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Overview of Other Yoga Techniques
The following represent a partial list of other
practices associated with various forms of yoga.
The ancient Vedics, upon whose practices yoga is based, believed the
stars predicted our future.
One of the oldest forms of medicine, Ayurvedic practices are centered
around keeping / placing the body in balance according to its dominant dosha:
vata (air), pitta (fire), or kapha
(earth).
This practice has eight practices and describes material in terms of 10
qualities (gunahs) and 5 elements (Panchamahabhuta).
It makes extensive use of various herbs and rituals.
The idea behind bandhas is to control and/or restrict the flow of energy
throughout the body and to keep this energy from escaping. These locks
also provide a good visualization tool for asana practice.
The three bandhas are:
 | Mula (Root) |
| Uddiyana (Abdominal) |
| Jalandhara (Throat) |
Seven rotating energy centers where the two nadis cross. Each is
associated with a color, gemstone, sound, image, element, personality trait,
emotion, etc.
- Base of the Spine
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Earth, Physical identity, oriented to self-preservation |
Abdomen
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Water, Emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification |
Solar Plexus
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Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition |
Heart
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Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance
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Throat
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Sound, Creative identity, oriented to self-expression |
Third Eye
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Light, Archetypal identity, oriented to self-reflection |
Crown of the Head
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Thought, Universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge |
Kirtan is a call-and-response chanting using ancient Sanskrit mantras
live with musicians and hundreds of participants.
| Shatkarmas / Shatkriya /
Saucha
Six techniques explicitly listed
in Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Basti / Vasti (Colon Cleansing / Enema)
 | Jala (Water) |
| Sthala (Air) |
Dhauti (Food-Pipe Cleansing)
| Antar
(Internal) |
| Danta (dental) |
| Hrida
(Heart) |
| Mula-Shodhana (root)
|
| Shankhaprakshalana
(full intestinal cleansing) |
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Agnisar Kriya
for stimulating the digestive fire. |
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Vatsara Dhauti:
Cleansing the intestines with air. |
Kapalbhati (skull shining - vitalization of the
frontal lobes)
Neti (nose cleaning)
| Jala (using water) |
| Sutra (using cloth or
Thread) |
| Ghrita (using purified butter known as Ghee) |
| Dugdha (using milk) |
Nauli (Abdomen Churning)
Trataka (concentration gazing)
| Antar (Internal) |
| Bahir (External)
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| Kunjal (stomach cleansing)
| Jala (using water) |
| Vyagha |
|
| Tongue Scraping / Cleansing |
| Vamina (Vomiting) |
Sometimes associated with a style of yoga such as Ashtanga or Anusara.
Matras may also be associated with a Hindu Deity or Buddhist trait.
Classic
| Gβyatrξ |
| Shurangama |
Repetition of any Mantra or Name of the Lord is known as Japa.
| Yantra (Complex patterns that serve as Visual Tools) |
Mudras are particular hand and/or body positions designed to focus the
practitioner's intent. In theory, they may also have an effect on the
physical or energy body.
| Abhaya (Fearlessness) |
| Anjali (Reverse Namaste) |
| Apan (Digestion) --
Thumb, Middle, and ring finger touching the tips |
| Asvini (Seal of the Dawn Horse) |
| Bhutadamara (ward off evil) |
| Bhumisparsha (Touching the Earth) |
| Boochari (Looking into the void) |
| Buddha-Shramana (Beyond Misery) |
| Chin (Conciousness) |
| Dharmacakra (teaching) |
| Dhyana (Wisdom) |
| Granthita (Knot of Maya) |
| Gyan (Meditation) -- Tip
of index finger to Tip of thumb |
| Hriday (Heart) --
Index finger edge of thumb, ring finger and pinky to tip of thumb |
| Jnana (Knowlege) |
| Kechari () -- Place tongue in nasal cavity |
| Ling (Regeneration) --
Interlock fingers of both hands, left thumb up |
| Maha (great seal) |
| Nabho (sky seal) |
| Namaskara (Prayer) |
| Pran (Life) Tips of ring
and little finger to tip of thumb, other two fingers straight |
| Prithvi (Earth) -- Ring
finger to thumb |
| Sakat () -- tips of
thumbs together, index fingers straight, other fingers half-bent |
| Sam Mukhi (Seal of the Six Openings) |
| Sambhavi (Seal of Shiva) |
| Shunya (Sky / Zero) --
Middle finger to base of thumb, thumb over finger |
| Surya (Sun) -- Ring
finger to base of thumb |
| Tadagi (Container) |
| Tarjani (Ward off Evil) |
| Varada (Compassion) |
| Varun (Water) -- Tip of
little finger to thumb |
| Vayu (Air) -- Index
finger to base of thumb, thumb over finger |
| Vishnu |
| Vitarka (Cognition or Instruction) |
| Vitakara (Debate) |
| Yoni |
Techniques for breathing or restraining the breath
Four Stages
| Puraka (Inhalation) |
| Abhyantara Kumbhaka (Pause After
Inhaling) |
| Rechaka (Exhalation) |
| Bahya Kumbhaka (Pause After
Exhaling) |
Techniques
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Feuerstein, Georg, The Yoga Tradition, Its History,
Literature, Philosophy, and Practice, Hohm Presss, Az, 2001 |
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Feuerstein, Georg, The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga,
Shambhala Press, London, UK, 1997
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| Web References
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