Shiva as Yogeshwara-Yoga a health concept

 Shiva as Yogeshwara

Shiva is also known as Adiyogi the great lord of Prana or the cosmic life energy.

Shiva is the great guide to meditation, the supreme lord who teaches us to observe, inspect and not to overreact, providing us with a cosmic prospect of the events in our lives and the emotions in our minds, so these can never overwhelm us.Shiva is the principal of asana commonly the seated pose that is the most important for all the asanas. He is usually depicted in either Siddhasana or Padmasana (lotus pose) often surrounded by animals that symbolize the other asanas as well. 

However, Shiva is also the supreme healer, bringing rest, peace and rejuvenation to body, mind and heart. This occurs when we surrender to his power as holding a deeper love and bliss.Shiva is also  known as Vaidyanath or the Lord of all Ayurvedic physicians. Shiva as fiery Rudra helps us overcome feverish and infectious diseases and brings about purification. Yet as watery Soma, Shiva holds the powers of nourishment, rejuvenation and revitalization.

As an example the beautiful pose of vrikshasana by ardhanareshwar

 

The asana is pronounced as VRIK-shAH-sana.This posture replicates the graceful, steady state of a tree.Vrikshasana has taken from Sanskrit word Vrska ( वृक्षासन). It comprises of two words Vriksh means tree and asana indicating towards a Yogic posture.Maintain the pose like a tree on the ground. This is called vriksha-asana”

 Unlike most yoga poses, the Tree Pose requires keeping our eyes open in order to maintain body balance.To perform this pose one should stand errect & slowly raise the right leg & rest the sole of the foot against the inside of the right tigh(knee) forming a triangle.Raise the two arms over the head & hold the hands in Anjali position.(anjali position means the open palms are joined palm to palm with the fingers & thumbs extended & held close together).With eyes focussed on the point(spot) watch the breath as it moves naturally in & out.

How to do it?(Detailed explanation)

• Stand in Tadasan/Mountain Pose.
• Keep your right foot against your left tigh and bring your arms in front of your chest in a Namaste prayer position.
• Stretch your arms up towards the ceiling and focus on a spot to balance.
• Stay calm and breath normal.
• Bring your arms in front of your chest and slowly release arms and then right leg.
• Repeat for the other leg.
• Keep your eyes open and maintain the balance .
• Finally get back to the Mountain pose .

Note: Beginners start with 5 counts for each leg and gradually increase the count with more repititions.With gradual practice work upto a minute or more on each side.

Benefits:

• Tree pose tones up the leg muscles and ligaments.
• Tree pose (Vrksasana) improves balance, endurance and alertness.
• Tree pose improves neuromuscular coordination.

Precaution:

Avoid tree pose if you have:

1. High blood pressure.
2. Low blood pressure.
3. Migraine.
4. Insomnia.
5. Acute knee problems.
6. Hip injury

Hence tree pose ehances the minds power of concentration,increases the bodys ability to maintain equilibruim (balance) which imparts steadiness & ease to all movements & poses.Yoga connects both the body & mind.The person who performs yoga can have a well control over his soul& mind.

Though many think of yoga only  as a physical exercise where people stretch and breathe in the most complex ways  these are actually  the most superficial aspect of this profound science of revealing the infinite potentials of the human mind and soul.Hindu God Lord Shiva (Eshwara) is considered to be the Guru (teacher). In the yogic culture, Shiva is known as  the Adi Yogi. He became ecstatic and danced all over the mountains or sat absolutely still.Yoga is connected to dance as well.Thus shiva is a yogic gurus as well as a dance expert who inspires all the humans around the world.

Baliga Shilpa Pai