Kripalu Yoga - Learn the Benefits

By Michael Russell

The word "Yoga" is derived from the Sanskrit word "yuj" which means "to yoke". This roughly translated means "the union of the Individual Soul with the Universal Soul". Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice originating in India more than 5000 years ago. Its practice can be viewed either as physiological mastery (exercise), spiritual mastery, or both. There are four major branches of yoga.

*Bhakti Yoga ~ The yoga of devotion to a deity.

*Jnana Yoga ~ The yoga of intellectual endeavor and knowledge.

*Karma Yoga ~ The yoga of action in the world.

*Raja Yoga ~ The yoga of meditation.

There are many sub-branches including Anahata, Hatha, Kriya, Anusara, Kundalini, Anuyoga, Iyengar, Mahayoga, Ashtanga, Natya, Sivananda, Ati, Krishnamacharya, Pranava, Swara, Bikram, Kripalu and many more. The goals of yoga are expressed differently in different traditions. Kripalu Yoga is one of the many styles of teaching Hatha Yoga and is the style we'll be discussing here.

Kripalu Yoga can be described as the reciprocity of mind, energy and physical body. The prana or life force is the subtle current of rhythmic energy pulsations within the physical body. Every single act of the physical body is strongly affected and accompanied by emotional and mental conditions. Imbalance or even disease can be created by the most infinitesimal thought which disrupts or obstructs this crucial flow of energy.

The practice of Kripalu Yoga includes deep relaxation, breathing techniques, physical postures and meditation. Through the practice of this form of Yoga, you can release pain by eliminating layers of stress and resistance lodged in your physical body. This experience can dissolve blockages, free energy and actual healings can occur on all levels. Energy levels can be improved, anxiety reduced, blood pressure levels normalized, greater flexibility, more strength, increased levels of endurance and general well-being.

There are natural healing processes awakened to improve your mental clarity, emotional stability and your overall physical well-being. When emotional and mental disturbances are dissolved, huge amounts of prana are released to affect healing. The regular practice of Kripalu Yoga can have profound effects on the emotions, mind and physical body.

Kripalu Yoga teaches you to tap into your own inner-knowing instead of being dependent upon any guidance of external authorities. It's okay to be open to what others suggest, but you don't need to give away your powers to make your own decisions, your powers to reason and to be discriminatory. At all times during the practice of Kripalu Yoga you are establishing a nurturing and intimate relationship with your physical body.

Physical discipline alone will not provide the benefits of this practice in which your body becomes a temple, which you invoke with the presence of the divine. Each sensation you experience becomes sacred. Sensations are responded to with much tenderness and compassion. Every session is approached with an attitude of prayer.

The practice of Kripalu Yoga can take you to new spiritual and physical levels in your life. This form of Yoga practice may be an extension of your search for meaning in self and integration of the different aspects of being. For the average person still far from enlightenment, this particular practice of Yoga can be a way of increasing one's spiritual awareness, or cultivating insight and compassion. Yoga in itself is not a religion, but contains practical steps, which can be found in the spiritual practices of all religions, as well as those who do not consider themselves religious. No matter what your goals, Kripalu Yoga can be a method of improving your life on all levels.

Kripalu Yoga - The New Ancient Yoga

By Robin Larson

The principal objective of Kripalu yoga is to intertwine the body, mind, and energy. Individuals who perform it deem that the body holds energy rhythms in a flow which are known as prana, (occasionally referred to as life force.) The belief is that the tiniest worry or thought may create troubles with the prana in your physical body. That's why Kripalu is significant; it's a method of remaining conscious of the prana and utilizing your breathing together with your thought to avoid disturbance or blockage of the life force in your body. Consequently, you'll experience an amplified intensity of emotional control and mental clarity.

At its core, Kripalu yoga is on the subject of examining yourself so you can free yourself. Kripallu yoga believers think that by merely experiencing and examining emotional, physical, and mental developments, you start to wipe away obstacles in the prana. Consequently, this produces an improved current of life force within you and evokes a feeling of mental and physical well-being.

Yoga has been revealed to be extremely effectual in perfecting the physical human body. Yoga's immense popularity is due to this. Kripalu uses the physical body combined with the benefits of yoga as a means of following the better good of emotional and mental strength and clarity. Thus, lots of people consider it to be the most beneficial and complete form of yoga. The thought is that as you leave go of your mental and emotional impurity, you boost the quantity of prana in your system that then also aids with physical performance and healing. While all yoga meditation and practices are premised with practices, like the Maharic Seal (Azurite Press), which close up the body's energy fields from outside effects, the feeling of self knowledge is both authentic and clearer. However, Kripalu yoga doesn't teach this.

A lot of people exercise this prevalent form of yoga to blend self growth and physical fitness with the empowerment of the self. With Kripalu, you'll be taught to guide yourself through self-examination instead of through an instructor or leader. With this type of yoga, guidance is there just to assist you to become your own leader. Your understanding of self, your own body, and others will intensify from the concentration you will obtain as you peer inward. Many trust that you're utilizing your body as a temple to draw the aura of those powers superior to yourself. While a few might be doubtful, a lot more experience such auras when guided there during their own self-inspection.

After you gain knowledge of Kripalu from a teacher, you'll discover that it typically doesn't matter what your yoga level is. Classes are usually lead in the same fashion for yoga beginners and veterans equally. The importance is on introspection and observing what's there. While there are poses and a "correct" method to do them, you'll probably be persuaded to focus on your mental condition and on raising the current of your prana.

Likewise, Kripalu is in fact about life alteration. You'll be taught to concentrate on your spiritual happiness beyond the classroom in addition to while you're on the yoga mat, adding to your general well being and aiding you on your path to being the best you can be.