha Yoga was suggested which starts with physical cleansing. Hatha Yogis realized it is easy to control the physical body through which they can also control the mind. Thanks to Swami Swatmarama who codified Hatha Yoga and wrote Hatha Yoga Pradipika. “True Yoga” is to realize the SELF while living in the body and connect Atma (Soul) to Pramatma (Super Consciousness), it does not matter which path we take.
Most people practice Hatha Yoga for better health which is a byproduct of practicing Hatha Yoga (mainly Asana, Pranayama, & meditation).
Total health ignites spirituality. My personal belief is once people start practicing Yoga (Postures & Breathing Exercies) the quest arises to go deeper and know who I am?
Hatha Yoga which includes Asana, Pranayama, Shatkarma, Mudra, & Bandha not only provides you good health but awakens the vital energy channels within you. As per Swami Muktibodhananda “Hatha Yoga is not just a physical practice but a process of cellular transmutation from gross to subtle to divine. Thus Hatha Yoga was considered the foundation of all Higher Yogas”.
Since Hatha Yoga provides a foundation, we should encourage more people to do Asana & Pranayama. Hari Om Tat Sat!
