The basics of tantra yoga are as follows: you sit calmly and purify your mind and heart of any wayward thoughts and feelings, then slowly begin to sense the life force that is within your being. You are then supposed to direct love and all the devotion you can towards the dynamic body of light which is a representation of your soul. Through practice of this form of yoga, you should feel an amazing renewal and an acceleration of spiritual awakening.

The overcoming of bad habits is an essential part of tantra yoga, including such things as smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating. Tantra helps to expand your consciousness as a way of helping you to give up these sorts of self-destructive habits, as all of these habits have one thing in common, even though they are actually different. They all cause harm to your body in one way or the other.

Tantra yoga has become especially popular recently in the United States, with the primary theory being that there is a great vein that runs from the lowest part of the spine, where the serpent power of Kundalini rests. In tantra, it is considered that the greatest source of energy in the entire universe is that of regular and important sexual and ritualized intercourse, and that an orgasm for instance is considered as being an extraordinary, cosmic and divine experience. Source

1 Sit up on the knees with the heels of the feet pressed against the buttocks and the calves of the legs flat on the floor.
 
2 Reaching backward, grasp the left ankle with the left hand and right ankle with the right hand.
 
3 Inhale through the nostrils and lift the buttocks off the legs arching the back and thrusting the abdomen forward and tilt the head as far back as possible.
 
4 Either hold the posture for the duration of the inhale breath or breath gently through the nostrils while holding the posture.
 
5 Exhale and return to the kneeling position. Source

1 Sit on your knees with your feet together and buttocks resting on your heels. Separate your knees about the width of your hips. Place your hands on your thighs, palms down. (This is the vajra-asana or Thunderbolt Pose).
 
2 Inhale deeply, then exhale as you bring your chest between your knees while swinging your arms forward.
 
3 Rest your forehead on the floor, if possible, and then bring your arms around to your sides until the hands on resting on either side of your feet, palms up.
 
4 Breath gently through your nostrils as you hold the posture. Hold for about one to two minutes. Then return to asn upright kneeling position with your back straight and your hands on your thighs.
 
5 Repeat the posture at least one more time. Source

1 Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides (see the tad-asana or mountain pose).
 
2 Draw the left foot upward bending the knee and wrap the left foot around your right leg as you rest the back of your left thigh on the right thigh.
 
3 Cross your arms at the elbows, left over right.
 
4 Join the palms of your hands together keeping the fingers pointed upward.
 
5 Inhale and hold the posture for the duration of the inhaled breath.
 
6 Exhale and return to the tada-asana. Repeat the posture on the opposite side, wrapping the right leg over the left and the right arm over left.

The Garuda-asana will strengthen the legs, knees and ankles. It stretches and tones muscles of the leg and can help relieve cramps of the legs. Hold the hala-asana for as long as you are comfortable. 20-30 seconds is fine for early attempts, increase the time gradually as you become more comfortable. You can also try holding the posture for as long as you can hold the inhaled breath. Repeat 2 or 3 times on each leg. Source

Every person has a powerful mind, but most us just do not believe it. It has been proven through research that humans use only 10% of the mind power of their brain. That is crazy. That means that we only focus on the simple things. This is part of the reason that we have trouble in life. We think negative thoughts because we do not believe that the positive can happen. We just continue to attract negativity. The reality is that when we think that way then it will happen.

What happens in your life starts in your mind. What you have accomplished is a direct result of the power of your mind. You may have heard that every person has psychic ability or some type of extra sensory skills, but the truth is that is really advanced subconscious mind power. Basically, if you want something in your life then all you need to do to get it is think it. If you expect nothing but bad things then that is what you will get.

Many things can be used to boost the effectiveness of your mind power. These range from goal setting to affirmations to visualization techniques. Even hypnotherapy can do it. We’ll cover each of these techniques below.

Visualization is simply taking the time to think through what it would be like to have achieved your goal, to focus on it, to take it into your mental fortress and let it seep into your subconscious. Make mental images and explore them. It will help you recognize the opportunities to make those images into reality when you encounter them. What this is doing is imprinting your subconscious mind with opportunities to excel. Use this to shape how you want your life to be when this all works.

Goal setting is something anyone who’s ever had to use a day planner remembers. You write everything down that you want to get done and then you break it down into steps. Read the list every day, and focus on one item on the list and try to make it a reality. Do this ever

Affirmations are another excellent means of increasing your mind power. An affirmation is a positive statement you make about your life as you go through your day. They are statements that encourage you and they can be about anything as long as they are positive. Using an affirmation to increase the power of your mind to bring about weight loss will look something like this: It will feel so good to be 10 pounds thinner by the end of the month. As you state what you expect to be true, it will eventually become true. It may feel a bit uncomfortable at first but if you do anything consistently for 28 days it becomes a habit.

Another thing that you can do to help develop more mind power is through brainwave entertainment. What this is, is synchronizing your brainwaves through audio technology. The brain naturally can do several things. One of those things is the ability to heal itself. Through brainwave entertainment you can enhance this ability. Other things that happen is enhanced memory and strengthening of natural psychic powers. This is rather advanced, but it really does work.

Another means of expanding your mind power is through hypnosis. It reduces tension and resistance allowing access to your subconscious mind. Many people have used hypnosis to quit smoking because it works. The process simply involves repeated sessions where the person sits quietly relaxing and listening to the hypnotist tell them over and over that they want to quit smoking, that they do not have the urge to smoke, they want to and can quit and they do. These people become convinced through their subconscious minds that they are able to quit smoking. They are convinced to believe in themselves when before they did not.

Everyone has mind power, even you. It is just a matter of believing in it and your mind’s ability. It is probably not going to happen overnight, but you can use it overtime to change your life and bring positivity and good luck into your life. It is simply about communicating to the universe what you want and pulling it to you. It all starts with the subconscious mind and knowing that your mind is very powerful. Source

People who are not familiar with meditation may consider it to be prayer or worship, but this is far from the truth. Meditation can be described as concentrated awareness, so as you overcome distractions and focus your mind on something you are becoming aware; you are meditating when you maintain a continued state of awareness. There are a wide range of disciplines taught for bringing your attention on to some object or thought or awareness. In fact what happens in the process is that meditation moves your brainwaves into an alpha state. This is a relaxed state with a level of consciousness where you are still aware. In the alpha state learning and healing are promoted.

Brainwaves Brainwaves are electrical activity emanating from the brain. There are four categories of brainwaves as shown below: Beta (alert/working): 15 to 40 hertz, Alpha (relaxed/reflecting): 9 to 14 hertz, Theta (drowsy): 5 to 8 hertz, Delta (sleep/dreaming): 3 to 4 hertz, Delta (deep dreamless sleep): 1.5 to 3 hertz *Hertz = cycles per second.

In the alpha state your brainwaves run between 9 to 14 cycles per second or hertz, compared with your normal waking state beta: of 15 to 40 hertz. Deeper states of relaxation move through theta, delta to the deepest delta, which is a highly creative state of relaxation.

In fact you are meditating when you focus on birds singing, to the exclusion of all other thoughts, or staring into the fire, just focusing on that, or concentrating on your breath coming in and out, thinking of nothing else.

Traditionally Eastern cultures have practiced meditation for centuries as part of their spiritual teachings, and until recently, say the last 30 or 40 years, Westerners viewed meditation with a bit of suspicion. Now, the benefits are so well documented and experienced by so many that it has become common practice for many doctors and health practitioners to recommend meditation as part of their healing plan.

There are two basic techniques of meditating and the different practices fall in to either of these two categories, with some variations possible. In mindfulness meditation the meditator sits in a comfortable position and focuses his attention and awareness on an object or activity; such as a candle, breathing, a visualization or a mantra, keeping an open focus and awareness of the present moment as he does so. This method allows for free flowing and observing of his thoughts while using the focus as an ‘anchor’ he constantly brings his mind back to the focus, when he starts to wander off in to different thoughts.

With concentration meditation which is used by most spiritual and religious traditions, the meditator keeps his attention on a particular object like repetition of a prayer or a mantra to minimize distractions, and continually brings his mind back to the chosen object. Lawrence LeShan defined meditation in ‘How to Meditate’ as “doing one thing at a time with your whole being”.

In some traditions both mindful and concentration meditation are combined.

It is possible to practice meditation even while walking or doing simple repetitive tasks. It is in moments when your mind is clear that you get that ‘realization’, ‘inspiration’ or ‘BFO’ (blinding flash of the obvious). “AHA” you say, as something miraculously pops in to your head.

Learn How to Meditate You can attend sessions somewhere in your city, usually free, to learn how to meditate. There are many books and tapes to help you, most of them excellent aids. It is easy and simple to learn. There are many tools to help you move into a meditative state. The one I absolutely love is the Holosync audio tapes from Centrepointe (centerpointe.com) (I don’t lightly recommend products, but this advanced Neuro technology is light years ahead of anything else I have tried and read about. I use it daily).

When you practice meditation regularly you begin to liberate the energy in your mind and the quality of your consciousness will expand. You will become more relaxed and happy, experiencing a sense of control of your life. You tend to approach life in a much more peaceful manner, not stressing in ways you might have done previously. This is not just a generalized statement, but is now being proven by empirical research. Source

The ardha-chandra-asana is a basic stretching and balancing pose that benefits principly the lower back, abdomen and chest. It is equally suitable for use in your stretching routine as well as formal asana practice. Source

‘Joy of Yoga,’ a street theatre and yoga workshop organised by Arkaya Yoga Centre on Sunday, defied all rules of a workshop. Through ‘Burra Katha,’ a street theatre form from Andhra Pradesh, the messages on yoga and self-discipline were conveyed to the audience in a refreshingly informal manner.

It was an evening for children all through. Some waved hands, a few giggled and the rest were busy befriending each other. But at the end of the workshop, they did not miss the message on what it takes to lead a healthy life.

The event, inaugurated by The Hindu Director Nalini Krishnan, got off to a start with a music performance by the children from Ayodhikuppam. The songs, interspersed with messages on cleanliness and environment protection, were composed by a group of volunteers of the centre.

The performers of ‘Burra Katha,’ with their impromptu remarks, evoked ripples of giggles from the kids. Peppered with magic tricks and a few jigs, the performance featured messages on a balanced diet, the importance of yoga and taught the audience ways to vent out stress through simple breathing techniques.

In her inaugural speech, Dr.Krishnan said people should recognise small moments of happiness. The key to lead a stress-free life lies not in external things, but finding inner happiness. “One feels so happy when involved in community work. Making even a small change in others’ lives can do wonders to our inner health,” she said.

Maitreyi, Director of the centre, said the workshop sought to spread the message on right ways of living. “The yogic system has laid out some workable ways to be stress-free. Qualities such as lateral thinking and good memory could be built up within us if we consciously inculcate certain habits. You become what you think,” she said. Source

You might be surprised ,but the answer to all the above three questions is “Yes You can do it”. It might take a long time but i want to show you how it is done…..

I want to make one thing clear first. I have not attempted to do any of these three things stated above. However, i have applied the knowledge which i have gained thru deep insight and thru learning from great masters to similar events of a lower intensity and they have proved to be highly effective.

Before i reveal it all to you I would like to tell you of a real life incident which will help you understand this concept much better. It was in 1996 when i was in Pittsburgh,USA that i fell terribly ill. All the medicines which the doctors prescribed had failed. I went to every specialist but no one could identify my illness. I had high fever,severe vomiting and my weight was reducing by the day. It was terrible. I was admitted to the hospital at least half a dozen times. No doctor could locate the exact nature of the virus …. I came back to India half dead… My parents got me admitted to one of the best hospitals in Mumbai. However, In India it was still worse … At the age of 24 I was going through the worst moments of my life.

Then suddenly everything changed for the better…. In walked the No 1 doctor of Mumbai. He was 69 at that time. He smiled at me … I smiled back with whatever little energy i had…. “We will make you fit in two weeks time…” These were his exact words. Like a master at work ,he calmly went thru my medical history, asked a few questions, examined my body and then prescribed two tests and left…

Late evening the next day the doctor came back again and said “We have identified your illness and your medication will start tomorrow. You will be fine in a weeks time….” Within a week of taking those medicines i was back to normal. I had no fever and vomiting after a week. My parents were happy and i was relieved…

Three months of taking all the medicines prescribed by the world renowned doctors could not cure my illness… Finally the right diagnosis of the disease did the trick…..

What is the lesson for everyone here?

The No 1 lesson I learnt is “Action is the next step after Knowledge”. It is not action that is important . . It is not the number of hours you work, or your honest commitment and energy which will help you get the things you really want.All these qualities are of very little use if you are not aware of your deepest intention, your innermost dreams. Like the doctors in my case you will be putting in your best efforts, your total commitment and energy and yet you would not achieve anything that you truly want and will remain unhappy. We pride ourselves for the number of hours we work everyday, of the focus and commitment we put in our work but we care very little for knowing our deepest and most genuine desires. We do not pay any attention to it. Think about it….When i use the word know, i mean those wants which stir your soul and not your small little selfish interests of seeking money and power….

The first step is in truly knowing. Taking action is simple. Action becomes stressful and frustrating when you do not know ..

You can get anything that you want only when you know what you truly want.

You can get out of any problem in your life if you can get to the root cause of the problem.

If you can go the source of the problem, the originator of destruction, the initial vibrations which forced a man to pick up the knife and murder you, or the snake to sting you or the tsunami to destroy your house, you can alter that decision and seek remedy… The force that that can propel a murderer to drop his knife, or a snake to lower its hood or a tsunami to mellow down is the same force that had enabled the doctor to diagnose the illness properly and cure it. It is only that the intensity of the force has to be much stronger to enable the murderer to drop his knife, or the snake to lower its hood. Your genuine intention and your deepest knowledge of the source of the problem will help you identify the hidden cause of the problem and thus resolve it. Source

If you take a moment and practice some meditation techniques, your body will calm and those voices will go away. We could make an entire article on meditation - in fact, we have! However, following are some basic meditation exercises you can try. First, you need to be in a quiet place free of distractions. Get comfortable and allow yourself a little bit of time to relax and be open to the meditations. You will be focusing your mind on an object of thought or awareness and acknowledging where your mindset is now and where you want it to be. The first stage in meditation is to stop distractions and make your mind more lucid and clearer. This can be accomplished through simple breathing meditation. Sit in a position that is comfortable for you. You may want to try sitting cross legged keeping your spine straight and resting your arms comfortably in your lap.

Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Breathe naturally through your nose. Don’t try to control your breathing, simply become aware of the air coming in and out of your nose. Feel the sensation of the breath with each inhalation and exhalation. At first, your mind will be very busy and you might think the meditation isn’t working. But what you are doing is becoming aware of just how busy your mind is. Resist following thoughts as they arise. Just concentrate on your breaths and how they feel. If you find your mind wandering, just bring it back to the breathing. Keep doing this as many times as is necessary.

Meditation requires great patience. You can’t control your thoughts unless you train yourself to do so. Practice breathing meditation as often as you can. With time and practice, you will find yourself slipping into the state of mind you need to be in much quicker.When you exhale, you may want to try humming or repeating a word over and over. We like to use the word “Peace” or “Serenity”, but you can choose whatever word will calm you.

Buddhist meditation suggests that you say your chosen phrase or word during inhalation. Their phrase is generally “Ham Sah” which means “I am that.” Then when you exhale, say “Saah” which should sound like a sigh. They find this very relaxing and it helps them get in touch with their inner thoughts. In researching this article, we found a great website you may want to visit. At learningmeditation.com, you can go to their meditation room where they have various recorded meditations you can listen to that will help you relax and feel renewed. When you concentrate on the voice that is speaking, you can become more focused and relax.

Another good technique is to picture a relaxing place for you. This might be a sunny beach or in a warm bath. Wherever you are most relaxed is where you should picture in your head. Imagine you are there and feel the sensations that the image conjures up. You can also use progressive muscle relaxation to get rid of your stress. PMR involves concentrating on one part of the body at a time. Start with your right leg. Tighten the muscles in your leg and hold the tightening for a few seconds - a count of ten perhaps. Then relax those muscles feeling the sensation that you get with that relaxation. Move on to each part of your body using the same technique until you have covered them all.

Exercise is great for stress relief. You may want to look into yoga classes. Yoga is a very spiritual exercise method and can do wonders for stress relief. Tai Chi is another spiritual form of exercise that requires you to concentrate on your body rather than your mind. When you do that, you will find yourself becoming much more relaxed and able to cope with the world. There is one aspect of drug addiction that we haven’t addressed yet, and we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge this growing problem. Source