Yoga in India: 7 Differences Between Eastern and Western Yoga

 Yoga in India and in the West is very different, and as I came to explore it more it’s something I really wanted to share about on the blog. Before India, I took hot yoga in the US and loved it as a hard-core workout. I was pretty sure all I lost was water-weight, but I liked the feeling of sweating that much. In India, I was really surprised to find out what the “birthplace of Yoga” considered “real” yoga. A 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in India really changed by life.

Yoga Temple India is a peaceful, quiet (sometimes the teacher didn’t speak one word) place, where we meditated for 20–30 minutes before and after, and held positions much longer, so long in fact, that I thought my arms would fall off! I was taught one-on-one yoga many times and told by my emaciated-looking 50-year-old Indian teachers that I should eat once a day, never take a group class, and make yoga my life.

Clearly, the East has a different take on the “yoga lifestyle” than the West. We know yoga came from the East, but when you pinpoint it down, they say probably Rishikesh, India. There’s a reason the Beatles chose Rishikesh to come to relax and write music with their guru. Most of the students choose Yoga Teacher Training Rishikesh in their first chose when choosing a Yoga Course in India.

Yoga in India: Differences between the West and East

Before we get into it, I want to share a few other articles that you can open in new tabs and read. I have been living in India for nearly six years and wrote up lists of the top places to learn yoga in India for travellers based on location. I have prices and what’s included for all of them.

· Top 5 yoga retreats in India

· Best places to do yoga teacher training in India based on reviews and popularity

· Top 5 yoga retreats in Goa

· Top yoga teacher training in India straight from my reader’s opinions and experiences (this is such a great post with insight from people who have recently stayed at the locations)

What I learned from practicing yoga teacher training in India, which I wouldn’t have learned from the West.

It is 5 am, the crows are crowing, the cockerels are singing their morning wake up song and the dogs are barking. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but you can feel the heat in the air. Welcome to India, the origin and home of yoga, where else would I do my yoga teacher training. Not only is India the sacred land from a yoga point of view but Goa where I trained also offered me sunshine, a beach and the ability to train with local Indians who dedicate their life to yoga. This is not just a form of exercise in the East. Our day would start with two hours of morning practice with empty stomachs, ending as the sun started to rise; we would cover traditional Eastern yoga, philosophy and adapt our western lives to a totally eastern practice of yoga, worlds apart from the fitness style class in the west.

1. Our food affects our emotions

It was a culture shock to start with. Being encouraged to live a full yogi life didn’t just include engrossing ourselves into yoga practice it also included eating a vegan plain diet. The meals were designed from the Ayurvedic philosophy. The food was plain with limited spices because we learned that food has a big impact on our emotions, plain food doesn’t play with emotions and also caters for vegans, vegetarians and people with food intolerance. Being plant-based it was easier to digest and it made me feel guilty for all the times I over ate in the West and did not listen to my body when it was hungry; I would eat for the sake of it and because there is an abundance of food.

2. More than just an exercise

In the western world, we have just taken one part of a whole yoga lifestyle. It is mainly used as a form of exercise. However, yoga is a whole practice of life and living, how you treat others, the respect you have for your body and the world around you. Trying to be non-judgemental.

There are 6 branches of yoga with the practice in class just being one of these. Along with that Yoga is an integrative eight-step (limbs) system recorded in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and comprises ethical guidelines and observances (yamas and niyamas), postures (asanas), breath work (pranayama), ability to turn inward (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and the state of fulfilment, freedom, bliss and contentment (samadhi — the ultimate goal of yoga).

3. You need to still your mind

Yoga in India has a lot more meditation but it doesn’t mean it is a cult or a religion. I was very privileged to have had a Brahman teach me yoga philosophy. What the western world do wrong in some styles of yoga is missing the ability to be mindful and still your mind. Yoga can change your life, it helps us to sit still, be non-reactive to emotions such as sadness, possessiveness or anger and similar. The yoga practice has to occur off the mat just as much as whilst you are doing the physical poses.

4. Learn to remove the ego

Too often yoga in the west is portrayed with a thin girl in a very unusual position which would be impossible to achieve as a beginner, wearing the latest body-hugging lycra outfit. The images on social media and in magazines pictured in these desirable locations of beautiful beaches or rolling hills makes yoga seen unaffordable and not accessible to the average person. There is little interest in weight loss as our bodies are just a machine to get us through life. It is about working on what’s inside, which is why food becomes a focus.

Ultimately, what we aim to do in yoga is to develop ourselves from the inside, gaining body intelligence on the mat will start to move your practice off the mat and encourage you to have more awareness of what you are putting into the body. Yoga is designed to cleanse your body and mind of physical and emotional blockages, develop a stronger sense of connection of the two, promoting better awareness and mindfulness of the choices we make in life whether it is about the way we treat ourselves or others, or attitudes we express. Yoga is a union of your body and your mind, not about how you look in the mirror.

5. Being spiritual doesn’t make you religious

I learnt that being spiritual was just about trying to be happy. Yoga is just a road to happiness, some people see it as enlightenment but this it is just trying to allow you to lead your life as easily as possible, removing the stress and strains of day to day living so you can be as happy as possible.

Our practice would always start with an Om channelling the vibration from the sound and our intention for the day into the universe; this would follow breathing exercises to cleanse out body and meditation. We tuned into our body and we learned that yoga is a method to prime your body so it is comfortable when meditating. In the East, the ultimate aim of Yoga is to experience the Truth, by realizing the true nature of ourselves. It is not religious.

6. Lifelong learning

Many people think yoga is like a gym, or like going to a work-out, but that is not yoga

In Indian culture, you go to a teacher and learn from him. It is a lineage and it is lifelong learning. You are taught to have patience and take your time over years not weeks and months like you are taught in the West. It makes me sad that in 4 weeks you can become a fully-fledged yoga teacher. My yoga teacher spent 10 years dedicated to his own self-practice before he even thought about sharing these finding with others, there are limited teachers in the UK which can claim the same. You have to be a student and know that you will be a student your whole life. Yoga is never ending. It’s like the ocean and what we have learned is like a small drop. There’s a lot to learn and for our whole life, we keep learning.

7. There is no avoiding the silence

Many people have come to me and said, “I started practicing yoga and my life has been changed.” People can improve their whole lifestyle. You cannot separate the exercise from the traditional philosophy. I started out in the mindset of doing yoga to prevent injury in sport. Now yoga is my only exercise and I crave to still my mind in myself practice. I notice in my body and my mind if I haven’t practiced. Yoga is more than just an exercise for me. There is no avoiding it because the movements work with the breath they become a form of meditation.’ The continued practice of the exercises will, whether you intend it or not, eventually influence you toward wanting to understand more and wanting to develop yourself outside the practice on the mat.

Booking Yoga Retreats and Yoga Teacher Training in India is a good choice if you want to give a certification to your yoga practice and help others in their life.

7 Yoga Poses (Asanas) to Prevent Winter Colds, Flu, and Sickness in 2021

 2021 will start soon if only we are going to leave the ancient skies in 2020.

The common cold generally an infection of your nose and throat. It’s quickly passed to others, especially in homes, classrooms, and workplaces. More than 100 viruses can cause colds. There are no cure for a common cold, but it typically runs its course in a week to 10 days.

Coronavirus pandemic has infected appx 10 million people globally, and newer infection cases are being reported every single day. While there are no exact date to mark the end of the deadly pandemic, a body of experts feels that nature might be the only thing saving us from the pandemic.

Winter is going to start, and it is rough enough as it is. Tramping through puddles, sometimes even spooning snow, driving through sludge, rough skin, and dry lips will be a challenge of the season.

Yoga Teacher Training in India

Fortunately, yoga offers a solution. It helps naturally boosting your immune system, building your resistance, and enhancing your overall health, a strong yoga routine is a perfect shield against winter’s worst effects. If you want to support any other, you must take a Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India.

Add these asanas into your daily routine to ensure your winter season is as healthy as possible. It’s most important to note that if you really feel sick, consider doing your practice at your home until you feel better.

If you doesn’t want to bring sickness to other vulnerable members of your yoga community, then join a Yoga Teacher Training India.

1. Standing Forward Bend / Uttanasana

Uttanasana should already be a part of your normal yoga routine.

If it isn’t, definitely add it in! By performing a forward bend, you reverse the flow of blood, lymphatic fluid, and other liquids throughout your upper body.

This activity helps to cleanse your lungs, your nasal passages, your sinuses, and other related systems.

2. Bridge Pose / Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

This is one of my favorite poses. Bridge pose is a wonderful way to open up the chest and shake lose any mucus or congestion which is gathering there.

The fresh invasion of oxygen helps your entire system refresh and energize. Like Standing Forward Bend, it’s also pleasing for lowering the head to send blood toward it and to shake loose the nasal passages.

3. Cobra Pose / Bhuanga

Cobra pose is a perfect way to build the strength and durability your body needs in order to challenge colds and illnesses.

The chest-forward, open bearing encourages full, deep breaths and a liberating of any grease or secretion within. Cobra is specifically recommended for helping those who suffer from asthma, allergy, or other respiratory issues.

It also helps your digestive system make full use of its vitamins and fibers, which is critical for a body to fight off illness.

4. Legs-Up-The-Wall / Viparita Karani

This could be measured the converse of the head-down poses. In this case, the head and torso are horizontal and it’s the legs which are in the upside-down position.

If at all conceivable, find a wall that has a clear space before it. Wiggle your lowermost until it is situated at the base of the wall.

Take in long, deep breaths. Relish the space. So much of life in modern times is about race-race-race. Take this moment to breathe in, pause, and count your many blessings.

5. Cat — Cow Pose / Marjaryasana -Bitilasana

A key part of our body fighting any infection, illness, or disease is to have it arrange the energy it desires to post that defense. That includes the right vitamins, ample hydration, and full sleep.

Reducing stress is a key aspect of getting sleep.

Cat-cow poses are a well-known method of reducing stress and relaxing the body. One of the best ways you can charge your body to resist whatever comes at it is to get ample sleep every night. Cat-cow is a step along that path.

6. Reclining Spinal Twist / Jathara Parivartanasana

This pose is just so incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating. It provides a gentle twist to your entire abdomen area. Any toxins which are accumulating throughout your body get softly wrung out and released.

Make each motion mindfully and gently.

Breathe. Breathe.

7. Corpse Pose / Shavasana

Most practices recommend ending a yoga session with shavasana. This is a pose of release and relaxation.

The hormones expressed by stress can wreak havoc in just about every aspect of the body’s immune system. The more that we can reduce stress, the better our body becomes in handling any challenges it might face.

Let your thoughts flow and float. They are translucent clouds passing by. Watch them with calm acceptance. Bring your attention back to the calm between your breaths.

Conclusion

Yoga is a key constituent of your daily routine which can help safeguard that your body is as strong and ready as it can be for all of the contests which winter throws at you.

Sideways with healthy food, proper hydration, and ample sleep, a sympathetic yoga routine can prepare you for a winter as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Have you used yoga as a winter cold preparation before? If not, will you be generous it a go this year? Let me know in the comments. You are also invited to join a best Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh today!

Kalyani,

Yogi, meditator, writer.

Yoga for Immunity - Yoga and Pranayama Exercises to Enhance Immunity

 Today in this pandemic, we must send wishes of love and support to those persons who are in the areas most affected by the virus. Yoga Temple India, the best Yoga Teacher Training school in Rishikesh, India want to share tips on how to keep your mood good and immune system high to ward off from infection.

As wintertime is a season of great beauty, serenity and celebration. It is also a time when many of us find that we get a number of colds and are vulnerable to catching the flu. A regular practice of Yoga asanas and pranayama exercises will help to keep you in good physical and mental health. There are also Yoga asanas and pranayama exercises that are particularly beneficial for enhancing the functioning of the immune system. The immune system is “staffed” by white blood cells that are circulated throughout the body by the lymphatic system. Workout in general will help to increase the functioning of the immune system by increasing the circulation of white blood cells throughout the entire body. Yoga asanas that turn the body upside down are known as inversions. Inversions will substantially support the efficient functioning of your immune system through the added power of gravity to increase circulation. Yoga Temple India now opening doors to its physical training for Yoga Teacher Training in India and Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh, India.

Here are few Moods

A) Stress is one of the main parts to reduce immunity. When you’re in ‘fight or flight’ due to fear, worry or rushing, your body sends energy and attention to the muscles and takes it away from other systems like digestion and immune function so you can run away from the proverbial tiger. But when your body needs to prepare to combat a virus, you need to do the opposite. You need to stay more often in ‘rest, digest and repair’ mode, so your immunity will be high.

B) Social isolation measures important now in certain areas of the globe, but they can cause aloneness, frustration, stress and depression. So, many of us will need to find ways to emphasis in order to take care of extra details and stay involved with the world, hope, and our sense of purpose while at home.

Yoga can be helpful in both of the above as well as generous tips and tools to keep us engaged and boosting our immune system.

Here You Must Focus Few Things

1. Regularity and Engagement

2. Release Stress

3. Energize your Environment

4. Immune Boosting Foods

5. Jal Neti

Your diet and immune system

There is a popular axiom that “we are what we eat.” This goes miserable to say that the efficiency of a person’s immune system is resolute by his or her diet practices. Every food that passes through your mouth has the ability to improve or negatively affecting your immune system. The negative effect of the food on the immune system reduces its ability to protect the body against invaders.

A lot of people see the idea of boosting their immune systems as a tedious and impossible one. But is it really like they think? Below are some tips to help you boost your immune system during yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India.

Adjust your diet practices

This is the first step to take. Quit skipping breakfasts because they are the first foods to enter the body and be processed. Processed and greasy foods shouldn’t be your choice during breakfast. Wheat grains, oats, honey, yogurt, pomelo, and berries are available to choose from.

Avoid skipping lunch and dinners too. Food ingredients like black pepper, garlic, thyme, rosemary, oregano, fish and other seafoods help a lot to boost immune systems. So, ensure your diets contain them in moderate quantity.

While trying to boost your immune system, abstain from;

· Drinking in excess

· Smoking

· Recreational drugs like heroine, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc.

· Abuse of prescribed drugs

· Junk foods containing preservatives, animal fat in excess, and other unnatural additives

· High level of unnecessary stress

The Impact of Yoga & Breathing

Enter deep yogic breathing. Fancy advanced pranayama not required. It is enough to use slow, controlled breathing. A review published this year in Advances in Mind-Body Medicine (Adv Mind Body Med. 2015 Winter; 29(1):18–25) points to controlled, rhythmic breathing and details the numerous studies that show this simple practice to be highly effective to alleviate stress and improve healthcare outcomes.

The best news of all, is that absolutely anyone can use the tool because the benefit is traced to the breath. No asana is required. A simple meditation that focuses on breath control is all you need. This kind of breathing is certainly built into the yoga practice, but applied to any form of exercise or meditation the technique can be equally effective!

Happy breathing, yogis, and cheers to your improved health!