International Foundation of Yoga and Meditation

Center for Yoga Guidelines, Rules and Membership Training Network

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Alex Newman

Two most powerful yoga quotes

Recent studies in people with chronic low-back pain suggest that a carefully adapted set of yoga poses may help reduce pain and improve function. Scientists are getting close to proving what yogis have held to be true for centuries — yoga and meditation. Hundreds of studies have been conducted on the mental health benefits of yoga and meditation.

In a study published in May in the medical journal PloS One showed that one session of  yoga relaxation practice was enough to enhance the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and insulin secretion and reduce expression of genes linked to inflammatory response and stress.

If you have completed your teacher training and are now an official yoga instructor, here are some beautiful inspirational yoga and meditation quotes to inspire your students.

You are your master. Only you have the master keys to open the inner locks. — Amit Ray

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Yoga …

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ArticlesGeneralMeditation Courses
Alex Newman

Mindfulness Meditation In Nature: What Does Research Say

Mindfulness meditation can be defined in many ways and can be used for a variety of different therapies. Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training. The term “mindfulness” is a translation of the Pali term sati, which is a significant element of some Buddhist traditions.

Mindfulness meditation is practiced sitting with eyes closed, cross-legged on a cushion, or on a chair, with the back straight. Recent interest has emerged for studying the effects of mindfulness on the brain using neuroimaging techniques, physiological measures and behavioral tests.

Neuroimaging techniques suggest that mindfulness practices such as mindfulness meditation are associated with “changes in the anterior cingulate cortex, insula, temporo-parietal junction, fronto-limbic network and default mode network structures.

Life is a mystery- mystery of beauty, bliss and divinity. …

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Yoga Teachers
Alex Newman

Adi Shankaracharya

adi shankaracharyaBorn in 788 AD in a village called Kaladi in Kerala Adi Shankaracharya was a philosopher of the greatest renown because he brought new life to the Vedas and restored them to their ancient glory. He revived Vedanta at a time when Vedanta philosophy was going through a period of darkness due to the excesses of ritualistic practice. His correct interpretations saw a revival in the status of the Vedas and so he was able to successfully advocate Advaita Vedanta. He founded the Dashanami monastic order and believed in worship of the Shanmata tradition. He established four Adi Shankaracharya Peeths and devoted one of the Vedas to each:

  1. South – Sarada Peetha, Sringeri
  2. East – Govardhana Peetha, Jagannath Puri
  3. West – Kalika Peetha, Dwaraka
  4. North – Jyothir Peetha, Badrinath
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Yoga Teachers
Alex Newman

Swami Satyananda

swami_satyananda

Born in 1923 at Almora, Uttarakhand Swami Satyananda showed a spiritual tendency and heightened awareness right from the age of 6 years. In 1943 he left home and came in contact with Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh and the Swami initiated him into the Dashnami Sannyas. Satyananda performed such intense nishkam seva that he was able to realize the secrets of spirituality. He studied yoga, tantra and Vedanta and kundalini yoga in such a through fashion that he founded the new Bihar School of Yoga in 1963 and became the pioneer of this yoga practice.…

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Yoga Teachers
Alex Newman

Swami Sivananda

swami sivanandaBorn in 1887 at Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India in 1887 Swami Sivananda was a Doctor in Malaysia but he renounced his medical practice in 1924 when Swami Vishwananda Saraswati initiated him into Dashnami Sannyasa. He practiced intense sadhana, yoga and learnt the scriptures. He became a wondering monk and toured the length and breadth of India. Wherever Sivananda went he tried to awaken the moral and spiritual consciousness of people. In 1936 he founded the Divine Life Society at Rishikesh with the main aim of spreading spiritual knowledge and serving mankind. Being a doctor he started the Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmacy in 1945.…

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