Hatha Yoga Tip
TRIANGLE – VARIATIONS – Parsvottanasana – All levels
In all the triangle variations the posture ensures a thorough lateral stretch to all parts of the body, promoting elasticity of the spine and helping maintain a youthful posture. Standing with the feet a little more than shoulder width apart, turn left foot out. Clasp the hands behind the back. Inhale. Exhale and bend forward, bringing the forehead toward the left knee. Lift the arms up to the ceiling as high as possible. Hold the pose for 10 seconds or longer, increasing to 1 minute. Inhale as you push into the feet and stand up into the starting position. Repeat for the right side. Knees are straight, soft. Both feet pointing in same direction. Elbows are kept straight behind back. Hands re clasped together with fingers loosely interwoven.
Benefits:
Helps improve balance
Stretches the hips, lateral legs and hamstrings
Helps improves posture
Helps improves digestion
Opens front of shoulder sockets
This yoga asana is an edited contribution for the Sivananda Gurugram partly sourced and edited from the Sivananda Publication: “Yoga: Your Home Practice Companion” – Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre – 2010.
The teacher opens samskaras of the student either by the senses – touch, smell, etc, or by the words of teaching. A true teacher will challenge you and your mind. – Sw. Vishnudevananda
There have been exceptional instances when illumination has come suddenly and has instantly transformed a life. – Sri Swami Sivananda
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Spiritual Calendar
| MAY 2022
03 Akshaya Titreeya (Vamana Incarnation) JUNE 2022 10 Ekadasi Keep your heart tranquil, pure, empty of desires and thoughts, then alone the divine light and Grace will descend. – Sri Swami Sivananda |
Glossary
CHITTA SUDDHA – Chitta: consciousness; Suddhi: purification. Chitta Suddhi: purity of heart and mind, a fundamental for progress on any spiritual path.
Chitta is pure, universal consciousness, which becomes clouded or impure by thought and ego.
Do Nishkama Karma Yoga for some years to attain Chitta Suddhi and purify the heart. You must develop humility, the spirit of self-sacrifice, Kshama, mercy, Visva-prem. These virtues can be acquired by selfless service – Karma Yoga. You must have the qualifications Sama (peaceful nature), Dama (self-restraint), Sarva-sanga-parityaga (freedom from all sorts of attachments) and perfect obedience to and implicit faith in the teacher before you.
When you have Chitta Suddhi you will have no attraction for sensual objects, worldly desires, unholy ideas, sexual Vasanas. Anger, vanity, hypocrisy, egoism, greed, jealousy, etc. will not arise in your mind. Even in dreams you will not entertain these thoughts. The signs to indicate that you have attained Chitta Suddhi are virtuous divine qualities such as mercy, cosmic love, forgiveness, harmony and balance of mind. Then you will have sustained lasting Vairagya.
Deep beneath the noise and storm on the surface, deep beneath the surging mental waves, there is that stupendous ocean of peace and stillness. Realize this through deep and intense meditation. – Sri Swami Sivananda