What is Yoga?
11/12/2011 15:06
The word yoga is usually interpreted as "union" or a technique of discipline from the Sanskrit word "yuj" (to yoke or bind). A male practitioner is termed a yogi, a feminine practitioner, a yogini.
The Postures ....
The up to date western approach to yoga isn't primarily based on any specific belief or faith, but Yoga will has its roots in Hinduism and Brahmanism. Yoga was developed by seers or ascetics living primarily within the southern components of India. The seers observed nature and lived as shut as they might to the planet, finding out the various aspects of nature, the animals and themselves. By observing and emulating the various postures and habits of the animal kingdom they were able to develop grace, strength and knowledge.
It was through these terribly disciplined lives that the follow of the yoga postures were developed. it absolutely was necessary to develop a series of postures to stay the body lithe and able to endure long periods of stillness when in meditation.
The Writings ....
Brahmanism dates back to containing sacred scriptures referred to as "the Vedas". These scriptures contained directions and incantations. it absolutely was within the oldest text "Rg-Veda" from the scriptures that the word Yoga initial appeared, this was nearly 5000 years ago. The fourth text referred to as "Atharva-Veda" contains mainly spells for magical rites and health cures several of that use medicinal plants. This text provided the typical person with the spells and incantations to use within their daily life and this follow of "Veda" will still be seen in the streets of India these days.
The Bhagavad-Gita, another ancient work on non secular life describes itself as a yoga treatise, though it uses the word Yoga as a non secular suggests that. it absolutely was from this literature that Patanjali's "eight limbs of yoga" were developed. Yoga Sutra's are primarily involved with developing the "nature of the mind" and that i can justify additional of this within the next section.
The Breadth ....
The vratyas, a bunch of fertility monks who worshipped Rudra, god of the wind would commit to imitate the sound of the wind through their singing. They found that they might manufacture the sound through the management of their breath and thru this follow of breath management was fashioned "Pranayama". Pranayama is that the follow of breath management in yoga.
The Paths ....
The Upanishads, that are the sacred revelations of ancient Hinduism developed the 2 disciplines of karma yoga, the trail of action and jnana yoga, the trail of data. The ways were developed to assist the scholar liberate from suffering and eventually gain enlightenment.
The teaching from the Upanishads differed from that of the Vedas. The Vedas demanded external offerings to the gods so as to possess an abundant, happy life. The Upanishads through the follow of Karma yoga targeted on the inner sacrifice of the ego so as to liberate from suffering. rather than the sacrifice of crops and animals (external) it absolutely was the sacrifice of the inner ego that might become the fundamental philosophy, so yoga became referred to as the trail of renunciation.
Yoga shares some characteristics additionally with Buddhism which will be traced back through history. throughout the sixth century B.C., Buddhism additionally stresses the importance of Meditation and therefore the follow of physical postures. Siddharta Gautama was the primary Buddhist to truly study Yoga.
What is Yoga Sutra and the way did the Philosophy of Yoga develop?
Yoga Sutra could be a compilation of 195 statements that primarily offer an moral guide for living an ethical life and incorporating the science of yoga into it. An Indian sage referred to as Patanjali was believed to possess collated this over 2000 years ago and it's become the cornerstone for classical yoga philosophy.
The word sutra suggests that literally "a thread" and is employed to denote a specific style of written and oral communication. attributable to the brusque vogue the sutras are written within the student should think about a guru to interpret the philosophy contained at intervals every one. The that means at intervals every of the sutras may be tailored to the student's specific wants.
The Yoga Sutra could be a system of yoga but there's not one description of a posture or asana in it! Patanjali developed a guide for living the correct life. The core of his teachings is that the "eightfold path of yoga" or "the eight limbs of Patanjali" . These are Patanjali's suggestions for living a higher life through yoga.
Posture and breath management, the 2 basic practices of yoga are described because the third and fourth limbs in Patanjali's eight-limbed path to self-realisation. The third follow of the postures compose today's fashionable yoga. once you be part of a yoga category you will notice that's all you would like to fit your lifestyle.
The eight limbs of yoga
1. The yamas (restraints),
These are like "Morals" you reside your life by: Your social conduct:
o Nonviolence (ahimsa) - To not hurt a living creature
o Truth and honesty (satya) - To not lie
o Nonstealing (asteya) - To not steal
o Nonlust (brahmacharya) - avoid meaningless sexual encounters - moderation in sex and every one things.
o Nonpossessiveness or non-greed (aparigraha) - do not hoard, free yourself from greed and material needs
2. niyamas (observances),
These are how we tend to treat ourselves, our inner discipline:
o Purity (shauca). Achieving purity through the follow of the 5 Yamas. Treating your body as a temple and searching once it.
o Contentment (santosha). notice happiness in what you have got and what you are doing. Take responsibility for where you're, ask for happiness within the moment and opt to grow.
o Austerity (tapas): Develop self discipline. Show discipline in body, speech, and mind to aim for a better non secular purpose.
o Study of the sacred text (svadhyaya). Education. Study books relevant to you which ones inspire and teach you.
o Living with an awareness of the Divine (ishvara-pranidhana). Be dedicated to no matter is your god or no matter you see because the divine.
3. asana (postures) -
These are the postures of yoga:
o To produce a supple body so as to take a seat for a lengthy time and still the mind. If you'll management the body you'll additionally management the mind. Patanjali and alternative ancient yogis used asana to organize the body for meditation.
Just the follow of the yoga postures will profit one's health. It may be started at any time and any age. As we tend to age we tend to stiffen, does one bear in mind the last time you will have squatted all the way down to decide one thing up and the way you felt? Imagine as you age into your fifties, sixties, seventies and on having the ability to still bit your toes or balance on one leg. Did you recognize that the bulk of injuries sustained by the elderly are from falls? we tend to tend to lose our balance as we tend to age and to follow one thing that may facilitate this is often surely a profit.
The fourth limb, breath management could be a smart vehicle to use if you're curious about learning meditation and relaxation.......
4. pranayama (breathing) - the management of breath:
inhalation, retention of breath, and exhalation
o The follow of respiration makes it easier to concentrate and meditate. Prana is that the energy that exists everywhere, it's the life force that flows through every folks through our breath.
5. pratyahara (withdrawal of senses),
o Pratyahara could be a withdrawal of the senses. It happens throughout meditation, respiration exercises, or the follow of yoga postures. once you master Pratyahara you may be able to focus and concentrate and not be distracted by outward sensory.
6. dharana (concentration), - teaching the mind to focus.
o When concentrating there's no sense of your time. The aim is to still the mind e.g. fixing the mind on one object and pushing any thoughts. True dharana is when the mind will concentrate effortlessly.
7. Dhyani (meditation), - the state of meditation
o Concentration (dharana) results in the state of meditation. In meditation, one encompasses a heightened sense of awareness and is one with the universe. it's being unaware of any distractions.
8. samadhi (absorption), - absolute bliss
o Absolute bliss is that the final goal of meditation. this is often a state of union with yourself and your god or the devine, this is often once you and therefore the universe are one.
All eight limbs work together: the primary 5 are regarding the body and brain- yama, niyama asana, pranayama, and pratyahara - these are the foundations of yoga and supply a platform for a non secular life. The last 3 are regarding reconditioning the mind. They were developed to assist the practitioner to achieve enlightenment or oneness with Spirit.
How does one opt for the kind of yoga right for you?
The type of yoga you select to follow is entirely a personal preference and so why we tend to are trying into here to assist you begin. Some sorts hold the postures longer, some move through them quicker. Some designs specialise in body alignment, others differ within the rhythm and choice of postures, meditation and non secular realization. All are adaptable to the student's physical scenario.
You so got to confirm what Yoga vogue by your individual psychological and physical wants. you will simply desire a vigorous workout, wish to specialise in developing your flexibility or balance. does one wish additional specialise in meditation or simply the health aspects? Some colleges teach relaxation, some specialise in strength and agility, and others are additional aerobic.
I recommend you are trying many completely different categories in your space. I actually have noticed that even between academics at intervals an exact vogue, there may be variations in how the scholar enjoys the category. it's necessary to seek out a lecturer that you simply feel snug with to really fancy and so produce longevity in what you follow.
Once you begin learning the postures and adapting them for your body you will feel snug to try and do follow at home as well! All yoga sorts have sequences which will be practiced to figure completely different components of your body. To a 15 minute follow within the morning is also your begin to the day. Your body can feel robust and lithe at intervals no time and with data, the selection is there for you to develop your own routines.
The Major Systems of Yoga
The two major systems of yoga are Hatha and Yoga Raja Yoga. Raja yoga relies on the "Eight Limbs of Yoga" developed by Pananjali within the Yoga Sutras. Raja is a component of the classical Indian System of Hindu Philosophy.
Hatha yoga, additionally Hatha vidya could be a specific system of Yoga founded by Swatmarama, a yogic sage of the fifteenth centry in India. Swatmarama compiled the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika", that introduced the system of Hatha Yoga. Hatha yoga comes from variety of various traditions. It comes from the traditions of Buddhism that embrace the Hinayana (narrow path) and Mahayana (great path). It additionally comes from the traditions of Tantra that embrace Sahajayana (spontaneous path) and Vajrayana (concerning matters of sexuality). at intervals Hatha yoga there are numerous branches or forms of yoga. this type of yoga works through the physical medium of the body using postures, respiration exercises and cleansing practices.
The Hatha Yoga of Swatmarama differs from the Raja Yoga of Patanjali in that it focuses on Shatkarma, "the purification of the physical" as a path resulting in "purification of the mind" and "vital energy". Patanjali begins with "purification of the mind and spirit" and then "the body" through postures and breath.
The Major colleges of Yoga
There are approximately forty-four major colleges of Yoga and plenty of others that additionally assert to being Yogic. a number of the most important colleges are Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga (as mentioned above). There are Pranayama Yoga and Kundalini Yoga that stem from Hatha. Jnana, Karma, Bhakti, Astanga and Iyengar stem from Raja.
The Yoga designs that stem from Hatha include:
Pranayama Yoga
The word pranayama suggests that prana, energy and ayama, stretch. Breath regulation, prolongation, expansion, length, stretch and management describes the action of pranayama yoga. Some Pranayama breath controls are included within the Hatha Yoga practices of a general nature (to correct respiration difficulties).
This faculty of yoga is entirely designed round the concept of Prana (life's energy). There are regarding ninety nine completely different postures of that lots of those are primarily based around or the same as physical respiration exercises.
Pranayama additionally denotes cosmic power, or the ability of the whole universe that manifests itself as aware living being in us through the phenomenon of respiration.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga is within the tradition of Yogi Bhajan who brought the fashion to the west in 1969. it's a highly non secular approach to hatha yoga involving chanting, meditation, respiration techniques all used to boost the kundalini energy that is found at the bottom of the spine.
The Yoga designs that stem from Raja include:
Raja Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga
Raja suggests that royal or kingly. it's primarily based on directing one's life force to bring the mind and emotions into balance. By doing therefore the attention will then be targeted on the article of the meditation, particularly the Devine. Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is one amongst the four major Yogic ways of Hinduism. The others are Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Raja or Ashtanga are derived from the "eight limbs of Yoga" philosophy composed by Patanjali.
Power Yoga
Power Yoga has been devised through the teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, a renowned Sanskrit scholar who impressed Western Yogis along with his Ashtanga Yoga vogue and philosophies. it's so usually noted because the western version of India's Ashtanga yoga.
Power yoga is vigorous and athletic and is so very talked-about with men. It works with the student's mental angle and perspective and incorporates the eight limbs of yoga into follow.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana (sometimes spelled "Gnana") suggests that knowledge and a Jnani could be a wise man. typically noted as the" yogi of discernment".
This form of yoga focuses on finding out inner life and adhyatmic subjects, the follow of bound relaxations and contemplative, meditative kriyas. the most purpose of jnana meditation is to withdraw the mind and emotions from perceiving life and oneself in an exceedingly deluded method so one could behold and live in attunement with reality or spirit. this type of yoga focuses on meditation to figure
towards transformation and enlightenment.
Karma Yoga
Karma suggests that "action". Karma yoga {is primarily based|is predicated|relies} round the discipline of action based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, a holy scripture of Hinduism. This yoga of selfless service focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) whereas remaining detached from the reward. Karma is that the total total of our acts, each within the gift life and within the preceding births.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhaki yoga has several phases to it's follow. Bhaki suggests that "devotion" and Guna Bhaki is to worship in step with your nature. A practitioner of Bhakta Yoga isn't restricted to anyone culture or spiritual denomination, the approach is additional to the inner life instead of the wholly devotional. The self at intervals worships the self of the universal nature.
Bhaki yoga is that the state of being in grips with our existence and being and therefore the existence and being of all things. It does not matter if you suspect in one thing otherwise you do not the sole quality is that the openness to the mind and heart, sudden and unknown.
Those who have examine Quantum physics where every and each atom within the universe is connected to the underlying reality are going to be able to liken this to the philosophy behind Bhaki yoga.
Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga was developed in India by B.K.S Iyengar, born 14th December, 1918. At the age of sixteen, he was introduced to yoga by his Guru Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Iyengar Yoga is currently one amongst the foremost common designs practiced within the west.
Instructors are terribly knowledgeable regarding the anatomy and precise body place for every posture. there's less specialise in pranayama or respiration techniques and mediation and so why the follow is common within the west.
Iyengar Yoga emphasizes additional on the right placement of the feet to make sure the spine and therefore the hips are in alignment. Iyengar has developed many alternative props and techniques to cater for people in their follow.
Other designs
Integral Yoga or Purna Yoga
Integral yoga could be a yoga of synthesis, harmonizing the ways of karma, jnana and bhakti yogas. it absolutely was developed by Swami Satchidananda.
It is additionally thought-about a synthesis between Vedanta (Indian system of philosophy) and Tantra (Asian beliefs and practices using the principle that the divine energy creates and maintains the universe, channelling the energy at intervals the human microcosm). It additionally been explained as a synthesis between japanese and Western approaches to spirituality.
Postures are gentler than alternative styles of yoga and categories normally finish with extended periods of deep relaxation, respiration and meditation. Integral Yoga is an all spherical approach to hatha yoga.
Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda yoga offers a mild approach. It includes meditation, chanting and deep relaxation in every session. Students are inspired to be healthy which incorporates being vegetarian.
Bikrams Yoga
Bikrams yoga was founded by Bikram Choudhury who was taught by Bishni Ghosh the brother of Paramahansa Yogananda. Bikrams Yoga is taught usually in an exceedingly area the temperature set between ninety five and a hundred and five degrees.
The heat helps soften the muscles and ligaments. There are approximately twenty six postures and this yoga produces a true workout attributable to the warmth is kind of intense. This yoga so places additional stress on the physical performance of the postures, not the edges of relaxation and meditation.
Some of the good academics...
All designs share a typical lineage. The founders of 2 of the most important forms of yoga Raja/Ashtanga and Avenger were all students of an equivalent nice teacher named Krishnamacharya.
Shri T. Krishnamacharya,was born within the village of Muchukunte, Karnataka State, in 1888. His formal Education, largely in Sanskrit, included Degrees from many universities in North India. He studied for seven years beneath a distinguished yogi in western Tibet: Rama Mohana Brahmachari who instructed him the therapeutic use of asanas & pranayama. Then he came to South India and established a college of yoga within the palace of the Maharajah of Mysore. He died at the age of a hundred and one years in 1988.
Integral Yoga and Sivananda Yoga were additionally founded by students of another nice teacher named Sivananda. Swami Sivananda Saraswati was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. A Hindu by birth, he's a widely known proponent of yoga and vedanta (a principal branch of Hindu philosophy).
He is reputed to possess written over three hundred books, on these and connected subjects, throughout his life. In 1936 he founded the new spiritual movement "The Divine Life Society" on the bank of the holy Ganges River. He died on the 14th July, 1963.
So which kind is correct for you?
These don't seem to be all the categories of yoga accessible, but {you will|you'll|you'll be able to} see from the short explanations of every that Yoga follow can differ dramatically. every one makes use of the physical postures and respiration to strengthen the body for meditation, an inherent a part of yoga follow.
This is where it's necessary for the scholar to grasp what they need out of their yoga follow and opt for a method which can cater for this. If you are trying one and do not assume it's physical enough, attempt another because it are going to be totally completely different. If you begin one that's too demanding than once more switch around till you discover the follow for you.
Some of us wish to simply work on body and a few wish additional specialise in a technique of finding out self realisation, regardless of the reason i'm certain there are enough designs out their and additional developing on a daily basis to cater for our wants.
You are never too previous to begin yoga, I actually have met individuals in their seventies beginning for the primary time and experiencing life changing affects. If you have ever sat and watched your cat or dog awake within the morning what's the primary issue they do? stretch. If we tend to stop for simply an instant and watch what we will learn from nature and therefore the animal kingdom we'll notice that simply the straightforward act of stretching has been lost somewhere through our evolution.
The table below shows the rating between one and ten I actually have given to clarify the degree of Physical and degree of Meditation/Relaxation in every Yoga follow (10 being the highest)
Name of Yoga Physical Rating Meditation & Relaxation Rating
Pranayama Yoga 4 8
Kundalini Yoga 6 8
Raja Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga 10 6
Power Yoga 10 2
Jnana Yoga 6 8
Karma Yoga 6 8
Bhakti Yoga 6 8
Iyengar Yoga 8 4
Integral Yoga or Purna Yoga 6 8
Sivananda Yoga 6 8
Bikrams Yoga 10 (due to the heat) 2
Lisa runs "Khata" provides "gifts of significance" for those special individuals in your life that have an interest in japanese Arts , philosophy and culture.
She believes that utilising physical movement to grasp regarding your body and self could be a powerful tool for" self development". She additionally supports and promotes the varied styles of workout and movement in japanese culture like Tai Chi, QiGong, Yoga and Martial Arts.