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The Tibetan tradition known as the Six Yogas of Naropa is one of the most popular tantric systems with all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Structured and arranged by the eleventh-century Indian masters Tilopa and Naropa from various Buddhist tantric legacies, this system of yogic practice was carried to Tibet by Marpa the Translator a generation later. These six yogas–inner heat, illusory body, clear light, consciousness transference, forceful projection, and bardo yoga–continue to be one of the most important living meditation traditions in the Land of the Snows.

This book on the Six Yogas contains important texts on this esoteric doctrine, including original Indian works by Tilopa and Naropa, and writings by great Tibetan lamas. It contains an important practice manual on the Six Yogas as well as other works that discuss the practices, their context, and the historical continuity of this most important tradition.

What can readers expect to find inside?

The book contains texts on the doctrine, including original Indian works by Tilopa and Naropa and writings by Tibetan lamas. It also has a practice manual and other works about the practices, their context and the historical continuity of the tradition.

What is The Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa about?

The Amazon description says the Six Yogas of Naropa are a Tibetan tradition and one of the most popular tantric systems in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It names the six as inner heat, illusory body, clear light, consciousness transference, forceful projection and bardo yoga.

Who is behind The Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa?

The author named in the title is Glenn H. Mullin. The description says the system was structured by the eleventh-century Indian masters Tilopa and Naropa and carried to Tibet by Marpa the Translator.

This summary is based on the book description on the Amazon page.

How do Buddhist meditation traditions relate to modern mindfulness?

Meditation has a long history. The NIH meditation summary from NCCIH says it goes back thousands of years and that many techniques began in Eastern traditions. Modern mindfulness programs are a secular adaptation, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, which the same page describes as teaching mindful meditation alongside discussion sessions.

Traditional systems, including those from Tibetan Buddhism, belong to a religious path with its own teachers, vows and stages. Reading about one is different from practising it, and advanced methods are normally learned under supervision.

Meditation is usually seen as low-risk, but if difficult feelings come up, a health professional can help.

Related on this blog: Hatha Yoga Beyond the Workout: What “Hatha” Means, Its Traditional Aim and How to Practice Safely and Where Did Yoga Come From? Its Meaning, Early Texts and What Scholars Can Say

Book: The Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa by Glenn H. Mullin
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Bodysculpting meets yoga in this revolutionary workout from Ironman triathlete Anthony Carillo. Learn to combine yoga poses with upper-body work for super-fast results. Add more power to your yoga routine! Developed by Anthony Carillo when he was training for the ‘super bowl’ of triathlons, the Ironman World Championship, the Iron Yoga method has quickly become one of the hottest fitness routines on the East Coast, and Carillo’s innovative approach has already been featured in Men’s Journal, Yoga, Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Elle, and on CNN.

Who is behind Iron Yoga?

Anthony Carillo is named as the author in the title.

What is Iron Yoga about?

The description presents it as a workout that combines yoga poses with upper-body work, developed by Ironman triathlete Anthony Carillo.

What results does the description promise?

It promises “super-fast results” and calls the method one of the hottest fitness routines on the East Coast. Those are the description’s words and not something we can confirm.

What topics does it cover?

According to the description, Carillo developed the Iron Yoga method while training for the Ironman World Championship, and that it has been featured in Men’s Journal, Yoga, Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Elle and on CNN.

This summary is based on the book description on the Amazon page.

How should strength training and yoga be combined safely?

Both lifting and yoga are forms of exercise, so the standard guidance covers them. The WHO activity fact sheet recommends adults do muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days each week, plus at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Joining weights to flowing poses is one way to fit those in.

The risks to respect are fatigue and load. Holding weights while moving through balancing or twisting poses can strain the shoulders, wrists and back if form slips, and the NIH yoga summary from NCCIH lists sprains and strains as the usual injuries. Begin with light weights or none, keep the movement controlled, and breathe steadily rather than holding your breath.

Rest between sessions matters. If you have a heart condition, joint problem or high blood pressure, ask a doctor before starting a combined routine.

More on this blog: Preventing Sports Injuries: Twelve Habits Every Athlete Should Build and Sports Fitness: Four Habits That Keep You Playing

Book: Iron Yoga by Anthony Carillo
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Exercise and cholesterol: how physical activity helps

Cholesterol is a substance found in every human body. It is one of the many things the body produces in order to function properly.

Unfortunately, a diet high in sugar, saturated fat and alcohol can do more harm than good. Over time it raises the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

The good news is that there are ways to prevent this before it happens. It takes some effort and hard work, especially as the body becomes less forgiving with age.

Why exercise helps

Along with eating less and improving your diet, exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve your cholesterol. Regular activity raises your heart rate, helps with weight control, raises HDL (the good cholesterol) and can modestly lower LDL and triglycerides.

Getting started safely

Those who have not exercised before should first talk to a doctor to find out what is safe. People with a heart condition may not be able to do strenuous exercise and may need low-impact activities such as walking, stretching or light weights.

If the doctor says the patient can do more intense exercise, options include running, swimming, aerobics and cycling. The right type of activity depends on several factors, not only medical history, but also gender, age and weight.

The doctor can recommend an activity, and the person can pass this on to a fitness instructor so they know what is safe. From there, an exercise program can be made, and all the patient has to do is follow it.

After a month or two, there are often improvements in good and bad cholesterol levels, as well as some weight loss.

Exercise works best together with a healthy diet, and it does not replace medication. If your doctor has prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug, keep taking it and ask before making changes; for many people, medicine and exercise work together to lower cholesterol.

Easy ways to be more active

If you do not have time to go to a gym, there are other ways to work your muscles and raise your heart rate. For starters, you can go for a brisk walk early in the morning or before work.

Some companies and hospitals encourage people to walk up one or two flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator. If your workplace has a big parking lot, you can park a little further from the door and walk the extra distance.

During any exercise, it is best to drink plenty of water. This prevents dehydration, which can lead to exhaustion. Instead of going to the fountain every few minutes, bring a water bottle.

This saves time and lets you keep pace with the group activity or the work you are doing on the machine.

Someone once said that health is wealth. By exercising, you can improve your cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease, unlike those who know the dangers but never make any lifestyle changes.

The Synthesis of Yoga is Sri Aurobindo’s principle work on yoga, comparing the methods of the various schools of traditional yoga, and providing the comprehensive way for following the true path to Divine consciousness. It is the primary work on Integral Yoga, the system of yoga that Sri Aurobindo developed.

The book originally appeared in serial form in Arya, published between 1914 and 1921.

Synthesis on Yoga is divided into four parts: the Yoga of Divine Works, of Integral Knowledge, of Divine Love, and of Self Perfection. The first three correspond to the three-fold yoga of the Bhagavad Gita (i.e. karma-, jnana-, and bhakti-yoga), while the last (incomplete) section gives Sri Aurobindo’s own development and synthesis of these three paths.

Sri Aurobindo revised the text of the book during three distinct periods. These are: In the 1920s, mostly minor corrections to certain chapters; a full-scale revision during or around 1932, with a view to publishing The Synthesis as a book; and during the early 1940s, further work on the later chapters of Part I, as well as beginning two new chapters, which he apparently intended to add to this part, but which he abandoned before completion. During the later part of the 1940s, Sri Aurobindo lightly revised the entire first part of the Synthesis while preparing it for publication.

Book: Synthesis of Yoga by Sri Aurobindo
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Bring the ancient practice of yoga from the mat into the bedroom—with electrifying results!

There’s no doubt about it: Yoga is sexy. With skimpy yoga outfits, graceful moves, deep breathing, and poses like Downward Dog, it’s no wonder yoga can leave you feeling a little turned on. Now the Better Sex Through Yoga program allows you to bring that yoga-sexiness right into the bedroom—and take your sex drive to unimaginable new heights.

A combination of traditional yoga poses, Pilates, and dance, along with twenty mind-blowing sex positions, Better Sex Through Yoga is guaranteed to tone up your body and turn up the heat on your lovemaking. Targeting the muscles of your sexual core to strengthen your pelvis, hips, and abdomen, the program also works the PC muscles, a little-known muscle group that prolongs and intensifies sexual pleasure. Each of the routines will increase your stamina, enhance your flexibility, and jumpstart your libido for deeper, longer, more frequent orgasms. You can try:

The Honeymoon… ignites the spark and gets you in the best sexual shape of your life
Hot Date Prep… leaves you feeling frisky, relaxed, and glowing as you head out the door
Bedtime Bootie… fast, loose, and hot, this quickie routine revs you up before hitting the sheets
Flexy Makes Sexy… opens the door for incredible new positions and heightened sexual pleasure
And seven more steamy yoga sequences

Soon your sex life will be sizzling and you’ll be feeling more confident in the bedroom and beyond. Working out has never been this good—or satisfying!

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