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Food for Thought: Sid Harth

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navanavonmilita

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May 11, 2010, 4:11:17 PM5/11/10

Food for Thought: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/

70 years without eating? 'Starving yogi' says it's true
Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 7:00 PM PT
By Brian Alexander

Prahlad Jani, an 82-year-old Indian yogi, is making headlines by
claims that for the past 70 years he has had nothing -- not one
calorie -- to eat and not one drop of liquid to drink. To test his
claims, Indian military doctors put him under round-the-clock
observation during a two-week hospital stay that ended last week, news
reports say. During that time he didn’t ingest any food or water – and
remained perfectly healthy, the researchers said.

But that’s simply impossible, said Dr. Michael Van Rooyen an emergency
physician at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an associate
professor at the medical school, and the director of the Harvard
Humanitarian Initiative – which focuses on aid to displaced
populations who lack food and water.

Van Rooyen says that depending on climate conditions like temperature
and humidity, a human could survive five or six days without water,
maybe a day or two longer in extraordinary circumstances. We can go
much longer without food – even up to three months if that person is
taking liquids fortified with vitamins and electrolytes.

Bobby Sands, an Irish Republican convicted of firearms possession and
imprisoned by the British, died in 1981 on the 66th day of his hunger
strike. Gandhi was also known to go long stretches without food,
including a 21-day hunger strike in 1932.

Sterling Hospitals / AFP - Getty Images file
Prahlad Jani was studied for two weeks.

Jani, dubbed "the starving yogi" by some, did have limited contact
with water while gargling and periodically bathing, reported the news
wire service AFP. While researchers said they measured what he spit
out, Van Rooyen said he's clearly getting fluid somehow.

"You can hold a lot of water in those yogi beards. A sneaky yogi for
certain," he said. "He MUST take in water. The human body cannot
survive without it." The effects of food and water deprivation are
profound, Van Rooyen explained. “Ultimately, instead of metabolizing
sugar and glycogen [the body’s energy sources] you start to metabolize
fat and then cause muscle breakdown. Without food, your body chemistry
changes. Profoundly malnourished people autodigest, they consume their
own body’s resources. You get liver failure, tachycardia, heart
strain. You fall apart.”

The yogi, though, would already be dead from lack of hydration. If he
really went without any liquids at all, his cardiovascular system
would have collapsed. “You lose about a liter or two of water per day
just by breathing,” Van Rooyen said. You don’t have to sweat, which
the yogi claims he never does. That water loss results in thicker
blood and a drop in blood pressure.

“You go from being a grape to a raisin,” Van Rooyen said and if you
didn’t have a heart attack first, you’d die of kidney failure.

Comments

What this ogi is doing has been done by yogi's for millenia. It is an
amazing feat in that it is real and it took this particular man an
almost inconcievable of discipline to achieve. Our physicists are
just beginning to skim the finest surface of understanding of our
human potential and while going without food for so long may not seem
to serve a purpose - it is one of many ways to make the journey inward
that we all must make eventually. We are all connected and when one
achieves the level of discipline and inward seeking that this man has
- it is for all of us.
John Patton (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:27 PM)

What western medicine fails to recognize is that the human body has
many secrets and capacities that few have explored. The human organism
is not merely mechanical. And the capacity of the universe to surprise
us with the unexpected should make modern doctors be more humble. For
example: doctors dismissed germ theory as bunk just a 150 years ago.
"Wash my hands? What rubbish." Be open minded and humble you masters
of medicine and the knife!!
Chuck Henderson (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:28 PM)

Mabye theres a chees burger in that beard and a bottle of water under
his chin?
Mark Seattle WA (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:29 PM)

This can be a real event where a person gains his energy from other
sources which are not nutritional in the usual sense. A term
sometimes used is "breathers" getting energy from the prana in the
environment.
F, Jackson, MS (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:30 PM)

"sneaky yogi" lol
C Norris, AZ (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:31 PM)

Just another "breathairian... one who survives only by breathing air.
This myth has been around a long time. Just wait long enough, and
you'll see them sneaking in a twinky.
R W Arnold (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:31 PM)

We are spiritual being just having human experience..... and for many
yogis that can transcend this dimension and exist in the 4th dimension
which is beyond man's common understand.

It not just about logic or reality because logic and reality in the
4th dimension is the illusion.

It may truly be an example of mind over matter. These are things that
enligtened being have been doing since the beginning of time...Jesus
stated,"You will do things even greater than I".

Study Quantum Physics......

Dr. Elon Bomani
www.elonbomani.com
Dr. Elon Bomani, Missouri City, Tx. (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:32 PM)

Science, as a belief system

"But that’s simply impossible, said Dr. Michael Van Rooyen"

Evidence not withstanding.

Steve, Middletown, NY (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:38 PM)

Wow, the lengths people will go to get some attention. I suppose Jani
has some higher calling so that's why he is depriving himself of food
and drink. I couldn't or wouldn't want to go the weekend.
Jay F. (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:40 PM)

Simply ridiculous.
C.C. Upstate, NY (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:41 PM)

What Dr. Michael Van Rooyen says is based on the science as we know it
now. But the science today is like a monkey trying to reach the moon
and not getting beyond the top of the trees.

I have personally witnessed the things in India that science CAN'T
explain. I, thinking that I know it all based on science, challenged
the validity of these phenomena and came out surrendering.

Dr. Van Rooyen knows some science based on physical laws of nature,
but has no idea of the subtle laws of nature. He and the humanity has
a long way to go before science and religion meet at one point.
Shanker (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:43 PM)

Is he drinking his own urine?
Daniel, Carthage, MS (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:43 PM)

What Dr. Michael Van Rooyen says is based on the science as we know it
now. But the science today is like a monkey trying to reach the moon
and not getting beyond the top of the trees.

I have personally witnessed the things in India that science CAN'T
explain. I, thinking that I know it all based on science, challenged
the validity of these phenomena and came out surrendering.

Does the Yogi urinate? When heated, does he sweat? Are there feces
in his intestinal tract? If nobody in the two weeks found or checked
for any of the above (and more), they were all in on the hoax in some
way.
Barry (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:45 PM)

Is this the same Yogi that came up with the rope trick, or the milk
that came from the elephants trunk?
Paul, Milwaukee, WI (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:49 PM)

This is nothing but bullshit. These so called 'yogis' are nothing but
fraudsters.
John Doe, Seattle, Wash (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:49 PM)

Claimed he hasn’t eaten in 70 years? Was observed for 2 weeks without
ingesting anything? If this was the first century A.D. he’d be hailed
as God on earth and an entire religion would ensue that would still be
in practice today, people would pray to and baptize their offspring in
his name… However because this is 2010 and we have science we
understand this for what it is, a hoax. Indeed religions, all
religions, are truly that stupidly based.
Vansonboy, Kapolei HI (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:54 PM)

wierd
Gentle So Temple City, CA (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:55 PM)

Let's dissect him. Or at least sequence his genome.
Charlie, Mpls (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:57 PM)

He must be the ideal dinner guest. Extraordinary claims require
extraordinary proof. The world would be a much easier place to live in
if hucksters like this were not roaming around.
David Corby (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:57 PM)

Its completely impossible, unless that dude is some sort or alien, or
ghost.
mike mcgill, los angeles (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:58 PM)

makes me thirsty just thinking about this
Dave N, maryland (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:59 PM)

This could be an incredible discovery- is there another way to
validate his claims?
Jennifer McFarlane, Tampa Bay, FLA. (Monday, May 10, 2010 8:59 PM)

** Its another way to make a no body a super star... SCAM
Tony - outside Chicago (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:00 PM)

Mr. Van Rooyen, where as you deal with the limited body and limited
subject, True Yogis on the other hand deal with The Unlimited and they
are NOT ordinarily touched by the limited [knowledge, cause and hence
effects]. To 'Know' one ought to make observations, perhaps by
locking the Yogi up [with his permission, otherwise you could become
'raisin' :-) !]. Of course, you need to know to discern wheat from
its chaffe. 70 years is nothing compared to other instances found in
the Hindu Scriptures. The name Prahlad may have connection to the
Puranic Prahlad, one of the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu.
TuriaState, Aurora, IL (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:01 PM)

So certainly someone was smart enough to weigh him before and after
this 2 week period. Did he lose weight?
Marcia Jacobs Colorado Springs Co (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:04 PM)

I don't know why I clicked on this article, nor why MSNBC would be
reporting on it. I'm a biomedical scientist and this is absolutely
absurd.
WCW, Calhoun, GA (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:07 PM)

its true. i havent had food or water for 17 years and i feel fine. i
just go out of my body and over to pizza hut, then come back into my
body and thats the truth.
john doe, las vegas, nv (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:09 PM)

That is very impressive to go without food or water for 70 years
straight.
Sabrina Jacob, Harrisonburg, Virginia (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:12 PM)

obviously this scientist physician observer, Dr. Van Rooyen, is a
disgrace to his profession because he is denying the basic scientific
rule of observation--there are breatherators--my term may be wrong--
who can subsist without eating or drinking--the good doctor should do
thorough research and check it out--
jonnybee, vegas baby (Monday, May 10, 2010 9:16 PM)

oh' please people i dont like hearing you call this man a lier even
comparing him to a demon. Open your eyes! One day you will.
Holly, melbourne, australia (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:02 PM)

Not sure if this is true or not, but if there is some truth in his
claims and we can learn how we can at the least reduce 10% of what we
eat! Lot of solutions and lot of industries would collapse.
Sunder (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:03 PM)

It's possible. In my 33 years of existence, I have never farted. I
choose to keep this phenomenon to myself, until I receive a sign from
alien beings. This revelation will be followed by the release of my
new book that unlocks the secrets of the universe including but not
limited to "How not to fart", "How to shoot your poop the length of
two football fields", and "How to have have an orgasm using only your
eyelids and a pinkie toe"
Supertek, San Antonio, Texas (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:08 PM)

We all like to believe in magic... and there are people that are
absolutely amazing at pulling off tricks right in front of our eyes
(i.e. David Blaine, Penn and Teller). Starving, levitating,
disappearing, whatever you like.

The problem is when the "magicians" want you to believe what they're
doing is reality, and you're silly enough to believe them. Bottom
line: If he went 2 weeks without water, he'd be dead. And he only had
to hide a 1/4" feeding tube in the beard. It might be a bit gross,
but he could be drinking his bathwater through a straw... even
scientists can be fooled by tricksters.

Being open minded is fine, but let's not let our brains fall out of
our heads.
Ben Davis, Simpsonville, SC (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:10 PM)

Dr. Van Rooyen's comments are vicious. '...CAN HOLD A LOT OF WATER IN
THOSE YOGI BEARDS. a SNEAKY YOGI FOR CERTAIN". Did he make any feeble
attempt at verification before lashing out?

Brigham & Womens needs to keep their employees comments in check lest
they do some serious damage to the Hospital's reputation.

Sandy, Morris Plains, NJ (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:11 PM)

Obviously this man is using energy to move. If he is not eating or
drinking, where is he getting this energy from? And if he does not
need water, why is he gargling anyway? For that matter, he shouldn't
be allowed to bathe in water during these tests either.

Also, if I had access to the 4th dimension like some posters suggest,
I would try to do something a bit more useful with it than sit around
not eating.

I am reluctant to just say it is impossible, but I would have to see a
heck of a lot more detail on exactly how rigorously he was tested
before I could believe this is anything more than a hoax and a
publicity stunt. Who is funding this research, and what do they gain
from "proving" his super-powers? Follow the money.
Arkenor (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:11 PM)

I've personally gone over 400 yrs without food or water; I survive on
energy from the sun alone!
A robot from space (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:12 PM)

The human body is a machine, plain and simple.

Millennia of people have treated it as something else -- the result?
Life expectancy of 35.

Cell respiration produces ATP (the most common form of biological
energy used by the body). To make it, there must be some energy
C6H12O6 (glucose -- polysaccharide, disaccharides, etc.) usually does
the trick, but it's not limited to carbohydrates as stated above -- it
can break down fats and protein (with catastrophic consequences of
course).

Unless his body has the ability to synthesis glucose, for example,
from the environment his living is quite impossible that this is
true.
Scratch that. I'm not even entertaining this nonsense. This is BULL.
Period.

Lastly, doctors are not typically considered scientists -- only a
small number of them actually are. Scientists push the boundary and
play on the precipice of the unknown; doctors are like engineers, they
use fundamental, long solidified science as a framework to deal with
the plethora of problems they encounter. They are creators, not
innovators

"He and the* humanity has* a long way to go before science and
religion meet at one point."
If that's your view, leave science alone-- start with electric lights
and computers. :)
Brayden, Halifax, NS (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:14 PM)

I split a burrito with Jani in February. He told me not to tell.
Yarin, Atlanta, GA (Monday, May 10, 2010 10:14 PM)

Dear Sir, My prayers are being sent to you simply by the horrible
comments on this website.
Rebekka (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:25 AM)

Obviously this is bogus. Can you really trust these Indian military
men? So what is this yogi selling? Why is msnbc bothering with this
trash? Next they'll feature the palm reader down the street from me.
Juliet V, Everett, WA (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:28 AM)

A CLEAR PROOF OF FORTY DAYS & FORTY NIGHTS FASTING FOR NON-BELEIVERS.
EKA, DMM, KSA (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:30 AM)

Seriously? Some of you replying in the comments are utter morons. "But
but but this is beyond science!" You people are a disgrace. The
science behind metabolism is sound, and this , the idea of 70 years
without food or water is utter bullcrap, as is the idea put forth by
your morons who claim he lives on breathe alone (also impossible)
Do any of you even understand how the kreb's cycle works or what that
ever is?
Marco, Hastings Nebraska (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:30 AM)

While it looks impossible (and it could be?), we being well educated
should also try to see and validate logic. At the same time, there are
still some not so well known facts in modern science. Science is
evolving every single day. What meets the eye is not all that exists
in this world. There have been yogis who have done some things that
seems impossible to normal humans. There are some folks who have not
had anything except fruits in their diet for many many years, no
grains at all. So while we can call it bullshit, let's be rational and
demand proof, rather than getting carried away and being disrespectful
if he's a really a great yogi. It's no small feat, if true.
Amitabh, CA (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:33 AM)

the mind can tell the body to reject food for a lifetime but the body
needs fuel to get the mind working. blocking the gates which channel
the body's request to the mind can be very beneficial in many
situations but what is this yogi trying to achieve? even if this is
true, it will take India a long time to stabilize this form of living
within their people. starving himself doesn't make the world better.
there are other people who are starving not by choice. some yogis
should just stop sitting around and help better the lives of others,
given the time they spent to center themselves.
Ian, New york (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:40 AM)

Before the airplane was made, anybody would laugh at one who said he
could possibly do it because it was true in his imagination. Now,
airplane is such a common thing and I wonder if those people who used
to insult the idea are still alive, what would be their reaction.
Those people who said that this Yogi is bullshit or lier are indeed
very stupid themselves as they shut themselves out of possibilities.
Really feel sorry for them for having such narrow-minded.
Joe, NY. (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:41 AM)

The mind is best enjoyed.....open!
Derek Kendall (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 4:58 AM)

he sucks the juices from his eyes
Me,Seattle,Wash (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 4:58 AM)

What is SHOCKING is how many people commenting actually believe this
might be the case. Explains a LOT why there are religions. Hoopleheads
anxiously waiting to be made fools.
Joe S, Ventura, CA (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 5:03 AM)

Please, please, what happened to tolerance of divergent views. If we
uphold and promote the holding of different political views, why can't
we accept different religio-scientific views? Rejecting the yogi's
claims outright will serve no purpose neither will accepting it hook
line and sinker.I believe between unconditional acceptance and total
rejection must lie an acceptable middle ground for both doubters and
believers to comfortably meet. If we are ready to humble ourselves and
accept that we don't know it all, then we (both doubters and
believers) will be able to take a dispasssionate view of the yogi's
claim and come out with the truth of his claim. Remember, we have
nothing to lose when the TRUTH of his claim is established. For, if
his claim is true, the doubters will have learnt that really they
don't know it all; conversely, if his claim is false, the believers
will also learn to accept that not all that glitters is gold. In
either case, humanity will be the better for it. Thank you.
Anani Goodshow, Accra, Ghana (Tuesday, May 11, 2010 5:04 AM)

http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/05/10/2299480.aspx?GT1=43001

Hatha yoga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit
(Redirected from Hatha Yoga)

Part of a series on
Hinduism

Hinduism Portal . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Hinduism
Hindu Mythology Portal . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Hindu_Mythology

Hatha Yoga (Sanskrit हठयोग haṭhayoga, IPA: [ɦəʈʰəˈjoːɡə]), also called
Hatha Vidya (हठविद्या), is a system of Yoga introduced by Yogi
Swatmarama, a sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha
Yoga Pradipika. In this treatise Swatmarama introduces Hatha Yoga as
preparatory stage of physical purification that the body practices for
higher meditation. The Asanas and Pranayama in Raja Yoga were what the
Hindu Yogis used to physically train their body for long periods of
meditation. This practice is called shatkarma.

The word Hatha is a compound of the words Ha and Tha meaning sun and
moon ( हकारः कीर्तितः सूर्यष्ठकारश्चंद्र उच्यते |
सूर्यचंद्रमसोर्योगाद्धठयोग निगद्यते || ), referring to Praana and
Apaana, and also to the principal nadis (energy channels) of the
subtle body that must be fully operational to attain a state of dhyana
or samādhi. According to the Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary, the
word "hatha" means forceful. It is a strong practice done for
purification. In other respects Hatha yoga follows the same principles
as the Raaja Yoga of Patanjali including moral restraint yama and
spiritual observances niyama. Hatha Yoga is what most people in the
Western world associate with the word "Yoga" and is most commonly
practiced for mental and physical health.

Etymology

Hatha Yoga, pronounced [ˈɦəʈʰə] in Hindi, is also known as hatha vidya
or the "science of hatha" yoga. The word Hatha comes from combining
the two Sanskrit terms "ha" meaning sun and "tha" meaning moon. The
word "ha" refers to the solar nadi (pingala) in the subtle body and
"tha" the lunar channel (ida). However, when the two components of the
word are placed together, "hatha" means "forceful", implying that
powerful work must be done to purify the body. Yoga means to yoke, or
to join two things together, hence hatha yoga is meant to join
together sun (masculine, active) energy with the moon (feminine,
receptive) energy, thus producing balance and greater power in an
individual.

Origins

The most comprehensive text of Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika
by Yogi Swatmarama. This work is nonetheless derived from older
Sanskrit texts on Yoga besides Yogi Swatmarama's own yogic
experiences. It includes information about shatkarma (purification),
asana (postures), pranayama (subtle energy control), chakras (centers
of energy), kundalini (instinct), bandhas (muscle force), kriyas
(techniques; manifestations of kundalini), shakti (sacred force),
nadis (channels), and mudras (symbolic gestures) among other topics.

Traditionally, Lord Shiva (आदिनाथ) is credited with propounding Hatha
Yoga. It is said that on a lonely island, assuming nobody else would
hear him, he gave the knowledge of Hatha Yoga to Goddess Parvati, but
a fish heard the entire discourse, remaining still throughout. Lord
Shiva took mercy on the fish (Matsya) and made him a siddha, who came
to be known as Matsyendranaatha. Matsyendranaatha taught Hatha Yoga to
Chaurangi, a limbless man who was given hands and feet by
Matsyendranaatha just by looking at him. Hatha Yoga Pradipika mentions
Adinaatha, Matsyendranaatha, Gorakhanaatah and many other yogis who
became famous Hatha Yogis.

Many modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from the school of Sri
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught from 1924 until his death in
1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing Yoga in the West
were Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, famous for popularizing the vigorous
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga style, B.K.S. Iyengar who emphasizes alignment
and the use of props, Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V.
Desikachar who developed the Viniyoga style. Desikachar founded the
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, with the aim of making
available the heritage of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya.

Another major stream of influence was Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh
(1887-1963) and his many disciples including, among others, Swami
Vishnu-devananda - founder of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta
Centres; Swami Satyananda - of the Bihar School of Yoga; and Swami
Satchidananda - of Integral Yoga.

Concept

Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including moral
disciplines, physical postures (asana), purification procedures
(shatkriya), poses (mudra), yogic breathing (pranayama), and
meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West
consists of mostly asanas understood as physical exercises. It is also
recognized as a stress-reducing practice.

Hatha Yoga is one of the two branches of Yoga that focuses on the
physical culture, the other one being Raja Yoga. Both of these are
commonly referred to as Sadanga Yoga, i.e., Yoga of six parts ('sad'
meaning six and 'anga' meaning limbs). The six limbs are described
below in detail. Svatmarama emphasizes many times in his
Hathapradipika text that there is no Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga and
no Hatha Yoga without Raja Yoga. The main difference is that Raja Yoga
uses asanas mainly to get the body ready for prolonged meditation, and
hence focuses more on the meditative asana poses: Lotus Posture
(padmasana), Accomplished Posture (siddhasana), Easy Posture
(sukhasana) and Pelvic Posture (vajrasana). Hatha Yoga utilizes not
only meditative postures but also cultural postures. Similarly, Raja
Yoga's use of Pranayama is also devoid of extensive locks (bandha).

Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water,
following similar concept as yin-yang), male and female, positive and
negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical
postures or "asanas", purification practices, controlled breathing,
and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. Asanas
teach poise, balance and strength and are practised to improve the
body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for
meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment. However if an individual
has too much phlegm or fat then purification procedures are a
necessity before undertaking pranayama.

Ashtanga is the yoga of Patanjali, the compiler of the Yoga Sutras. It
is composed of eight limbs: Yama and Niyama, which are ethical
observations; Asana; Pranayama, which is breath control; Pratyahara,
which is sense withdrawal; Dharana, which is concentration; Dhyana,
which is meditation; and Samadhi, which is a high state of
concentration, mastery of the mind.[1]. The eight limbs are more
precisely viewed as eight levels of progress, each level providing
benefits in and of itself and also laying the foundation for the
higher levels. Frequently Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali is being confused
with Raja Yoga, Patanjali nowhere in his sutras uses the term Raja
Yoga.

Note: Hatha Yoga consists of six limbs focused on attaining Samadhi.
In this scheme, the six limbs of Hatha Yoga are defined as Asana,
Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. The basic text of
Hatha Yoga is Hathapradipika by Svatmarama, a grand disciple of
Sahajananda (from the lineage of Sopana, the younger brother of
Jnaneshwar Maharaj of Alandi near Pune). An important part of hatha
practices is awakening of Kundalini. The signs of success in hatha
yoga are slenderness of the body, cheerful face, hearing mystical
sound, bright eyes, sense of well-being, control over the bindu,
increase in gastric fire and purification of the nadis.

Pranayama (breathing)

Main article: Pranayama . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

The words 'Prana' (life-force) and 'Ayama' (to lengthen or regulate)
make up Pranayama. Pranayama seeks to lengthen, control and regulate
the breath. In one variation, the Rechak (exhaled air), Poorak
(inhalation) and Kumbhak (Retention during normal inhaling and
exhaling) are the three parts of the breath that are regulated.
Pranayama is practised to develop mental, physical and spiritual
strength. Though the beginner's Pranayama is relatively harmless,
safely progressing to more advanced practices requires the guidance of
a knowledgeable teacher.

Students in Supta Badha Konnasana, or Reclining Bound Angle pose;
sometimes called Bound Butterfly.[edit] Health benefits ascribed to
yogasana practice
Different asanas are recommended by practitioners to cure or prevent
problems ranging from constipation to cancer. It is known to reduce
stress and other mental worries.[citation needed]

See Yoga (alternative medicine) . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_(alternative_medicine)

In the West

Main article: Yoga as exercise . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_as_exercise

The 2005 "Yoga in America" survey, conducted by Yoga Journal, shows
that the number of practitioners in the US increased to 16.5 million
with the 18-24 age group, showing a 46% increase in one year.[2]

References

^ Mayo, DeBarra, Runner's World Yoga Book II, (1983) Chapter 1, The
Origin and Nature of Yoga, pages 13-16 ISBN 0-89037-274-8
^ Yoga Journal. “Yoga Journal Releases 2008 ‘Yoga in America’ Market
Study.” February 2008. Obtained at: http://www.yogajournal.com/advertise/press_releases/10.
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Classic Yogas

Bhakti yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti_yoga
Hatha Yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatha_Yoga
Jnana Yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jnana_Yoga
Karma Yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_Yoga
Kundalini Yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini_Yoga
Mantra Yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japa
Raja Yoga · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Yoga
Yantra Yoga . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra_Yoga

Other Major Yogas

Elements of Yoga

Asana · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asana_(yoga)
Bandha · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandha
Chakra · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra
Mantra · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra
Mudra · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra
Nadi · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_(yoga)
Prana . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prana

Texts

Bhagavad Gita · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita
Yoga Sutras · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali
Hatha Yoga Pradipika · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatha_Yoga_Pradipika
Gheranda Samhita · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gherand_Samhita
Shiva Samhita · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Samhita
Avadhuta Gita . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avadhuta_Gita

Raja Yoga limbs

Yama · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamas
Niyama · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niyama
Asana · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asana_(yoga)
Pranayama · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama
Pratyahara · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratyahara
Dharana · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharana
Dhyana · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhyana_in_Hinduism
Samadhi · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam%C4%81dhi
Samyama . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyama

Sister Practices

Ayurveda · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda
Tantra · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantra
Jyotisa (Vedic Astrology) . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyotisa

Lists

Yoga schools and their gurus · http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_yoga_schools
Hatha yoga postures . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hatha_yoga_postures