India Blog

By itself no tool, instrument or invention is good or bad. It is the way we use it that makes it good or bad.

So is the case with television. Television is the most wonderful invention capable of bringing the whole world of entertainment and education to our door. It is the most powerful means of mass communication, capable of revolutionizing man’s life. Since TV programmes appeal to our eyes as well as our ears, they have an irresistible charm.

If, as is the case in India at present, the TV is used mostly as a means of entertainment, information and advertisement, TV programmes are likely to be more harmful than useful. Uneducated people and children remain glued to their seats for hours on end to watch the TV. They become V-addicts. They thus spoil their eyes and their health. They prefer passive entertainment and lose the capacity to enjoy simple, innocent pleasures of life. They cannot enjoy or appreciate natural beauty. Excessive violence shown in the TV films blunts people’s sensitivity to suffering and violence around them. The TV thus becomes a curse for mankind.

But the TV can be used for good purposes like education along with healthy entertainment. Just as a doctor gives sugar-coated pills to his patients, people can be educated through well-prepared and well-presented entertainment programmes. The TV can be used to teach people how to read and write, to teach farmers better methods of cultivation, to teach professional people to improve their professional efficiency, to teach people useful arts and crafts, to provide them useful information about what is happening in other parts of the world and to familiarize them with the latest discoveries, inventions and innovations in different branches of knowledge. TV programmes can also be used to cultivate good tastes and develop healthy interests, to teach people how to appreciate good things of life, to make them aware of their social responsibilities and to arouse people’s interests and enthusiasm in the tasks of national development. TV programmes can reach millions of people in their homes. They can be watched by people at their convenient time if they are prepared in the form of video films. In this respect learning through TV is better than learning in schools and colleges.

In short, if TV programmes are planned to make people better citizens and better human beings, TV then will be a great blessing for mankind.

Thousands of miles from America, in the small village of Belur Karnataka, India, a poor Brahmin child who suffered from malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and malnutrition found the key to enlightenment and healing. It is the ultimate miracle of mind-over-matter, as spiritual teachings cured this young lad, who was then quick to pass on his new knowledge. After publishing several books, Belur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar brought his 3,000 year old spiritual practice to the West with Iyengar yoga, a distinct style based upon posturing and contemplating.

Spiritually, Iyengar yoga is based upon Patanjali’s eight limbs of raja yoga. The first is Yama, meaning physically and mentally abstaining from the following five things: violence toward others and oneself, from coveting others’ belongings, from sexual intercourse, from attachment to possessions and anything that is untrue. The second limb is called Niyama, referring to the five observances: cleanliness of body and mind, satisfaction with what one has, penance and mental control, introspection and surrender to God. Asana refers to posture and position (ideally an erect stance with relaxed muscles) and Pranayama is the directed control of one’s breath, which is so vital to successful yoga practice. Pratayahara calls for the quieting of senses connected with the outer world. Only then will Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (oneness with the Supreme Being) naturally follow.

A typical Iyengar yoga lesson will cover up to 200 posture positions and 14 breathing techniques. Certified instructors pace around the room, assisting students with these techniques and sharing various props, including: buckles, straps, benches, chairs, blocks and even sandbags. This form of yoga is often used for physical healing, as the movements are minimal and the props take much of the strain off the body. Beginners also like this style because they receive individualized assistance and with the mastery of these positions, it will help them in other yoga classes. 

Iyengar yoga has spread like wildfire in the United States, with hundreds of teachers. Major branches of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States are located in California, Colorado, Washington, New York, Nevada, Texas, Michigan and Minnesota. To find classes near you, check out Iynaus.org as a starting point toward enlightenment and happiness.

There are many different forms of Yoga that people around the world practice. Some use it primarily for its low-impact workout whereas others love the feel of meditation and concentration required in some of the many poses. Yoga is a great way for those suffering from injury or unused to a cardiovascular workout to begin their path to becoming physically and mentally fit. Exercise is an important part of our daily lives and the added benefit of learning relaxation techniques is enough to entice anyone onto a mat. Find your relaxation and work out by clicking here for more information: Yoga Pants and at Tantric Yoga also at Yoga Pants

Chakras and Kundalini may be foreign to you, but it’s something that is bringing tranquility and strength to the 30 million Americans who practice Hatha yoga. The ancient practice of posturing and breathing has been taught by Indian sages to facilitate the quieting of one’s mind, the regulating of energy centers within the body and connection with the Supreme Being. Whether you believe in God, Buddha or some other omniscient being, you’ll be amazed at the noticeable transformations taking place within.

Traditionally, Hatha yoga (pronounced “ha-tuh”) translates to “sun-moon.” It is believed that each person harbors a “sun” energy channel and a “moon” energy channel. The sun channel is said to govern our thought processes, while the moon channel governs our emotions. The millions of chakras (literally translated from Sanskrit to mean “wheels” or energy centers) swirling around us keep the sun-moon channels in motion. On a deeper level, practitioners believe in a moral code based upon self-restraint, quietude, concentration, regulation of breathing, uniting body and mind through action, withdrawing from the senses and studying religious texts.

The first step is the practicing of the different asanas (poises) to help the mind and body align with one another and open the inner channels of communication. By finding the right posture, one can remain comfortable for long periods of time while meditating. Secondly, proper breathing techniques (sometimes referred to as “pranayama”) are taught. Next, some students may choose to delve more deeply into the philosophical roots. Yoga instructor David Williams (from Hawaii) once noted, “Before you’ve practiced, the theory is useless. After you’ve practiced, the theory is obvious.”

The end result of practicing this style of yoga is markedly noticed almost immediately. Suddenly you can stretch a bit further and touch those toes. You’re not huffing and puffing carrying laundry up to the top floor of the house anymore. Your bowel movements are even more regular than usual and you find that stomach aches and head aches rarely occur these days. Your abdomen, legs and gluteus are looking more defined too. When you’re at work and start to feel stressed, you take a deep breath and reconnect with the relaxation techniques you learned in class, although the anxiety rarely reaches you on a physical level anymore. Your energy levels are revitalized, your hormones are balanced and a calm sense of euphoria and appreciation for each day takes root in your soul. Life is good, thanks to Hatha yoga, a practice that goes back thousands of years to some infinite source of knowledge the West generally seemed to have overlooked.

There is certainly something to be learned from ancient Indian religions and yogi sages. The practicality of Hatha yoga appeals to many Westerners who aren’t entirely sure how to go about physically and mentally reaching spirituality and a true understanding of oneself. While magazines like Vogue may have us believing yoga is for celebrities and athletes, the essential nature of Hatha yoga encompasses a philosophical level too. “The beauty is that people often come here for the stretch, and leave with a lot more,” says Liza Ciano, co-owner & co-director of Yoga Vermont. Check YogaFinder.com to find your class today.

There are many different forms of Yoga that people around the world practice. Some use it primarily for its low-impact workout whereas others love the feel of meditation and concentration required in some of the many poses. Yoga is a great way for those suffering from injury or unused to a cardiovascular workout to begin their path to becoming physically and mentally fit. Exercise is an important part of our daily lives and the added benefit of learning relaxation techniques is enough to entice anyone onto a mat. Find your relaxation and work out by clicking here for more information: Kriya Yoga and at Yoga For Kids also at Yoga Exercises During Pregnancy