• Downtown Dallas Pilates
• What Is Pilates?
  • Pilates
  • Benefits of Pilates
  • Yoga
  • Pilates Videos
• About Us
  • About The Studio
  • About The Owner
• Downtown Dallas Boot Camp
• Downtown Dallas Fit Camps
• Class Schedule
• Personal Training
• Online Nutrition
• Payments & Reservations
  • Make a Payment
  • Make a Reservation
• FAQ's
• Testimonials
• Affiliate Links

Personal Training and Boot Camps    Online Nutrition Demo About the Nutrition Program Follow Us Blog Facebook Twitter

Downtown Dallas Texas Pilates

What is Yoga?

What is Yoga? Yoga means union. It is a union between mind, body, strength and flexibility. It is a practical aid, not a religion. Its techniques maybe practiced by Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and atheists alike because it deals with universal truths. It can be as simple as a weekly Vinyassa Flow class or a total way of life. As a way of life it is a daily practice and exceeds more than just poses. It encompasses the eight limbs of yoga and pure diet and positive mental attitude. The famous guru Iyengar says that "The body is the altar and the asanas are the prayer." The Eight Limbs of Yoga (The Path of Yoga) Yamas - Ethical Discipline (The 5 Moral Restraints) Ahimsa – non violence Satya – truthfulness Asteya – non stealing Brahmacarya – moderation Aparagraha – non hoarding Niyamas – Self Observation (The 5 Observances) Sauca – purity Santosa – contentment Tapas – zeal or austerity Svadhyaya – self study Isvara-pranidhana – devotion to a higher power Assana – pose or posture Pranayama – mindful breathe control Pratayahara – turning inward sense of withdrawal Dharana – concentration Dyana – Meditation Samadhi – union of self with the object of meditation. A state of joy and peace. Bandhas To engage the postures there are three main Bandhas: Mulabhanda, Uddiyana and Jaladhara Bandha. Bandhas are a series of subtle energies which assist in the pranic flow (prana is life force). This creates heat by utilizing subtle internal muscular contractions, aided by a type of breathing called ujjayi pranayama. This heat helps to warm the body and make the muscles more malleable. Bandhas Mulabanda is the root lock. Mulabanda is the perineum muscle which is located in front of the anus and behind the genitals for men. In females the location is near the top of the cervix. Engaging this bonda helps us to root into the floor and engages the next bandha, Uddiyana. Uddiyana – It means flying upward. It is performed by fully exhaling and drawing the lower belly inward and upward while simultaneously lifting the diaphragm. Rather than sucking the belly in it is a maintained stillness three fingers below our navel. This then engages us to the next banha, Jaladhara. Jaladhara.-it is the chin lock. It is not as frequently used. It occurs spontaneously in postures such as shoulder stand. It is used extensively in pranayama. To engage Jaladhara .extend your chin forward and and draw it back into the notch wich is formed where the two clavicle bones meet. When all three bandhas are engaged simultaneously it is called Mahabanda. This means the great lock.