Physical activity
If your work is mostly seated, make room for movement beyond your yoga session.
HEALTH / LIVING WITH AWARENESS
A way of living.
A sense of balance.
How we move, rest, eat and direct our attention belongs to the same story. Explore the yogic approach to caring for the whole person.
Small daily habits. Simple nourishment. A little time to return to yourself.
THE WHOLE PERSON
Awareness,
every day.
A yoga class is a beginning. What happens between classes matters too.
Yoga has roots in Indian spiritual philosophy and brings together postures, breathing and meditation. Research suggests that a regular practice may support stress management, sleep, balance and mental wellbeing. Different styles and programmes produce different results, so there is no single promise that applies to everyone.
At the centre, these ideas are an invitation to pay attention: to find a sustainable rhythm, to learn with others and to bring your practice into ordinary life. Begin with curiosity, rather than a perfect routine.
SIX TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
Small habits.
A steadier rhythm.
The centre’s health teachings bring these six aspects of daily life together.
Sleep when tired
Respect the need for sleep, rather than repeatedly pushing past tiredness.
Eat with appetite
Notice hunger and satisfaction, rather than eating only from habit or social pressure.
Periodic fasting
Traditional yoga includes fasting as a discipline of restraint and reflection.
Wash before sleep
Ablution, or washing before bed, forms part of the traditional preparation for rest.
Regular meditation
Give inward attention a regular place alongside the activities of your day.
These are traditional lifestyle teachings, rather than guarantees of longevity or cures. Fasting requires individual consideration; ask for guidance about its suitability before attempting it.
THREE FURTHER PRINCIPLES
Nourish body.
Nourish mind.
Fresh and raw foods
Fruit, vegetables and salads can bring variety to a vegetarian table. A balanced diet also includes foods such as whole grains, beans and other sources of protein. Both raw and cooked vegetables have a place; variety is more useful than treating one type of food as a cure.
Probiotic foods
Probiotics are live microorganisms found in some foods, including yoghurt and certain fermented foods. Their effects vary by microorganism and product. They should not be assumed to offer the same benefit to every person.
A complete practice
Bring physical, mental and spiritual practice together. You might begin by attending a class, making time for meditation or joining a vegetarian cookery session. Let each become part of an everyday pattern you can sustain.
Find a class or cookery sessionYOGA POSTURES / ASANAS
More than
a shape.
A posture is an opportunity to move with attention, then settle into stillness.
Asanas are one element of yoga. Practice can range from gentle movement to demanding positions, and does not need to begin with advanced poses. Research supports possible benefits for balance, sleep and general wellbeing; yoga may also help some people manage symptoms alongside their usual care.
The traditional view
Yogic teaching connects postures with the glands and nervous system, and describes animal-inspired poses such as the peacock. Shoulder stand and spinal twist feature in this tradition. Such explanations should not be read as proven claims that postures regulate hormones or cure digestive illness.
Body, mind and cakras
Cakras, often written “chakras”, are understood as psycho-spiritual centres associated with mental tendencies. Their lotus-and-petal imagery belongs to yogic philosophy, rather than anatomical description.
A practice suited to you
A qualified teacher can help adapt a session to your experience, mobility and needs. Beginners should avoid attempting demanding inversions or other extreme practices without guidance. If you have a health condition or injury, discuss relevant modifications with your teacher and healthcare professional.
Learn about our yoga practiceMAKE ROOM FOR STILLNESS
Return to
yourself.
Meditation includes many ways of focusing attention, including on a mantra. Studies suggest that some practices may help with stress and sleep, although research findings vary and do not establish that every method has the same effects.
At Ananda Marga, meditation also has a spiritual purpose. If you would like to explore it, the meditation page explains the approach and how to begin.
Discover meditationFor further reading: yoga research and safety, meditation research, probiotics and the Eatwell Guide.
A PLACE TO BEGIN
Your next step.
Your own pace.
Join a class, arrange free meditation instruction or ask us a question. You are welcome here.