India through a different prism
Indians themselves may be casting a cynical eye at the current goings-on and its impact on the future of the nation, but for the outside world, India’s future certainly looks bright and in many ways a beacon for a world beset with popular upheavals and slow growth.

Read more on Calcutta News

5 years after crisis in Spanish enclave in North Africa, a different conflict simmers
In this crowded and muggy speck of Europe perched on Africa’s shoulder, with the Mediterranean to one side and gigantic Morocco to the other, a person might be forgiven for going a little stir c…

Read more on Fox News

Unusual monsoon pics: Jewels of a different kind
We invited you to send in unique rain-themed photographs — odd scenes that are captured on a lens for posterity — to share with other readers. Here are some more responses!

Read more on rediff.com

Indian Ocean sea levels ‘rising at different rates’
Mapping variations in regional sea level changes of different parts of the Indian Ocean could help developing countries better adapt to the effects of climate change, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience last week (11 July).

Read more on SciDev.net

There are many different types of yoga and each has its own traits and benefits. By picking up the fundamental on each and every type of yoga, you can determine what is suitable for you.

Hatha Yoga is one of the most widespread and it a divine practice that concentrates on the physical aspects to derive mental, emotional and physical health. It goes back to the fifteenth century and founded by Yogi Swatmarama, a wise teacher. Hatha yoga is called “hatha vidya” with “ha” means the sun and “tha” implies the moon and together they are the “nadis” or the flow of energy in the body and must work to achieve “dhyana” a feature of meditation.

The full notion of the ancient hatha yoga is a divine path that encompasses moral and ethics, exercises, breathe control and meditation. Hatha yoga practices that are taken up by western practitioners largely concentrate on poses. Both hatha and raja yoga concentrate on the physical aspects and are collectively known as astanga yoga.

The key difference is that raja yoga concentrate on “asanas” or poses to prepare the body for extended meditation.

On the other hand, Hatha yoga creates harmony in the mind and body through exercises, breathe control as well as relaxing the mind by relaxing and meditating. Adopting different poses can ease or prevent health troubles from constipation to cancer.

Raja yoga is known as king of yoga and is also referring to as “Classical yoga” or “Astanga yoga”. It is a practice that has to do with the stimulus and harmony of the mind from yoga poses. Raja yoga is also able to manage your feelings in addition to getting your bodies into raja yoga postures. In Indian civilization, the mind lords over the body hence raja.

Astanga, known as eight limbed yoga and is the eight objectives of raja yoga to become a raja yoga master: “Yama” is the application and observance of being moral. “Niyama” is staying true to your own spirituality. The practice in India is believed to be abiding by religious traditions and festivals.

“Asana” is subjecting your body to the various poses to achieve relaxation and increase flexibility. “Pranayama” is keeping to a correct breathing technique by not constantly thinking about the past, as it results in superficial breath. “Prana”, generally refers to “life force” in Hindu. “Pratayahara” is through forming your own strength of will and mind without subjecting to outside influence.

“Dharana” is observing of meditation, “Dhyana” is to maintain self detachment. This is by far the most difficult objective of raja yoga to clarify. An absolute ideal is to be free of any emotional or materials attachment to be one and harmonize with the God and the Universe even depriving yourself of food, oxygen and sleep. Once your body attains flexibility, it will align with your needs and desires. “Samadhi”, this is the highest state, to be one with God, the Nirvana state of raja yoga.

While Ivengar focus on the right alignment and shape of the body and cling to it for extended period of time instead of changing poses like ashtanga yoga. Props are also requiring in ivengar yoga to achieve alignment.

One of the most widespread types of yoga is the bikram yoga and it is practiced in forty degree Celsius and forty percent humidity. It was founded by Bikram Choudhury and main philosophy is to achieve better breathing and body suppleness as well as circulation in the body. The increased temperature will induce the blood to flow.

Bikram yoga has 26 postures and two detailed breathe control. Bikram yoga is taught by trained and licensed practitioners in order to provide a safe environment for those taking it up. This type of yoga will make you suppler with a better body circulation, an ability to manage breathing together with many other benefits.

Besides the few major types of yoga that are mentioned above, other forms of yoga exist but to start off with yoga, it is best to be acquainted with one of these major types. Having a rough idea of all these major types, you can proceed to find out about other forms of yoga. For beginners, astanga yoga is the most ideal as all other different features can be picked up from there.

Choosing the right yoga DVD to begin with is as simple as looking for the words beginner on the packaging. Choosing an AM/PM regiment for beginners or a total body yoga program would probably be best for people who have never taken a yoga class. These types of yoga DVD’s will teach the basic poses making learning more advanced yoga techniques possible.

Other choices for beginner yoga DVD’s include those for back support, weight loss, stomach sculpting, children, and seniors. Each instructor uses a calming well paced voice to lead the listener through yoga stretches and poses, helping them to make the essential, body mind connection. Some yoga DVD’s have different sections within them, which will allow the person learning yoga to use a more difficult variation of their routine as they become stronger. They also have an advanced routine with the same poses teaching the person how to gradually advance their flexibility and stamina.

Intermediate

Intermediate yoga DVD’s are intended for people who already know many of the basic yoga poses and are fit and limber enough to not be challenged by beginner exercises any longer. Intermediate DVD’s will have challenging poses that will deeply stretch the muscles and can help over all health. Yoga DVD’s are intended to bring the health benefits of yoga to anyone who is interested in learning the art form. Power yoga is a combination of cardiovascular exercises and intermediate to advanced yoga poses that give the entire body a feeling of wellness and exhilaration.

Advanced

Advanced yoga DVD’s are intended to challenge people who have been working at the intermediate level long enough to need deeper stretches and to learn more exercise and relaxation techniques. Some Advanced yoga DVD’s will give the person practicing yoga the skill-set to create their own routine. Some of these forms can include yoga trance dancing, total body power yoga, and complete body yoga routines. Most of these allow the individuals to express themselves by combining their yoga poses in different combinations.

Yoga DVD’s can be a fun and easy way to learn yoga, supplement yoga lessons, continue learning yoga in between locations when traveling or moving to a new city or state. Yoga is a fun, relaxing way to exercise the body and mind. People all over America are using yoga to be more physically fit and to escape from the daily stress of a fast paced life.

By: Ann Marier -

Indian dishes are very tasty and exotic cuisines in the whole world. If you are looking for something different then you must try Indian food. The flavor of Indian food is so rich and spices are intense. Indian cooking is very easy. The main ingredients used in Indian cuisine are red onion. Apart from this you must not forget three g’s which includes garlic, green chilies and ginger. This will add zest to your Indian recipes. You can also use coriander leaves. To have a perfect Indian zests never forget to use red chilly or chilly powder. If you want to create authentic Indian food then you can use garam masala. It is made of different spices such as black pepper, cloves, cardamom, cumin seeds, cinnamon and coriander seeds.

But generally people prefer ordering the food from a restaurant instead of making the dishes in home. When you think of dinning out in a restaurant then the first thing which comes in your mind is that the restaurant must be good. To find the best Indian restaurant in your town you must consider few things.

The most important thing before selecting best Indian restaurants you must consider the quality of food. The quality of food must be good. Make sure that the food they prepare in a neat, clean and tidy environment. The ingredients which they are using must be of high quality and fresh. If you want to order desserts then find out that whether they use some other company for desserts or they prepare in their own restaurant. It is very important to have fresh and healthy food.

The service of a restaurant must be of high quality. It is good for a restaurant to keep an educated waiter. You must offer traditional uniform for your waiters. Take care of interiors, lighting, sitting arrangement and music of your restaurant. Because when people go for a dinner in restaurants they want the atmosphere of a restaurant must be great and relaxing.

The best and easiest way of finding best Indian restaurants< is on the recommendations of your friends, family or relatives. You can also surf the internet. There are many sites from where you can get all the information related to the restaurants. You can read reviews or check the ratings of the restaurant online. There are many restaurants who offer their menu, address, contacts and timings online. They also give you the opportunity of order online and online reservation. By online reservation or order you can get discount coupons.