IS INDIAN HATH YOGA WITH TAOIST TRADITION ... YIN/YANG YOGA ?INNER YOGA-50

YIN, THE FEMININE PRINCIPLE;- Yin, the feminine principle: Dark, passive, receptive, reflective, withdrawn, cool, introspective. Yin yoga was developed to penetrate deep into connective tissue expanding flexibility and aiding healing while stimulating the nadis or meridians to loosen energetic blockages and increase energy flow. YANG,THE MASCULINE PRINCIPLE;- Yang, the masculine principle;Light, active, outward and upward moving, hot, extrospective. Yang yoga is the more traditional hatha or ashtanga based asana practice that develops muscular strength, stamina, and flexibility.

INDIAN HATH YOGA OR YIN/YANG YOGA PHILOSOPHY & PRINCIPLES(Indian Hatha yoga

with Chinese Taoist traditions);- 07 FACTS;- 1-Yin yoga's teaching in the Western world, beginning in the late 1970s, was founded by martial arts expert and Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zink. Yin yoga is now being taught across North America and in Europe. Yin yoga was first developed by Paulie Zink when he combined the practice of Indian Hatha yoga with Chinese Taoist traditions. He utilized combinations of postures and movements with visualizations, vocalizations (The processes by which spoken sounds are made)and other insights that he personally developed since beginning yoga when he was fourteen years old. He studied Taoist yoga, Qigong and Kung Fu for many years before he began teaching his own techniques. 2-Although many Yin yoga poses or asanas closely resemble the asanas in Indian hatha yoga, they have different names, in part to alert those who are familiar with similar poses in hatha yoga not to perform them in the same way. In general, the poses of Yin yoga are performed with very little muscular exertion. For example, in the Seal pose, in which a practitioner lies face down and then raises the trunk upward, the upward movement is gradual and entirely supported by the arms, and the legs are relaxed.

3-But in the Cobra or Bhujangasana of hatha yoga, the practitioner actively curves the spine upward in an arc using arms and lower back muscles, and reaches back with the legs strongly. To understand yin and yang yoga poses, one must first understand how yoga is generally practiced. Yoga is not a form of competitive exercise. Each student progresses at his/her own level with each posture targeting a different area. 4-While all yoga has similar goals and objectives, the traditional yoga practiced in North America is typically Yang Yoga. It usually targets the muscles with aggressive stretching postures and breathing exercises. Yin Yoga is the counterbalance to the practice of Yang Yoga, and is sometimes referred to as yoga for the joints.

5-Yin yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga with postures, or asanas, that are held for longer periods of time—for beginners, it may range from 45 seconds to two minutes; more advanced practitioners may stay in one asana for five minutes or more.Yin yoga poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues of the body—the tendons (fibroustissue, serving to connect a muscle with a bone)

, fascia, and ligaments—with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility.

6-A more meditative approach to yoga, yin aims at cultivating awareness of inner silence, and bringing to light a universal, interconnecting quality.Yin is more internal, passive, cooling and downward. While Yang is more external, dynamic, warming and upward. 7-When these terms are applied to yoga, Yin Yoga is a slower practice where poses are passively held for longer, working on the deep, dense (Yin) connective tissues and joints in the body. Yang Yoga in contrast refers to a more active practice working on the (Yang) muscles and blood flow, building strength, stamina and flexibility. Yang styles of yoga are those with rhythm and repetition like Vinyasa Flow. 8-For a balanced yoga practice we need to include both Yang and Yin aspects, whether that is by including one or two Yin or Restorative yoga sessions along with Hatha or Vinyasa into our weekly schedule, or by practicing both Yin and Yang aspects in the same class. 9-This yoga form begins with relaxed muscles and targets the ligaments and joints that asana styles don't normally exercise. Sometimes it is also referred to as soft yoga even though it can be more challenging than some yang poses. It involves postures that are held for longer periods of time than yang yoga. Some poses are held for up to 20 minutes. This stretches and strengthens connective tissues that are much deeper than superficial or muscular tissues. YIN/YANG YOGA SEQUENCE;- 07 FACTS;- 1-Yin and Yang tissues are affected much differently with each style. Yang is considered more dynamic, because it stretches and strengthens muscular tissues with an emphasis on internal heating. Yin focuses on the connections in the pelvis, hips, and even the lower spine. 2-Most yang postures involve standing while most yin postures involve sitting or laying down. Many yoga masters feel the combination of yin and yang poses balance each other out and give the body the full exercise it truly needs. It is even suggested that practicing only the Yang side of yoga is only half of the asana practice. 3-Yin yoga encompasses all skill levels, just like yang yoga. Beginners, intermediate and advanced yoga practitioners can all find postures that are at their level. The real challenge isn't deciding which one is best to do. It's how to achieve both to create a balance for the mind, body and spirit. Yoga masters seeking liberation, or moksa, do not practice only one side. 4-It might seem odd to start with the Yin, because standard fitness advice warns against "stretching cold." However, it is a good way to check in with what your natural range of motion is like at the beginning of a practice, and it is perfectly safe and healthy to gently stress your joints without any "warm-up." That being said, it is only safe and healthy provided that you do not strain yourself. 5-Be sure to use props and support as needed so that you can relax as much as possible as you're approaching these deep stretches. It's normal to feel a little stiff and vulnerable coming out of yin poses, so please take your time and move slowly as you proceed to the Yang portion. The Yang portion will help tone your quads and core, create flexibility in the spine, and warm up your whole body for whatever movement you want to follow it with... 6-By bringing both Yin and Yang aspects; we can experience all the benefits of both styles and we can use these in different ways.Sometimes if we have a busy day and then go straight into our practice we can keep on that Yang path - pushing in the same way we have been doing all day. 7-So starting with some Yin can calm and clear the head, pressing the reset button before we start and bringing our attention down from the mind and into the body for our Yang practice. It also helps to start with some Yin poses if you are feeling tired, maybe like not practicing at all... On the other hand ending with Yin can release any tension you might have built up during the Yang part of your practice, for example in your shoulders. Finishing with Yin grounds you, relaxing and calming the nervous system..

IS PROSTRATION ALSO A TYPE OF YIN-YANG YOGA?

05 FACTS;-

1-Prostration is the placement of the body in a submissively prone position as a gesture & very common in hindus & muslims also.

2-In Hinduism, eight-limbed i.e.ashtanga pranama, also called dandavat, meaning "like a stick" and five-limbed panchanga pranama i.e. prostrations are included in the religious ritual of puja. Worship in Hinduism involves invoking higher forces to assist in spiritual and material progress and is simultaneously both a science and an art.

3-Typically prostration is distinguished from the lesser acts of bowing or kneeling by involving a part of the body above the knee touching the ground, especially the hands.

4-When a person goes to the position of prostration /Sajdah his whole body is in an active motion. In this position, the person rests his forehead on the ground while his hands are placed at the sides. This brings most of the body muscles, if not all, in active motion and gives them some exercise.

5-This is good exercise for the muscles of the upper limbs. From the physical point of view, this is better for the forearm and arm muscles.6-It is a unique position as this is the only position in which brain (or head) becomes lower than the heart, and hence the blood gushes towards the brain with full force, whereas in all other positions (even when lying down) the brain is above the heart when it has to work against gravity to send blood to the brain; it effects on blood circulation.

...SHIVOHAM....