Yoga
Yoga, it's a way of life
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, which
means “to join”. Yoga is not only a union of body and mind, It is
also about the union of a person’s own consciousness with the
universal consciousness (being one with the universe!).
Yoga is associated with a healthy lifestyle with a balanced
approach to life. It brings stability to the body and the wavering
mind by improving our concentration, devotion and dedication.
Pranayama (being part of yoga practice) is the best exercises to
increase the capacity of lungs. Through meditation and
pranayama we can banish all our stress and lead a healthy life. It
can reduce stress, thereby lowering anxiety and inducing
relaxation.
Yoga helps to improve ourselves physically, mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. It improves and helps develop selfconfidence, dignity among ourselves and brings clarity of
thought.
The Concept of Ashtanga Yoga by Patanjali
Maharshi Patanjali, regarded as the father of yoga, was a sage in
India who is believed to have authored a number of Sanskrit
works, the most prominent of which is the Yoga Sutras, a
classical yoga text dating to 200 BCE – 200 CE. He created
the Yoga Sutras by compiling from complex and diverse Hindu
scriptures / teachings into a format easier to follow and
understand. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a collection of
aphorisms that outline the principles and practices of yoga,
including its ethical guidelines, meditation techniques, and
spiritual goals.
Ashtanga Yoga of Maharshi Patanjali is a classical work on
Yoga philosophy. The Yoga sutras of Sage Patanjali provide the
comprehensive understanding on the principles and practices of
the subject with its scientific background. The concept of
holistic health and wellbeing is achieved through Ashtanga
Yoga using its science, technique and philosophy.
Ashtanga Yoga or Sadhana Pada, the study of eight limbs of
yoga is an important tool for us to climb the ladder of the
highest step in Yogic path. The study of Asthanga Yoga will
enhance our ability in all the dimensions of our personality such
as physical, mental, emotional and moral levels in order to
culminate in the spiritual journey.
Let us discuss briefly on Asthanga or eight limbs of yoga
propounded by Maharshi Patanjali.
Yama
Are the restraint, moral discipline or moral vow.The fiveYamas are
- Ahimsa (non-harming or non-violence in thought, word and deed)
- Satya (truthfulness)
- Asteya (non-stealing)
- Brahmacharya (celibacy or ‘right use of energy’)
- Aparigraha (non-greed or non-hoarding)
Niyama
They are set of ‘positive duties’ or ‘observances’ of a
person. The five Niyamas are
- Saucha (cleanliness)
- Santosha (contentment)
- Tapas (discipline, austerity or ‘burning enthusiasm’)
- Svadhyaya (study of the self and of the texts)
- Isvara Pranidhana (surrender to a higher being, or contemplation of a higher power)
Asana
They are yoga or physical postures designed to purify the
body and provide physical stability, stamina, and strength.
Asanas include the dual qualities of alertness and
relaxation. More than flexibility of muscles and alignments,
they are about connecting physical steadiness to stillness
and happiness of mind.
Asanas involve increased awareness of various physical
and physiological processes influenced by controlled
stretching, contraction, relaxation, and coordination of
various muscles, and in balancing and maintenance of
posture.
At a deeper level, asana means full expression of mindbody integration, in which one becomes consciously aware
of the flow of life energy in the body. Performing asanas
with awareness is practice for performing every action in
life with awareness.
Pranayama
Pranayama is all about breathing practices; derived from
Sanskrit Prana (life) and Ayama (control). Therefore, it is
the regulation of flow of life-force energy. It is the science
of breathing.
We breathe every single minute. We take approximately
21, 600 breaths every day!
Breath is a bridge between our body, mind and spirit.
Changes in our mind affect our breathing and vice-versa.
Every emotion has a corresponding rhythm of the breath,
and the way we breathe can influence the way we feel.
Breathing is also a bridge between our sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems.
Practice of Pranayama helps us to harness the power of
breath for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Pratyahara
Pratyahara is “withdrawal of the senses.”
Pratyahara is the fifth of the eight stages of Ashtanga Yoga,
as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, written
in the 2nd century BCE. It is the process of detaching
oneself from sensory surroundings by turning the mind
inward and away from external stimuli.
This can only be achieved when the focus of the mind is
taken away from the numerous stimuli perceived by the
sensory organs. Instead, the attention of the mind is turned
inward. This allows the yogi to transcend the surroundings,
and begin the third stage of Ashtanga yoga – the one that
focuses on internal aspects.
Dharana
Dharana refers to concentration of the mind. In order to
focus on something, we must withdraw our senses so that
all attention is on that point of concentration. Dharana
involves fixing the mind on a particular object – either
external (such as an image or deity) or internal (such as a
chakra). Trataka (flame-in-lamp gazing), visualisation, and
focusing on the breath are all practices of dharana
Dhyana
Dhyana means contemplation, reflection, deep meditation,
uninterrupted flow of awareness.
In this stage the practitioner is focused inward, and only
on the singular object or name or idea.
Samadhi
Samadhi means putting together, joining, union, whole.
During Samadhi, oneness with the object of meditation is
achieved. In Samadhi, the meditator achieves a state of
bliss, liberation or enlightenment. The object of
meditation, the person who meditates and the act of
meditation become one. The meditator becomes so
absorbed in the meditation that the mind loses its sense of
identity and transcends dualities. Thus, oneness is
achieved.
This is the stage where we have completely withdrawn from
the outside world and connected with our inner world by
reaching a stage of total bliss. We are able to ‘see equally’
without external factors disturbing the mind, without
perceptions of likes or dislikes, without judgements and
without attaching ourselves to any particular object or
situation. When we achieve this, we are in a state of true
liberation. Samadhi is not a state that can be achieved easily.
It takes years, perhaps decades of practice and following a
yogic path before one can reach here. When the mind is
completely pure, we can truly stay in the state of Samadhi for
some time, then we attain a somewhat permanent state of
moksha or mukti, which is liberation.
