harshayoga

[harshayoga]

Identity crisis in the form of Stress

The first and foremost habit for a stress free life is for you to be WHO YOU ARE !!!

When you are who you are every single day.

When you are who you are when you go to bed, the smile on your face will never fade away & the glow on your face will grow by day.

Since you don't do this, you end up losing your identity.

Lost identity = Being dead erstwhile alive.

Never shy away from expressing yourself.

Shout out loud, make your presence felt.

Only then will you feel light. Only then will you feel like you exist.

All this frustration😤, anger😡, uneasiness😖 & the boiling discomfort😩 in you is because you are going against your nature.

You are getting sucked into the whirlpool of not taking necessary action or change that’ll set you apart. YOU ARE LAZY !!!🦥

And then you become someone else, working for someone else's cause. And then end up developing a thick skin to be among them.

All we have to do is delete⛔ & move to a place where we can find the one’s with whom we can connect to. With whom we can feel alive.

We need Zero resistance. Instead what we are taught is “LEARN TO ADJUST”.

When someone tells you “LEARN TO ADJUST” don't even bother, just mind slap them & move on.

We are stressed in life because we have become someone else….

From the habits we follow🤾‍♂️

From the work we do🧑‍🏭

From the people around us🫂

From the food we eat🥬

From the people whom we listen to👂

From the clothes we wear👚

From the words we speak🗣️

From the place where we live in🏠

From the partner whom you’re in love with🧑🏽‍🤝‍👩🏽

From the content you consume online📱

You are stressed because you aren't fulfilling your role in this life. It’s as simple as that.

If actions aren't bringing in a new wave of love, light & freedom, it’s time to take 10/100 steps back, disappear, figure out & then come back.

If you understand, plan & work towards making life a better version every single day, you will never be stressed. If you run from your problems, the problems will run behind you.

You may get tired of running but Problems won’t, Stress won’t.

So suck the stress out of you if you want to rise & shine in your true splendor.

[harshayoga]

Suppressed voice - Childhood blunders  

Are you someone who always knows things that need to be known?

Are you someone who quits when it’s the right time to grow?

Are you someone who always gets that which you seek?

Are you someone who does who needs to be done?

Are you someone who always gets what you aspire for?

Are you someone who knows how to disconnect from people & place in a blink?

Are you someone who seeks the truth so that you can shine in your true splendor?

If you fall into any one of the above categories or have experienced any or all of the above in your life & continue to do so then you are more mature than 90% of adults who are around you.

Yes !!! The above are indeed signs of heightened levels of wisdom

That means, You have ZERO interest in listening to CRAP !!!

That means, You are evolving at a much higher pace than everyone around you.

That means, It’s time for you to understand 

How you body works

How you energy works

How your mind works

How your will power works

How your awareness works

How pure you are 

It’s time to understand your Jivatma (Individual self)

Will you believe if I say that all the above are experienced by one by the age of 14?. Or in other words once they reach puberty. 

Yes. We are born with heightened levels of intellect. 

It’s the schools that make us dumber

Instead of cherishing the above & being happy you are pushed & ultimately sucked into the system & later thrown away like trash at the age of 22. Dumber than ever.

Do you remember how much happiness & clarity you had while growing up? What happened to it ? Well, if you think you grew over it, you’re wrong.

You were made to think like an outcast & as a result you were too scared to be lonely so you decided to gel in & go with the crowd.

It’s the systems that numb our intellect.

It’s the society that creates barriers.

It’s the family that limits us.

It’s our consciousness that gets suppressed & we ultimately forget to raise our voices & then we lose it forever.

In this lifetime if you’ve had the privilege to be a parent, if you think you are a smart parent, do not put your kids into the same miserable life that you are currently leading.

(Deep down you know you’re dying)

Let them live, feel alive & roar. Mentor them when they need you but leave when it’s time. 

[harshayoga]

Eyes of life : Practice & Detachment

All of us want to reach a stage where we are free from desire, but none wish to take action..

The biggest secret to reaching the highest stage of detachment is practice..

In yoga, we call this Abhyasa.

You fail in practice because you lack the mental strength to keep pushing yourself everyday !.

SECRET : In your life there is JUST mechanical repetition, that’s why you feel like your life is robotic.

If you bring in a sense of devotion & dedication, your life will turn 360 degrees..

If you keep identifying yourself with what you see, hear & feel you will be moving further away from who you truly are. 

If you’re someone who constantly feels like you never continue what you start, it is because you keep fulfilling your desires & passions instead of reality !!!

Yes, Passion & Desire is a byproduct of reality!

All our lives we are told to chase things that we are passionate about, giving us the false perception of what desire is. Agree?.

In yoga, you undo this ! Yes, It works. I am the living example.

You will develop detachment towards the outside world only when you practice a habit for a long time & only when it is uninterrupted !!!

When you do this for a long long time desires will vanish as if they never existed.

I did the above & I can proudly say that I have zero desires for food🍔, clothing👔 & materialistic possession🚗 that hinders my freedom. 

I always abstain from accumulating things that need more attention once I have them. This way I have more time to read📖 & have real life experiences. 

If you are always worried about what the outside world will think & pay attention to only your bank account🏦 or what’s around your neck, do you think you’ll ever reach a state where you are free from desires?.

Forget about filling your closet with clothes. Start filling your mind with some mindfulness.

[harshayoga]

Baggage Free Life

Since childhood, we are used to carrying. 

We started with books first & now graduated to purse. White to Green.

If not, that’s what’s taught to us from a very young age. Always carry.

Have everything you need at your disposal so that you do not get into trouble.

And this continues for years & at the end we feel burdened & bored with who we are & what we own. So, we start to search for a new meaning in life.

Imagine how you’d feel if you didn't have to do this from a very young age.

Imagine how you'd feel if you didn't own anything.

Imagine how abundant you’d feel.

Imagine how care free you’d be.

Imagine how happy you’d be.

Now imagine this happening to each & every person on planet earth. Ok, if not, at least the ones around you…

Do you think you’ll ever quarrel or fight for mundane things?. 

Definitely no !!!!

Since everyone around you carries some form of baggage & they tend to dump it on you. 

Poor you, you do not wish to let in the dirt & as a result say NO & then start the quarrel…..

I mean, come on…. Who wants to listen to the worries, feelings, traumas & emotions EVERY SINGLE DAY !!! And if you do, how will you enjoy your life ?

If you prolong this for a long time, your sympathy & empathy bucket will be empty in no time.

So, what's the solution?

Take in only that baggage which makes you feel free if you own it. Need an example?

Here’s mine…..

Memories (Baggages) of my yoga journey

Memories  (Baggages) from my adventures

Memories (Baggages) from the mountains 

Memories (Baggages) from the intellectual happiness

Memories  (Baggages) from traveling 

Memories  (Baggages) from cooking (Oh, I love cooking btw )

All of the above make me feel alive & free.

All of the above breath in a new wave of energy & life into me.

I remember & live the above moments.

You see, I too carry baggage, a lot indeed !!! But it’s just that I don't feel the weight of it on my head even when I carry it.

Now, go find yours!!!

[harshayoga]

Getting Sucked into the Cycle of Monotony of Birth

Have you ever wondered  as to why you have so many problems? (Man made)

Have you ever wondered as to why you lack clarity ?

Have you ever wondered as to why you feel lost ?

Have you ever wondered as to why you keep falling into the trap of family ?

Have you ever wondered as to why you restrict yourself from new experiences ?

Have you ever wondered as to why you say NO to growth?

Have you ever wondered as to why you feel like you're not growing?

It’s because you love being where you are….

If not, you are under the false presumption of love thinking that you are very happy where you are and you make an assumption that this is the best you can ever achieve in your current life & hence stagnate your growth. 

Ultimately you die being unsatisfied & then you’re born again.  

The main culprit here is the innate wish to be born again ( It doesn't matter if you admit it not !!! It is the truth !!!).

Yes,if you’re someone who wishes to be born again & again to enjoy the pleasure of the world you’ll get sucked into the world of actions(Karma) & reactions and then become a player in your own imaginary MAZE of illusion.

So, what can you do about this?.

DO ONLY those actions & activities which free you.  

Most of the time, due to IGNORANCE each & every action you’re involved in, you tend to seek something you desire or aspire for.

When this doesn't happen, Lust or Greed sets in. Then, you enter the GOD MODE IN GREED & THEN you end up dying undone, unhappy ultimately you’re born again & again & again.

You have to break this cycle. 

Wondering how to do this?

Do everything that needs to be done but expect nothing in return !!! Absolutely nothing !!!

Do it & forget it !!!

This indeed is the secret of vitality.

This indeed is what’s gonna make you a fountain of youth. 

[harshayoga]

True purpose of life - Finding Failure

Verbal knowledge - This is the next big thing in the world. Think of how time you’ve spent scrolling through Instagram & YouTube wanting to hear some nice things that make you feel like ROYALTY.

The above is a blessing if you know who or what to listen to, else it can turn out to be a curse.

If you are seeking clarity, Verbal knowledge without substance will lead to utter confusion & chaos. So, be careful who you listen to. 

Do not fall for fancy thoughts or words. Search & seek reality :) 

We always get carried away by fancy things people around us share, not paying any attention to the hidden lies & fake sympathy in their words.

When we miss out on reading between the lines, we get trapped in the cycle & continue to do so until we lose faith in oneself & finally end up saying that there is not a single soul on earth that you can trust in this human life.

We have to seek reality. Search for reality & be amongst people who are seeking.

Only when you are in the company of people who are searching for the reality of life will you find true meaning in your own life :)

Having friends whom you’ve known since childhood or being amidst a family who raised you is good only until a certain point in your life. But if their knowledge is based on imagination, it won’t lead you anywhere. 

Once you start developing your own set of traits & characters you need a new inner circle. You need soul friends !!!.And this will come after countless trial and error. Most importantly, FAILURE.

Failure has been my best friend for years & it continues to be so to this day. For the only thing that comes after failure is clarity in vision & self discovery. 

In fact, even in my life I had reached a stage where I would run and cry thinking there exists none on this planet earth who can understand me. (This used to happen in my school days)

Faith & fire were the only things that kept me alive & going. Just make sure you listen to the right person, at the right time, at the right place !!!

[harshayoga]

Superpowers you can Acquire Once you Start Yoga

Did you know?You can get a clear picture about your past, present & future by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know?You can understand the universal language of birds,animals & people by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know?You can know what your past & future lives are by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ?. You can read others' minds by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? You can make others think the way you want by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? You can have complete control over hearing,sight,taste & smell by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? You can become extremely friendly & compassionate by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ? You can become as strong as an elephant & as graceful as a peacock by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? You can understand & know how your internal system works & functions by regularly practicing yoga?

Did you know ? You can understand how the world functions by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? You can understand how your body functions by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ? You can conquer hunger & thirst by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ? You can sharpen your vision by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? You can have the power to perceive anything & everything by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ? You can develop the power to water over water by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ? You can hear distant sounds by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know? Y0u can connect to another soul & feel the pain & suffering by regularly practicing yoga.

Did you know ? You can become a creator by regularly practicing yoga.

If you did not, Now you do !!!!

So, start today so that you can realize the full potential of who you are & be free forever.

[harshayoga]

Finding Oneself

Sometimes the only way to find oneself is by losing oneself, Completely !!!

When we are oblivious to everything that exists around & turn inwards we will have a clear picture of who we are. 

We all love ourselves, deep down the feeling is so intense that we tend to forget it & search for completeness outside.

We can't blame ourselves. The culprit indeed is the place & people we are surrounded by. 

So, if you too feel the same, change the place & people for a few weeks at least & then come back (If you wish to).

Being by yourself, away from everything you are, everything you own, everything you know, helps you kindle the unknown that exists in you & this must happen every day, every month, every year… till your last breath.

Self growth & selflessness is the most basic necessity of being a Human. Food, clothing & shelter will be taken care of.

Get out & live your life. 

No one really cares. NO ONE.

Life & living has to be celebrated !!! 

[harshayoga]

What’s Wrong with the Parents ?

So, the other day I was talking to the kids whom I've been teaching for the last 6 months.

Now that they’ve become so close to me, they are sharing their inner mind.

They love to speak in their mother tongue. Be it Kannada or English or Hindi, But I hear the parents insisting on talking to them in English ONLY & in fact forcing them to speak in English.

I was SHOCKED !!!

How is it possible to understand the world & new things that exist around you in an unknown language?

What is happening? If you do not teach the little ones the language of the ancestors & where you are born, they will end up feeling lost & confused without an identity of language. 

Mark my words when I say, Language Identity is a must for Self Identity.

Me being a Kannadiga, I’ve never felt easier & complete reading the complex books on realities of life and understanding them in Kannada compared to English.

I won't deny, you definitely need English. Irony is, I’m using the same to write this so that I can communicate at a universal level. 

But, before you decide to do that make sure you have your roots strongly established in your mother tongue.

It may not be Kannada. I am not telling you to mandatorily & forcefully teach each & every kid Kannada.

Teach the little ones the language of your ancestors. 

2 years ago, I made a decision to read only Kannada books & listen to Kannada lectures & talk. Mark my words when I say, my knowledge has grown 10 fold because of the innate connection I have the knowledge

There are legends in Kannada literature the world and you have any idea about. And if this happened here I’m sure you can find legends in Bengali, Hindi, Tamil literature.

Please don't fall prey to the English medium of education thinking they will gain clarity & gain respect in your so called society & kill the tenderness of the kids.

[harshayoga]

Discipline and Surrender

Knowledge must lead one towards the understanding of true freedom. 

Being born as a human, each one of us is in a stage of life which we wish to pursue in gaining deeper insight & understanding about oneself.

We all start slow, super slow. Remember those baby steps?

Imagine what would have happened if your parents had given up on you after you fell.

You will fall with each & every new habit that you wish to pursue. 

Don't forget, you are just scratching the surface. 

To become disciplined & understand the functioning of body & mind you have to stay away from the worldly desires which keeps pulling you down. 

It is a daunting task, I won't deny. But you are the only one who can help yourself.

In life, once you become driven by purpose & meaning, every action, every activity will bring in a sense of completeness that will make you feel rooted to who you are. 

With insight, you experience your true self in the purest form.

Once this happens, you become an Epitome of Purity. 

Remember, You will never have the urge to surrender & let go of who you are until you become an embodiment of Purity (Physically & Mentally).

The most difficult part of a human journey is to Surrender. This 9 letter word can end your cycle of birth & death in 9 seconds or it can push it to 90 births..

[harshayoga]

Break Oneself

Yes, you heard me right.

You have to break yourself into pieces so that you can cater to every want & every need of yours.

Over a span of time we become so comfortable with each other, with who we are, Stagnation becomes a way of living. Comfort becomes laziness & smartness becomes stale.

If you’ve reached here, then it’s time for you to make yourself uncomfortable. Yes, Big time !!!.

This is a stage of life where you now have to sit, reassess, rethink so that you can realign to ultimately redefine your life. This is what in a layman's term is called, MID-LIFE CRISIS.

In reality, it is that time in life where you have to relax, take a step back & calm down.

Instead, what happens is you end up reaching a panic mode & ultimately feeling lost & confused.

Do you know what is the root cause of this?

Doing one work & that one work becoming monotonous. There is no freshness or new ideas or creativity and ultimately you feel like you are sucked into the rat race of life.

I've even been a victim of this. Each and every individual goes through this. It’s the Law of Human Nature.

Upgrade & update yourself to an extent so that you become an upgraded version of who you were earlier.

Here are a few examples from my life:

I cursed the situation I was in when the pandemic happened, but it was indeed a blessing. 

I was in pieces when relationships broke, but it taught me life lessons.

I was heartbroken when people left, but I found new ones

I felt lonely when my dear ones moved away, So I made peace with the ones around me

I didn't want to be intellectually backward, so I decided to read 4 books every week, 48 books/year.

We all have our Weaknesses, we all have our Strengths. 

We have to accept that we are weak, make peace with it & focus on strengthening what our strengths are & decide not to let any situation of our’s to bring us down. 

Remember, YOU are your greatest Enemy. YOU are your greatest Savior.

Others are just here to clear the debris that’s on your path. You have to walk it !!!

[harshayoga]

Concentration

I think we have miserably failed fixing our mind, ego & intellect on the object/subject of our love.

We are falling into the trap of mindless scrolling🤳 for hours together.

You have all the attention in the world to focus on your phone📱 & concentrate on absorbing the content by saying you do not have time⌛ & mind🧠 to solve your life problems.

And finally you say you have lost concentration in life & then go search for it thinking there’s something wrong with you.

If the mind doesn't remain steady on its own, give it something to hold on to.

The practice of Asana (physical postures) keeps your body free from diseases. 

The practice of Pranayama (Breath expansion) helps you to conserve your energy.

When you follow the above two, willpower & clarity of thought will follow. This is how you start to cultivate your brain.  

Only when you develop indifference to worldly matters will you be fit for the inner quest of concentration. 

Concentration is the wealth of mind.

Right now you may feel wealthy with respect to material possession, but you are ZERO when it comes to wealth of mind. 

To develop concentration, you have to increase your mind’s wealth. 

If by practicing asana you can direct your senses & organs towards your mind and mind towards the core (self), what may seem as external physical practice will become meditation.

Unfortunately most of the time when you practice asana, It is at the physical level only. Learning to integrate body,mind & intelligence with the self makes the asana practice divine. 

Passionate interest is what fuels concentration. Concentration is a byproduct of passion & with concentration comes humility & total absorption. 

IF you aren't passionate, even GOD can't help you in concentration.

Don't just love the work you do, feel free & evolve with it. 

Want to learn more about it?  Start your yoga journey & see the magic unfold.

Wisdom of the week - No work is more important than rest. So sleep well - EVERYDAY !!!

[harshayoga]

Feeling Connected Once we Lose

It’s so weird & strange how we develop love out of nowhere once the person is no longer in front of us.

It's so weird & strange how we feel so connected to the person when they move on.

It's so weird & strange how we develop respect & compassion just by thinking about them.

Why can't we do the same when one is alive, in front of you, throwing themselves at you, wanting to share love, life & happiness?

Ever wondered why one becomes blind, numb & dumb?

We have people who love us, right in front of us to spend time or energy & fulfill our role.

Never do you realize why they came into the world & landed in your home & became a part of your family.

A new life, a new energy, a new soul always comes to you because you are in need of it.

Instead of realizing this, we distance ourselves from resisting change. 

I did the same. You may have done the same & said NO to the right ones who are right in front of your eyes, leading to discomfort, unhappiness & ultimately sorrow.

I remember holding hands with my loved ones from the day I knew them, But due to my ignorance, I let go of them.

Now I wish to spend time & share everything that’s happening but there’s none.

As sad as it may sound, You can't even get in touch with them.

Wondering why I am sharing this?

People do not come to your life out of nowhere & for no reason. Everyone has reasons.

When someone comes to you without you even asking for it, grab them with both hands.

Hold them tight, learn, grow & evolve with them. For you never know when they’ll leave.

Else you’ll end up like me writing a post about them when they’ve moved away to a distant place.

[harshayoga]

 Sadhana 

The easiest way to understand the word Sadhana is through an English synonym called practice.

Sadhana is the systematic, sequential means of disciplining yourself. But why & for what?

Each and every action we undertake in the form of work or responsibilities must fall into the above. Dharma, Artha, Kama & Moksha.

Our actions need to purify us.

Our desires should lead us to wisdom.

Our devotion should lead us to feel free.

But these days everything is the opposite.

Our actions drain & pollute our mind.

Fulfilling one desire leads to a whirlpool of unending desires.

We all fall mentally, physically, morally & emotionally. 

It’s our actions & activities that pull us out of misery.

We need to discipline ourselves so that can perform 

Rightful duties (Dharma)

Have a rightful purpose (Artha)

Have rightful inclinations (Kama)

Ultimately, feel free (Moksha)

When we fall, if we refrain from not doing the work, We will sink further. It’s our actions, especially the work we do that uplifts, upholds & supports us.

So, If you’re thinking of quitting it’s a very good idea. 

You need a change, Just make sure you have something else to focus on.

We need to aim for reaching perfection & deepening the understanding of what/who we are & most importantly why we are born.

This is the only way to gain clarity. Once clarity dawns in this life,you start working & pursuing that which makes you feel alive, then freedom becomes your slave.

Lack of understanding of oneself is what leads to fear, self hate & attachment to transient things.

And one fine day when you lose it, you will be pushed to sorrow.

This is where yoga comes, Sadhana (practice) minimizes or eradicates these disturbances & destructive thoughts and lets you heal your self-inflicted suffering.

Wondering where to start?

Choose any one of the below & start working on it.

Body

Mind

Speech 

Rise | Shine | Evolve 

[harshayoga]

Faking !!!

A pregnant lioness, hungry for food, Jumped on a sheep from a tall tree, gave birth to a cub in the process, but died as a result of impact onto the ground.

The young cub grew amongst the flock of sheep for years, feeding on grass, babbling like one, being completely oblivious to the outside world & to its identity. 

It ate, slept & lived like one until one fine day a wandering lion saw the young lion grazing over grass & behaving like a sheep.

Flabbergasted, The adult lion held the young lion by its throat, shook it & slapped it to tell it to wake up & be full the purpose for which it was born. I.e, To be the king of the Jungle.

The lion ran towards the flock & hid under the heap of grass. 

The adult lion chased the sheeps, 

Held the young cub by its neck.

Stuffed meat into its mouth & showed the reflection in water.

Showed it how to roar & bring forth the majestic grandeur of being a LION.

The young cub though reluctant for weeks ended up realizing it’s true self & finally preyed upon the very flock of sheep it grew upon.

Don't you think it’s time for you to wake up the LION in you, Roar & conquer the world ?

Do you wish to be in the flock & live under the delusion of being someone or you want someone to hold you by your neck & show you who you really are?

[harshayoga]

 A person who finds the right love, will never ask for it again.

The presence of Sun☀️ is least felt when there’s a cool breeze🍃

The presence of pain is least felt when you have the right company

The presence of loneliness is least felt when you forget your existence

Nature Nurtures YOU !

All you have to do is get out & spend some time in her lap.

Like a mother, She’ll say yes to you. 

She’ll give you everything you ask for, All you have to do is ask.

There’s no such thing in creation which you can't have. 

Happiness is a limitation, Reality isn’t !!!

Just be who you are born to be, Follow your inner calling.

Be RAW, Be YOU, only then will reality become a part of your being.

To fall into the clutches of Maya (Delusion) & limit yourself to a set of activities or actions is like limiting yourself to 4 walls of a room.

When you have the world at your fingertips to play with, why limit yourself to where you are.

Mark my words when I say, YOU are YOUR BIGGEST ENEMY !!!

As humans, We have all the time in the world. Infact, WE ARE TIME.

We have complete control over it. But since you don't know how to use it, you end up abusing it & becoming a slave of it.

Rejuvenate,Restore,Recharge & hit that Reset button every now & then. And pull everyone around you with the same energy to bring in a new wave of life.

Invoke the inner calling for completeness.

Shout out on top of your voice & tell the world that you exist,

Tell the world why you are born.

You deserve to be who you are, Not the false perception of what others think about you.

Your reason for people, place & situation is an illusionary, self created, mental obstacle that you jail yourself into to lead a sad life.

Humans have no limitations, Absolutely NONE !!!!

Let’s accept, you never spend 24 hrs with your +1. 

Honestly, it’s never about the quantity of time. It’s the quality.

Infact, It’s never about time at all, it’s about happiness, it’s about completeness.

A person who finds the right love, will never ask for it again.

If you’re someone who’s constantly asking for it then consider you’ve been with the wrong person or teacher or your idea/understanding itself is flawed.

Don't forget to give yourself time, Don't forget to fall in love with oneself.  

Teach the one’s around you what it means to be free.

Teach them the freedom of thinking.

Teach them the freedom to act.

Ultimately, Follow your inner calling.

Still can't?. Join me & let’s learn together. 

[harshayoga]

21 Do’s & Don'ts of yoga

1.Before starting asana practice, the bladder should be emptied and the bowels evacuated. Never practice advanced asanas without evacuating the bowels.

2. Asanas come easier after taking a bath. After doing them, the body feels sticky. Taking a bath or a shower both before and after practicing asanas refreshes the body and mind.

3. Asanas should preferably be done on an empty stomach. If this is difficult, a cup of tea, coffee, cocoa or milk may be taken before doing them.

4. Allow at least four hours to elapse after a heavy meal before starting the practice. Food may be taken half an hour after completing the asanas.

5. The best time to practice is either early in the morning or late in the evening. In the morning asanas do not come easily as the body is stiff.

6. The stiffness of the body is conquered by regular practice and one is able to do the asanas well.

7. In the evening, the body moves more freely and it removes the fatigue of the day's strain and makes one fresh and calm. Difficult asanas should, therefore, be done in the morning when one has more determination.

8. Do not practice asanas after being out in the hot sun for several hours.

9. They should be done in a clean, airy place, free from insects and noise.

10· Do not do them on the bare floor or on an uneven place, but on a folded blanket laid on a level floor. 

11. No undue strain should be felt in the facial muscles, ears and eyes or in breathing during the practice.

12. In the beginning, keep your eyes open. Then you will know what you are doing and where you go wrong. If you shut your eyes you will not be in a position to watch the requisite movements of the body or even the direction in which you are doing the pose. 

13. During the practice of asanas, it is the body alone which should be active while the mind should remain passive, watchful and alert. If they are done with the mind, then you will not be able to see your own mistakes. 

14. In all the asanas, the breathing should be done through the nostrils only and not through the mouth.

15. Do not restrain the breath while in the process of the asana or while staying in it. Follow the instructions regarding breathing given in the technique sections of the various asanas as described hereafter.

16. After completing the practice of asanas always lie down in Savasana for at least 10 to 15 minutes, as this will remove fatigue.

17.Pranayama may be done either very early in the morning before the asanas or in the evening after completing them. If early in the morning, pranayama may be done first for 15 to 30 minutes. If, however, these are done in the evening, allow at least half an hour to elapse before sitting for pranayama.

18. Do not start with Sirsasana and Sarvangasana if you suffer from dizziness or high blood pressure. First practice Paschimottanasana, Uttanasana, and Adhomukha Svanasana before attempting headstand & shoulderstand.

19. All forward bending poses are beneficial for persons suffering from either high or low blood pressure.

20. Those suffering from pus in the ears or displacement of the retina should not attempt topsy-turvy poses.

Special provisions for women

21. Menstruation: Avoid asanas during the menstrual period. Rest for the first 2 days & resume the practice from 3rd day onwards. Avoid practicing inversions for the first 5 days/until the flow stops.