Different types of yoga| Hatha yoga|Kriya yoga|Kundalini yoga

                             Different Types Of Yoga

Hatha Yoga-  Hatha yoga is an ancient technique for the physical and mental development of human beings. Hatha yoga is an important means to achieve raja yoga by balancing body, mind, and prana. The word Hatha is composed of the two words- "ha+ Tha". Here "ha" means hakara (i.e. Suraya savara) and "tha" means thakara (i.e. Chandra savara). Pingla Nadi (Right nostril) is Surya (Sun) Savara, Whereas Ida Nadi (Left nostril) is Chandra (Moon) Savara. Hatha yoga is the unification of Surya Savara and Chandra Savara. By the unification of Surya Savara and Chandra Savara,  the prana begins to flow in Sushumna Nadi.  And it helps in the awakening of kundalini shakti. In the Siddha Siddhanta Padhati, hatha yoga is explained as: "Hakara Kirtitah, Surysaya Thakara Chandra Uchayte Surya Chandra Masoyogada Hathayogo Numdhate" - means, Hakara is Surya Savara and Thakara is Chandra Savara.

To make the flow of prana into Sushumna Nadi by uniting Surya and Chandra Savara by means of yogic sadhana is hatha yoga. Hatha yoga is considered a tool to gain the raja yoga stage. Swami Sawatmarama says:" Kevala Rajayogae Hathavidhopadisayate"- means only to achieve Raja yoga here knowledge of hatha yoga is given.

In the Hatha yoga Pradipika, the four chapters of the text hatha yoga are explained by swami Sawatmarama.

These four chapters are-

• Asanas
• Pranayama
• Mudra
• Nadanusandhana

   Asanas - Maharishi Patanjali has described asanas called "Sathirsukhmasanam" which means to sit in a stable comfortable position. Asanas provide us healthier life, stability, lightweight. With the regular practice of asanas, we can make our bodies detoxified and purified.

Here are the fifteen asanas described in the Hatha yoga Pradipika.

• Virasana
• Gomukhasana
• Swastikasana
• Kurmasana
• Uttanakurmasana
• Dhanurasana
• Shavasana
• Mayurasana
• Matsayendrasana
• Siddhasana
• Padmasana
• Simhasana
• Bhadrasana
• Paschimottasana

1. Virasana-  It is a modern yoga exercise. In this asana different poses are applied.  ( Use good quality  YOGA MAT for daily exercise and asanas to keeping your stronghold on the surface and sort of insulation between the human body and the surface.)                       

• Hero pose(Virasana yoga mudra)- 

 Yoga Virasana (Hero Pose)

 Virasana is an ointment for tired legs at the end of the day. In yoga Virasana while sitting on the floor with knees bend, ensuring the spinal cord and face are inline and straight while the hands should rest on your knees. Ideally, all of your toenails touching the floor. It will give your lower body a more spacious feeling. Sit in this posture for 2-5 minutes. 

Do not tolerate knee pain and avoid it if have any knee or ankle injury. Do this under the supervision of an experienced instructor. 

    Benefits of hero pose-

• Increase flexibility in the knees.
• Increase circulation in the feet and legs.
• Stretches the feet, thighs, and ankles also.
• Improves the digestive system and helps to avoid the gas problem.
• Good therapy for high blood pressure and patient with asthma.

• Reclining hero pose(Supta Virasana).

Supta Virasana

Supta Virasana is a front opening pose, sit between your heels. Exhale breathing and lay down on the floor with the back support, extending your arms to stretch your chest and shoulder. have your back pain Roll up a towel or cloth and place it underneath the back before you lay down. Stay in this pose for 5 minutes. Then turn back your hands on your knees and come back to the hero pose and relaxed. 

In Supta Virasana another variant is Supta Ardha Virasana.

Supta Ardha Virasana

    Benefits of reclining hero pose-

• Helps to improve fertility in women
• Reduce the problem of menstrual discomfort or pain
• Helps to reduce intestinal gas and acidity problem 
• Strengthens the arches

2. Gomukhasana- Gomukhasana (Cow face pose) is a modern yoga exercise, also an asana of hatha yoga. Gomukhasana is a Sanskrit word that means cow face posture. It is a seated yoga asana. 

Gomukhasana

Sit properly with your back straight, bend your right leg and place your right foot under your left buttock. your left knee should be stack on your right knee. your left arm above your head and bend your elbow similarly to your right arm behind your back then interlock your both hands. Stay in this pose for 5-10 minutes then you exhale and release your arms.

  Benefits of gomukhasana-

• Stretches of arms, ankles, shoulder, armpits, and chest also.
• The flexibility of your body.
• Helps to make your body in a correct posture.
• Beneficial for office working ladies to relax the body.

3. Swastikasana- Swastika is a Sanskrit word that means auspicious (Good fortune). It is a meditation or sadhana posture.

Swastikasana

 

Sit properly on the asana, straight your back, and spread out both legs in front of you, Fold your both leg on top of another leg. your knees should firmly touch the floor in this position and you feel relax, so maintain yourself in this position. place both hands on both your knees. turn your index finger and put the thumb on it, relax the other three fingers. Close your eyes and concentrate your mind on yourself. Control your breathing and slowly exhale. Stay in this pose for 10-15 minutes in beginning after that you can increase the time.

    Benefits of swastikasana-

• Best position in meditation and sadhana.
• Helps to relax your mind.
• Increase your concentration power.
• Suitable and best asana for every age group.
• Helps to release stress and anxiety.

4. Kurmasana- Kurmasana is a tortoise (Turtle) pose. This pose helps to strengthen the human back, In this pose sit on asana, and your legs straight in front of you. Spread your leg less than ninety degrees and place your shoulder under your knees, keeping both hands out. Move your hands back behind you and palms up. Rest in this pose for 2 minutes, you can increase the time if you are comfortable.

   Benefits of Kurmasana-

• Increase our back strength.
• Increase our body flexibility.
• Improve our digestion system. 
• Hand and shoulders strength increase.

5. Uttanakurmasana- Uttanakurmasana is a Inverted tortoise pose. Uttanakurmasana comes from a Sanskrit word, which means kachuaa asana. It is a stretching exercise, which helps to open out our thighs, back, and shoulders. In this asana sit in vajra asana pose, hips should be rest on your heels