Yoga practice and different types of yoga

In general there are four different types of yoga (for different types of human characters).

In the West, the most popular is »Hatha yoga«, which for different types of human characters can be defined by five fundamental principles.

In general we know four diferent practice of yoga

• KARMA yoga (yoga with altruistic action)
• BHAKTI Yoga (the way of dedication and with selfless love)
• JNANA YOGA (yoga of wisdom and comprehension)
• RAJA YOGA (knowledge of managing body and mind)

There are four fundamental practices of yoga.
Later on, especially in modern world, some yoga masters have combine different ways of yoga, and remodel and transformed it with a Western world.
Quite known “modern” yoga is also Asthanga Ainyasa Yoga.

But today I will write a bit more about general facts about yoga practice, good positive effect on our body and health.

But we should forget that each “way of practice” suits certain individuals, their temperament and personal attitude to life.
That’s way we could sometime here people explaining that in certain yoga practice they just find themselves and can’t imagine going to some other practice.

Although, me, as a yoga practitioner for numerous year now, would recommend to expand you thinking and being with trying out also other practice, maybe one day, at the right moment.

It’s always good that we explore all our possibilities, try new thing, and see if they suits us or not.
As for me, I am dedicated to Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga practice for some years now and I love it.

I can feel something is missing if some days go without practice. But for some time now, I notice, that I can do yoga practice while I am working in the garden, vineyard, go for a long walk, cycling… in all these things.
It is just important that I find that little peace in me.

Enough about me, let me introduce you a bit more thins wonderful thing, called Yoga.

All four ways of practicing yoga leads to the same goal; spiritual development, to deep spiritual knowledge and spiritual truth of life (the internal experience of growing awareness, wisdom and contact with us) and various forms of exercise.

Learing should be gradual and going step by step.

RAJA Yoga (Royal Yoga) is a method which monitors the waves of thought, thereby changing their mental and physical energy into spiritual.
This is the youngest »path« of practice. It is also called Ashtanga Yoga (yoga with eight steps practice).
In Raja yoga is also included most well-known yoga in the West countries, named Hatha Yoga.

The things that we could achieve if we are able to observe what is happening in ourselves are; cognition of our mind, nature of human being and minds.
The Raja yoga science offers us the way to observe our inner world. Studying Raja yoga does require neither faith nor religion.
It teaches us, Not to believe in anything, which we haven’t discovered for ourselves or haven’t been our own experience.
Nevertheless, it requires much time and continuous exercise. This is partly physical, but mostly mental exercised.
Spirit is simply part of the body and the finest works in the body, and vice versa.
If the body is feeling sick, consequently also our spirit is being the way our body feels.
If we are healthy, the spirit remains healthy and strong.
For most people, the spirit has a great influence on the body, with other words, means it is not developed enough.
Raja Yoga teaches that the outside world only robust aspect of the internal, subtle world.
Between mind and material is only apparent distinction, the reality is only one.
The aim of all science is to find unity, one from which all originates.
Raja yoga approach comes from the inner world, to study internal nature, and then manage the whole, both internal and external nature.

To Raja yoga also belongs type of Yoga, called Hatha Yoga.
This is also a general path or technique which leads us to physical health, mental clarity and spiritual enlightenment.
Practicing Hatha Yoga combines Asan (postures), Kriya (purification of body art), PRANAYAMO (breathing exercises), concentration and meditation.

The word hatha itself indicates the objectives of exercise: ‘ha’ means ’sun’, ‘tha’ and ‘moon’, ‘hatha yoga’ is a technique that allows practitioner to balance his solar and lunar energy, and create restoring harmony in the body and mind with balancing the solar and lunar, male and female, active and passive aspects of the individual. This is not possible to achieve without merging breathing and meditation with physical postures.

Five basic principles of yoga

1. CORRECT Exercise (practice and exercise of body postures – Asana). Asana work systematically on all parts of the body; increases flexibility and muscle strength, increase and maintains flexibility of joints and spine, stimulates functioning of the heart and circulatory, modulates the function of glands and other internal organs, improves the awareness and ability to concentrate and regulates the functioning of the nervous system.

After practice, we feel very relaxed and full of energy. Each asana has three stages: the capture retains and abandonment of position. All three are performed as single, continuous movements.
The essential is the retained phase position, which we extend with regular exercise and afterward it’s performed more and more relaxed.

2. CORRECT breathing (breathing exercises – Pranayama). With the help of breathing exercises, we learn how to breathe more deeply and accurately.
Learning to be aware of breathing and the fact that the body, mind and breathing are inextricably connected.
Any anxiety or tension in the mind cause the breathing alters its natural rhythm and depth.
Moreover, with knowledge on influencing to our breathing, we can calm down the mind.
Practicing yoga breathing helps to restore physical strength and control our mental state, because it’s energetically and mentally calming down and balances.

3. CORRECT methodically relaxation (consciousness relaxing) correct exercises can relax the whole body and restore energy supplies.
The real deep relaxation must be threefold: physical, mental and spiritual.
Again it’s very important awareness and the fact that only we could consciously and thoroughly relaxed our self, with our mind.

4. The right food / nutrition. Means that the right diet is a healthy balanced diet, based on natural food.
The body of such human remains light and flexible, with calm spirit and resistance to disease is strengthened.

5. Positive thinking and Meditation, helps to get rid of negative thoughts and calm down the spirit.
Meditation is an integral and important part of yoga exercises!
Contrary to the belief of many, meditation is hard work, which takes a lot of perseverance, discipline and will.
Only with proper and regular exercise, we could achieve the desired effects; inner peace, developing compassion, kindness and love.

With proper deep meditation we can cleanse the mind of negative samples, blind reactions and finally achieved a state of mind, which no longer depends on external influences, as it stays and remains balanced in every situation.

For some time now I have notice that people are paying more and more attention to take care of their body, whether they are ill or healthy.

We are also quite aware, that next to official medicine in daily practice, we also have available other possibilities, how to treat our body.

Alternative treatment comprehends complementary and alternative methods of treatment.

Alternative treatment is about preconceptions which way of treatment if more useful and also considers how to make treatment more effective than the official medicine.

I read couple of books written by those who practice alternative medicine daily.

I think is always good to look up all possibilities there are, before you decided for any treatment.

But, don’t get me wrong, I am still good with official medicine, which I deeply respect.

Although, that doesn’t mean, I can’t practice alternative medicine.

Most common methods of alternative treatment

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Homeopathy
• Herbal medicine
• Osteopathy with naturopathy
• Official medicine

In my post today I will briefly introduce each of the above mentioned treatments and methods (in fallowing posts that will come, I will wrote more about each alternative treatment).

Acupuncture – exist as treatment and has an academic tradition from more than 2000 years.

Thus today’s doctors have a huge knowledge, which allows them to predict certain course of disease treatment and to subscribe appropriate drugs for each stage in which disease is developing.

In Chinese medicine, and thus also in the acupuncture our health is defined with human ability to maintain a harmonious internal environment.

Acupuncture is a simulative therapy

Thin steel needles, or needles of gold or silver are stick to certain points in the body.

Needles stimulate certain point all the way to the subcutaneous tissue.

Treatment includes monitoring of the critical points at energy channels, named also meridian, usually through the chaff with the needles on the certain places.

With this is released blocked life energy.

Conventional surface treatments are: forearms, hands, lower part of legs and feet, sometimes also the back, although acupuncture points are all over the body.

Jig point is often far away from the part which has been treated.

For example, with certain point on the feet can be used for the head treatment. If the patient is relaxed, the stitch should be painless.

The patient could feel when needle enter the body, but afterwards when needle goes deeper, patient feels nothing.

Acupuncture needles are full and thin, long from 12 mm to 10 cm, and goes in to 6 mm, or even deeper.

Needles remain in for about few seconds or could be also ztill one hour, depend from disorder and acupuncture method.

Average time is for about 20 min. Acupuncture examination includes overall of patient tongue and pulse – touched on both wrists.

If is necessary, a therapist can carry our also a physical examination, which is often focused on certain parts of the body).

Acupuncture therapist is always very careful to avoid blood vein and main organs. Blood is rarely shown, but in case there is any, it’s only a small drop. Therapist may use only sterilized needles.

For the patient is recommended that he eats something before the treatment. This is to avoid tiredness and weakness.

After the healing patients is recommended to avoid tiring movements for some times.

Chiropractic – beginning and evolving of chiropractic has start in the West.
All of its acknowledged educational institutions are operating in developed countries. It is also confirmed from the World Health Organization.

In many countries, is included in their health care system.

When we talk about beginning of chiropractic, we shouldn’t forget Hippocrates (450-375 BC) which is known after his work on the conclusions about spinal manipulation methods, described as »the most efficient among mechanical medicine«.

Official inauguration goes back to 1895 and belongs to Mr. D. D. Palmer from the State of Iowa.

Today the World chiropractic Association (WFC) brings together organizations from more than 78 countries.

Well know chiropractic is Dr. Yasuhiro Todo, founder of Slovenian Chiropractic Association – SCA. He defines chiropractic as a scientifically validate treatment method, which is specialized in the treatment of problems with the nervous-muscular-skeletal systems. If the vertebra in the incorrect position it may damage appurtenant joint ties.

Muscle groups could respond to this situation with cramp or with pain. This failure can consequently irritate spinal nerves platforms.

The President of Life Chiropractic College wrote: “Chiropractic with the spinal subluxation correction with normalization of backbone in biomechanics and with removing neurological barriers, allows the body to cure with its own vital forces”.

Homeopathy - is more than 200 year old method of treatment, based on the law of similarity. It heals similar to the similar.

Homeopathy comes from the word – homoios, which means similar and pathos means suffering.

It is heal with specially prepared medicines from nature, which have no side effects.

Homeopathic medicines boost defense mechanisms and immune system; therefore we could be healed with natural way.

Homeopathic medicines are prepared by a special procedure, the so-called potentiation.

This is the dilution; which is hardly stirred on the each stage of dilution.

Who is homoeopath?

Homoeopath is a doctor or therapist of natural medicine. Real homoeopath takes into account three principles: the law of similarity, potentiation and patient individuality.

Homoeopath prescribes medicine to a patient, after he’s done with a long and thorough discussion with the patient.

Used as a rule is also, that homeopath subscribes only one medicine to treat the complex problems of individual patient.

Which problems are not treated with homeopathy?

Homeopathy cannot cure the diseases which have arisen from irreversible defects in the functioning of the body or bodies.

One good example is children’s diabetes, where there has been a complete termination of the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas, and unfortunately in these cases homoeopath cannot help it.

But with success could be treated elderly patients with aged form of diabetes. Homeopathy can help them to reduce the amount of official products.

Homeopathy does not treat the problems that they can be eliminated only with the operation.

If the body still retains part of the function, then the possibility to improve the situation still exists.

It is the same with the treatment of mental illness.

Homeopathy can help if there was a disturbance at a functional level, such as depression, phobias, anxiety, and hyperactivity.

However, if the cause of the disease is organic nature, then there is not much to do to improve it.

How does homeopathic medicine work?

With those healing medicines, which in healty people eliciting certain signs or symptoms, homeopathic is treating ill person with similar difficulties.

The most common example is the onion. We all know, that when we cut unions we begging to cry and tear from the nose.

So like this, union (Allium cepa) is used as a homeopathic medcine for the form of acute coryza or in hay fever.Those who have try to smoke know, that with drag of the first cigarete you get a dizzy feeeling and nausea.

Thus, the tobacco (Tabaccum) is used as a treatment forvertigo and to treat weakness.For homoeopath symptoms are not disease, but is only manifestation of internal disturbances, which helps to choose the proper medicine, which then often acts on the whole body.

Four-leaved clover is for luck, black clover is for our health.

When we think of clover, we always first think of four-leaved clover, which should predict luck and happiness.

This time, I will write down some very positive effects by using black clover, which is body purification and body detox.

There are number of treatments, which offer you various diets, fasting, enema and all sorts of detoxing things.

Python- therapy (therapy with herbs) is among all the most natural and has no side effects. In Siberia, Python- therapy treatment – as a treatment with the help of medicinal plants, is resumed from medical folk tradition and is also used in official medicine.

Dr. Markov Novosibirska is the world’s most recognized Python- therapist, and people from all part of world are visiting him. He is healing solely with herbal preparations.

The first phase of his treatment is detoxification of the body.

Fo this event he recommend an old Siberian tea, which is a mixture of fifteen plants: birch, linden, ash, elder, nettle, lampblack, buckthorn, cherry, coltsfoot, milfoil, marigold, mint, needles Siberian cedar, black clover.

Since detoxification of organism can be very well achieved with the herbs that grow with us, it is recommended that use herbs that you have gathered yourself, daily drink a cup of sage tea and one cup of black clover tea.

BLACK clover or Trifolium or trefoil

It is one of the oldest medicinal herbs. It has red-purple flowers in a shape od snowball and the three-tier split.

Trojan leaves are a symbol of the Christian Trinity (the holy father-son-spirit) and the Irish national emblem, which is dedicated to Saint Patrick.

Active ingredients: tannins, phenols, flavonoids, selenium, caffeine acid, calcium, chromium, magnesium, tin, or thiamine vitamin B1, niacin or vitamin B3, vitamin C, phosphorus, copper.

Black clover activity

Adaprogen – enhances the overall health, prevent the formation of new blood vessels in tumors, pure blood, detox and enhances liver functioning and gall bladder, preventing the uncontrolled growth of tumors, prevent constipation, facilitates expectoration, stimulates secretion of bile and urine, quite strong effect of estrogen (increases fertility).

Black clover is known in different cultures as a very useful against cancer.

American scientist Jonathan Hartwell in The Journal of Natural Products announced the fact that 33 different cultures around the world, used a black clover to fight against cancer.

National Cancer Institute’s research confirmed the effectiveness of a black clover against cancer, because of the presence of daidzeine and genistene.

Moreover, a black clover contains antioxidant tocopherol and a mixture of E vitamins.

It helps organism to dominate the state, known as “the dominance of estrogen, which is associated with many forms of cancer (ovaries, breast, uterus, … …).

And some additional healing characteristics

• Stimulates secretion and digestion, reduces spasms and tension in the muscles, and facilitates expectoration.
• Prevent the uncontrolled growth of tumors, prevent constipation, facilitates expectoration, stimulates secretion of bile and urine, can have even the effect of estrogen, it increases fertility.
• Assists with skin diseases, eczema, and psoriasis.
• It helps enthusiastic larynx, throat and soothes the mouth ulcers.
• Alleviates the problem in menopause.

Although, the black clover is originally from Europe, the North American Indians were the first, who starts using it in alternative medicine.

It also is treat psoriasis, eczema and other skin diseases.

A poison that can’t compare to anything, when used in higher dose than normal

Many people say often: “Looks good, but this is due to Botox“. Someone else would add, that precisely because of Botox, someone look quite terrifying. Therefore it is not surprising, that Botox have gained such reputation.

As I already mentioned in my previous post, Botox (botulinum toxin) is a natural purified protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Substance stops stimulation on the path from nerves and the small facial muscles, which creates facial expression.

It is injected in very small quantities and it’s causing relaxation of mimic muscles and prevents their consciously and subconsciously contraction.

The skin over the muscles therefore becomes more soft and smooth. It only works on selected muscle (injected with Botox), other muscles, however, operate normally.

Botox is effective at smoothing medium or strong expressed wrinkles, and it’s not appropriate for to remove or smooth scars. For removing scars, patient is opted for surgery.

Botox is most commonly used for removing wrinkles on the forehead, between eyebrows and wrinkles around eyes. Moreover is also used to remove wrinkles from neck, chin or décolletage.

One therapy usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes and is done without narcosis or local anesthesia, as this is done with a very thin needle and the pain is bearable.  In a lot of magazines and on the internet we can find many photos of famous people, which have been treated with Botox.

There are always pics from before and after the intervention. Some are happy, the other are not, and there are also ones, who are reminding us to danger that injection of Botox could cause us. I have find out talking to a plastic expert, how true are the rumors. I find out the following;

Botox is not recommended if:

• you have any muscle disorders,
• you are pregnant or breastfeeding,
• you have problems with the injection of medical products into muscles, inflammation or deterioration of the muscles,
• are already consuming aminoglycoside antibiotics or drugs for muscle relaxation,
• you have active inflammation in the part of your body you want to be treated,
• you had surgery in this part of the muscle,
• you have inflammation in the muscle where you want injection
• you have problems with swallowing or breathing
• you have any problems with the muscles
• if you are planning operation in injected area

Botox could be very dangerous when used by laics, people with no experience or knowledge.
Botox was first used in 2002 and with it each year are performed millions of interventions, using Botox.

Recently, especially in Great Britain, you could find a lot of articles about side effects, which are caused by using Botox.

The authors indicate possibility that individuals have problem, because treatment was done by an incompetent person. These days you could easily purchase Botox from the Internet.

I have come across with many articles, where in USA on a “Botox parties” a lot of things are happening, and a lot of Botox users use it freely on each other. Very important is that injections are done in only certain parts of the body /face, specific muscles on which you want to do mortification.

Therefore is highly recommended and essential that is done only by experts, and not laics.
Before any intervention or injections experts will always talk through all possibilities with patient, and also find out about wishes and expectations.

It’s very important to know, that there are two sorts of wrinkles; hyper-kinetic wrinkles, which are result of the muscles activity, and wrinkles which are due to »tired« skin. And Botox works only on hyper-kinetic wrinkles.

Also is very usefully to have discussion before the injection, because of the potential contraindications. Moreover, Botox is equally effective on elderly and young people, but it depends on muscle strength, which is declining with elderly people.

The effect lasts three to four months, and is renewed with continues treatments.

It also works against sweat

Botox is not used only to reduce wrinkles but also to treat/prevent excessive sweating. Botulinum toxin paralyses sweat gland in the treated area and after therapy sweating completely cease.
The medicine is effective only at the spot, where injection have been done and is not absorbed into the body and does not act systemically in the body.

The treatment is not harmful for the body. The spots for treatment are armpits, hands or feet, but the effect lasts for eight to ten months and is not renewed with each new therapy.

Almost everyone is satisfied

So, what is going on with unsatisfied patients? Botox can be used in one week time, after that is not recommended to use it for another three months, it’s strictly forbidden. After three months the effect is reduced and skin regain state as it was before treatment.

Unsatisfied patients are minimal, maybe from two to three percent, but most of them are happy and will always return. These are information which I received from expert. In small talk – “it’s like an addition”. Botox is also called “elixir for youth”, as after the treatment appearance on the skin is more “shiny” and relaxed.

Expert I talk to does from 80 to 100 interventions every year. And the number is increasing.  Customers are manly women (eighty percent), but interest for rejuvenating therapy is among celebrities as also among ordinary people.

It is the same effect as with woman and man treatment, but with man is usually used slightly more substance, because they have stronger muscles.
Few interesting things – after the intervention with Botox, in the fallowing three days, you should not be taking drugs that affect blood clotting (aspirin, anadol …).

Four hours after treatment shouldn’t massage your muscles, but it is advanced to move it a bit. It’s also very advisable and recommended to use cold compress to prevent bruises and pain.

Poison that can’t compare to anything

It’s very interesting that Botox is most poisonous natural substance in nature. But has a very high »security window«. This means that a doctor should inject 500-times higher dose than normal, that would be fatal (lethal dose is 500).

A lot of other drugs are more dangerous than Botox.

For example; certain heart drugs have lethal dose 5, means, that if you take 5 tablets instead of one, you are dead.

Therefore, experts say, if you know how to use Botox in right quantities and on the right muscles – then this could be as medicine. But in the quasi-hands could be very dangerous.

Que (waiting time) and prices – ques varies from expert to expert. But on average, you will probably wait two to four weeks, sometimes more than a month and a half, and the rest only a few days.

Also prices are very different; in some clinics starting at 200 Euros or less, the rest in more than 300 Euros, but the price depends on the amount injected Botox.

Complications

During the procedure may appear slight bleeding, which stops almost immediately after the injection. Immediately or with a delay may occur the following reactions: allergy to the substance of preparation, sore, bruise (visible up to one week), redness or pain, sometimes associated with the itch, which can take several days.

With vertical smoothing between the eyebrows, 0.5 percent of patients experience serious problems with the temporary lifting of the upper eyelids, which disappears within three weeks.

Therefore, I would recommend, use Botox with caution. Try to find out as much as you could before intervention and do think through, if you really needed.

Instead of Botox, I would recommend you, to smile as much as you can, and look positively on life ahead.

That’s the best treatment you can give to yourself.

Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is a system or method which is thought in Mysore city in southern India, in country Karantaka, by yoga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
The physical aspect of Ashtanga yoga is based in ancient material, mainly Yoga Korunti.

Yoga master Sri.T. Krishnamacharya have take over this method from his spiritual teacher Rame Mahan Brahmachari.

Sri.T. Krishnamacharya is also known as a father of modern yoga, which later he turned over to his bellowed pupil and student Sri K. Pattabhi Jois-u.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois has, through many rigorous years of yoga practice and learning with his teacher and also studying old Indian materials at the university, developed Ashtanga yoga system as is known today.

At the same time, after studying, he becomes a teacher at university, where he thought yoga knowledge.

Meaning of Ashtanga yoga in Sanskrit language is “eight partial yoga« (eight means »astau«).

It refers to the sutra Patanyali yoga (aphorism), to yoga psychology and eight parts or eight levels, which are leading to the path of your-own-accomplishment.

There eight steps are:

• Yame ( 5 principles of self-controlling)
• Niyame ( 5 principles of self-observing and discipline)
• Asana ( body positions)
• Pranayama (breath control and breathing)
• Pratyahara (emotions control and to look into yourself)
• Dharana (concentration)
• Dhyana (meditation) and
• Samadhi (contemplation and self-realizing / to reach your goals).

The system of Ashtanga yoga is primary focused on the third stage of Patanyali yoga and asana. A regular and consistent practice, which enables us better understanding of first two steps of yoga practice.

Practicing Ashtanga yoga on a daily basis you will gain more strength in the body, which will help you to maintain your body healthy, and gradually bring deeper effect on your mind and consciousness.

Moreover this will with the time become base for advanced practice for Ashtanga yoga. Individual and mentally awareness of yoga teaches us gradually about practical applications yam and niyam. Without them, yoga is just another way of physical recreation or relaxation.

But don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing bad with that. The important thing is, that every individual listen to himself, and his body. … and on the end, to not forget to thank your body for doing asanas the best he could.

For Ashtanga yoga is significant so called Vinyasa, which means the relationship between movement and breathing. Each ansana (yoga position) have defined number of vinyasa (movements and breathings), with which we go into or finishing the pose.

During the practice is very important that we keep focus on tristhana and focused on the three points of the mind as follows: proper yoga position (asana), breath focus (pranayama) and point-oriented view ( drishti).

During the practice we perform so called “ujjayi breath« which is a special form of pranayama and mean in total translation “the winning spirit”.

The effects of ujjayi breathe are; strong concentration and mental focus, strong internal heat which accelerate the elimination of body toxins or material surplus through accelerated sweating.

All this brings ease to the body and clear-headed thoughts.
Besides tristhane there are also important accurate and whole exercises.

During the exercise we should pay attention to energetic barriers, also named Bandhas. If you are beginner with Ashtanga yoga I would very much recommend visiting yoga studio, where you will learn about proper breathing, which is main thing with Ashtanga – and also with practice you will automatically learn to work on bandhas, as a lot of pupils forget to work on them.

Just a short explanation about bandhas – to activate and work on bandhas during your practice, you will manage to keep good energy which your bodies produce with yoga practice. Try and you will feel the difference.

Moreover, is very important to do your practice correctly – if asanas are not done properly, you can do more hard to your body then good. Therefore, listen to me, and start doing your home practice after you visit yoga studio for practice.

A bit more about asana – Asana is traditionally divided into three or more accurate six final components.

The first or also called primary series (Yoga Chikitsa or “yoga therapy”) has a strong effect on refining the body, then also stimulates and regulates function of vital organs and very important endocrine system. With practice we also develop strength and flexibility for physical and mental body.

The second or intermediate series (Nadi Shodana) has influence on n strengthening and smooth functioning of nervous system, also effect the vital energy flow, also named Pranayama. Furthermore also have influence on mental body, our consciousness and balances emotions or emotion.

Advanced series (Sthira Bhaga) is divided into A, B, C and D, often marked also with numbers from 3 to 6. These are advanced levels, which contain more complex asanas. This requires a lot of patience, modesty, higher awareness and inner strength.

With advance practice are developing vigorous aspects of yoga practice, and there a few of them who gain that state.

Maybe I haven’t mentioned before, but Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is recommended for those, who have already practice yoga before (hate yoga, kundalini or have some experience with meditation – is definitely not recommended for beginners in yoga).

I recommend starting learning certain series step by step, and please do not rush your body into asanas, rather wait and listen to your body, and you will know when to continue in more difficult position.

To conquest one series from above mentioned, could take few years, depending of your body, your discipline and practice. Everyone has its own way. But on the end… we are the one, that all depends on; also from our body and mental discipline, which we put into our yoga practice.

During practice we need to strive to correct performance of asanas and higher integration before mentioned techniques and elements of asanas. With correct asana performance is developed ability of higher mental focus, concentration and meditation.

More important than acquisition of doing certain asanas is regular exercise and our effort, which we put into. Due to the complexity of doing certain asanas yet first series sometime represents a big challenge. It could be for few years or for eternal. To continue on next series should be gradual and in accordance with our yoga teacher.

Traditionally Ashtanga yoga have been daily practice, which has been performed in the morning and at the sunrise, six days in a week, except Sunday and when there was a fool moon or no moon. Since Ashtanga yoga is quite physically hard, we can do practice as our body tells us (you can adjust it to your daily activity).

Daily exercise allows us that our body gets used to certain level of physical activity and over the time it becomes less strenuous exercise. It daily reinforces self-reflection and self discipline, which consequently means higher self-awareness and our surroundings.

Today, most Ashtanga practitioners aim to exercise every day with one day break. Doing exercise at changing moon positions is also your personal decision.

As I mentioned before, is much recommended for beginners to practice at yoga studio, where you will gain basic knowledge of performing asanas. Later on, you can start with Mysore practice (individual practice in group) also at yoga studio or try out group practice.

Namaste.