YOGA - THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT WHO YOU ARE...

YOGA IS THE DANCE OF EVERY CELL WITH THE MUSIC OF EVERY BREATH THAT CREATES INNER SERENITY AND HARMONY!!!

There are so many different types of yoga out there, whether you want a more physically demanding one or an easy, relaxing, meditative one. With each style a bit different from the others, there are variations depending on the person teaching that.

Types of Yoga:

1. Ashtanga Yoga 

2. Hatha Yoga

3. Vinayasa Yoga

4. Power Yoga

5. Bikram Yoga

6. Iyengar Yoga 

 

The most common and popular form of yoga is "Ashtanga Yoga". It means Eight Limb Path and it has its roots about 5000 years BC as described in Vedic Philosophy and Tantras. It is often promoted as a modern-day form of Classical Indian Yoga. This style is energetic, synchronizing breath with movements.

 

Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga:

· Yama( principles or moral code ): It is primarily concerned with the world around us and our interaction with it. It has five aspects that should be considered in our daily practice on and off the yoga mat.

o Ahimsa - a principle of non-violence: It can be interpreted as: not physically harming others, ourselves, or nature; not thinking negative thoughts about others or ourselves; and making sure that what we do and how we do it is done in harmony, rather than causing harm.

o Satya - a principle of truthfulness: All aspects of our life can benefit from applying the teachings of Satya and it means a whole lot more than 'not telling lies'. It is something that is unchanged and pure.The word 'sat' literally translates as "true essence" or "true nature" and it also holds the meaning 'unchangeable', "that which has no distortion", "that which is beyond distinctions of time, space and person" and "reality".

o Asteya - a principle of non stealing: Asteya has a comprehensive meaning and is not limited to not stealing something from the other and keeping it in possession. It means not keeping anything with self, which does not belong to the self. Even if a thought of the theft peeps into the mind, it can affect the mental and thereby the physical health.

o Brahmacharya - continence / celibacy: Controlled enjoyment of desires, staying within the limit of dharma and science can be termed as continence. If we understand this meaning and behave accordingly, we will be able to progress in Yoga. It is we who should control the desires and not the desires controlling us. 

o Aparigah - a principle of non-hoarding or non possessiveness: We should enjoy only what is necessary and that too in a controlled manner. Storing things which are not required by us, is known as Aparigah. To observe Aparigah, one should not run behind acquiring things, which are not necessary. 

· Niyama( personal disciplines ): The term Niyama often translates as " positive duties" or "observances" and are thought of as recommended habits for healthy living and "spiritual existence".

o Shoucha - purity: Shoucha does not just mean physical cleanliness.It means cleanliness of body, mind, spirit and surroundings, all helping us to direct us towards a pure and positive life. 

o Santosh - contentment: Santosh does not mean idly sitting back and relinquishing the need to do anything. It simply means accepting and appreciating what we have and what we are already, and moving forward from there.

o Tapa - endurance: It literally means "discipline", "austerity" and "burning enthusiasm".Tapas mean cultivating a sense of self-discipline, passion and courage in order to burn away "impurities" physically, mentally and emotionally and paving the way to our true greatness.

o Swadhyaya - self study: It literally means "one's own reading" and it has the potential to deepen our yoga practice way beyond the mat. It is probably fair to say that more we realize what we are not, the closer we come to realizing who or what we truly are.

o Ishwar Pranidhan - dedication: The term Ishwar Pranidhan is made up of two words; Ishwar which means"Supreme Being","God","Brahman","Ultimate" or "True Self" and Pranidhan means "fixing". We are advised to surrender to this Supreme Being or higher self, which in essence means cultivating a deep and trusting relationships with the universe and making each action on offering to something bigger than us.

 

· Asana( yoga positions or yogic postures ): 

o The physical aspect of yoga is the third step on the path to freedom and if we are being honest, the word "Asana" here does not refer to the ability to perform a handstand or an aesthetically impressive back bend, it means seat - specifically the seat you would take for the practice of meditation. 

o a stable and comfortable posture which helps attain mental equilibrium.

· Pranayama( yogic breathing ):

o The word Prana refers to "energy" or "life source". It can be used to describe the very essence that keeps alive, as well as the energy in the universe around us. The physical act of working with different techniques alters the mind in a myriad of ways. Each way of breathing will change our state of being.

o extension and control of breath.

· Pratyahara( withdrawal of senses ):

o Pratya means to "withdraw", "draw in" or "draw back", and the second part Ahara refers to anything we "take in" by ourselves, such as the various sights, sounds and smells our senses take in continuously.Instead of actually losing the ability to hear and smell, to see and feel, the practice of Pratyahara changes our state of mind so that we become so absorbed in what it is we are focusing on, that the things outside of ourselves no longer bother us and we are able to meditate without becoming easily distracted.

o a mental preparation to increase the power of mind.

· Dharana( concentration on object ): 

o Dharna means "focused concentration". Dha means "holding or maintaining", and Ana means "other" or "something else". In order to focus on something, the senses must withdraw so that all attention is put on that point of concentration and in order to draw our senses in, we must focus and concentrate intently. 

o concentration of mind on one object and its field.

· Dhyan ( meditation ):

o When we become completely absorbed in the focus of our meditation and this is when we are really meditating. The actual practice of meditation is definitely not something we can actively do, rather it describes the spontaneous action of something that happens as a result of everything else.

o with drawing mind from all external objects and focusing it on one point and meditating on it.

· Samadhi( salvation ):

o After we have re-organised our relationships with the outside world and our own inner world, we come to the final of bliss. Samadhi does not refer to floating away on a cloud in a state of happiness and ecstasy. It is about realizing the very life that lies in the front of us. The ability to "see equally" and without disturbance from the mind, without are experience being conditioned by likes, dislikes or habits, without a need to judge or become attached to any particular aspect: that is bliss.

o state of Super bliss, joy and merging individual consciousness in to universal consciousness. Union between Jivatman and Paramatman. Union of Shiva and Shakti in Sahasrar Chakra( the top of the head ). Realization of God is the ultimate achievement of Human Birth.

 

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

SOURCE :

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• https://www.pexels.com/ 

• https://www.patrika.com/

 

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• https://www.yogapoint.com/

• https://www.ekhartyoga.com/

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