Surya Namaskar
Surya Namaskar is sometimes translated as "eternal salutations to the sun." In Sanskrit, surya means "sun" and namaskar means "salutations." The practice of Surya Namaskar awakens the body intelligence to create energy directly from the sun. In the Vedic tradition, the sun is symbolic of consciousness and, therefore, has been worshiped daily in the Indian culture
Due to a beautiful combination of the variability and repetitive nature of Surya Namaskar, it allows individuals to perform self-motivated practice without getting bored or mindless and it allows for easy self-maneuvering since it is repetitive in nature.
The body is equipped with the innate intelligence to produce energy from the sun directly. The mind, through the solar plexus; the body, through physical movement; and the spirit, through the chants, all get a boost from the practice of Surya Namaskar. Therefore, it is a complete workout for mind, body and soul.
Meditation
Meditation is the process of quieting the mind in order to spend time in thought for relaxation purposes. The goal is to attain an inner state of awareness and intensify personal and spiritual growth. In practice, meditation involves concentrated focus on something such as a sound, image or feeling.
Meditation is also referred to as dhyana in Sanskrit.
Meditation involves concentration and relaxation – both of which are enhanced by yoga. Just as there are many styles of yoga, so too are there a variety of ways to meditate. The first stage of meditation is to find a focal point or method of focusing in order to free oneself from distractions. Some methods of focusing include:
• Sound: Repeating a mantra, phrase or other sound.
• Visualizing: Picturing an object with eyes closed, such as a lotus flower or the energy points in the body (chakras).
• Gazing Looking at an actual object with eyes open. Candles, flowers or pictures are common objects used in gazing.
• Breathing: Observing the breath and what it feels like – the sensations – as it travels in and out of the body.
Pranayama
Pranayama is the link between the mental and physical disciplines of yoga. While the action is physical, the effect is to make the mind calm, lucid and steady.” - Swami Vishnu-devananda, Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga.
Controlling your own mind is perhaps one of the most difficult things you can do in life. After observing the intimate connection between the mind and the breath, ancient yogis developed a series of breath techniques that would enable them to control their minds.
Yogic breathing exercises are called “pranayama”. The literal translation of this Sanskrit word is “control of the prana”. Prana is the vital energy, or life force, that is known in Chinese as “chi” and Japanese “ki”. It is the subtle energy that is used and manipulated in acupuncture, shiatsu, reiki, tai chi, reflexology and many Eastern martial arts.
With regular practice, pranayama enables you to more consciously control the non-physical subtle energy within your own being. Pranayama enables you to cleanse and strengthen your physical body while calming your mind.
Savasana
The asana is pronounced as Shuh-vah-sana
This pose gets its name from the recumbent posture of a dead body. It is a position of rest and relaxation, and is usually practiced towards the end of a yoga session – a session that typically begins with activity and ends in rest; a space or pause when deep healing can take place.
This posture brings a deep, meditative state of rest, which may help in the repair of tissues and cells, and in releasing stress. It also gives time for the yoga workout to sink in at a deeper level.It helps reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia.This is an excellent way to ground the body and reduce the Vatadosha(imbalance of the air element) in the body.
LAUGHTER YOGA
Laughter yoga is a relatively new concept in body-mind exercise. It combines simulated laughter exercises with gentle breathing techniques to teach the body how to laugh without relying on jokes or humor:
There are many mental, physical and emotional benefits attributed to the practice of Laughter Yoga. Mood elevates. Stress, depression and tension decrease. Immunity improves. Lung capacity increases through deep breathing, enhancing oxygen delivery to all parts of the body. Endorphin and serotonin levels rise. Laughter provides an excellent internal massage to digestive tract as well as improving blood supply to the internal organs. People who laugh don’t worry as much as people who don’t laugh. Overall, laughing feels good and when done in a group, positive bonds are formed between the participants.