Simply Put, yoga is a system to help strengthen and support ALL areas of your life, physical, social, familial, mental and spiritual.
Yoga is a branch of Indian philosophy dating back to 2800BCE.
The meaning of yoga is to “yoke” or “union” representing the union of the individual with the universal consciousness. Also, it is a union of the body with the spiritual mind.
There are several ancient text on yoga, which can indulge you in ancient words to the wisdom of life.
The Vendanta : A complex body of verses, aphorisms and other writings of the wisdom of yoga collectively known as Vendanta.
The Bhagavad Gita : “Song of the Blessed One” A part of the epic poem Mahabharata, a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna.
The Upanishads : 3000 years old. The word itself represents how a student learns from a master, literally “to sit down next to.” a writing of 200 texts believed to contain the ultimate truth. A mostly metaphysical writing rather than practical.
The Hathayoga Pradipika : A 14th century manuscript “Light on Yoga” Unites the physical practice with the spiritual alms of Raja yoga.
The Gheranda Samhita : 17th century, describes 30+ postures,21 cleansing techniques, 25 “seals” mudras, and eating guidelines.
The Goraksha Paddhati : 202 verses which describe the six-step path for yogis to follow.
The most influencial text on yoga however, is “The yoga sutras of Patanjali”(Sutra= to thread). Though little is known about Patanjali, there are over 195 aphorisms about the process of life, nuggets of wisdom for the seeking mind. It also describes the “eight steps”or “limbs” of yoga.
These eight limbs of yoga are observed within all five ”paths” of yoga.
The eight limbs are:
1. Yamas; the matter of social conduct
2. Niyamas; the matter of individual conduct.
3. Pranayama; breath
5. Pratyahara; withdrawal of senses.
6. Dharana; concentration.
7. Dhyana; meditation.
8. Samadhi; the superconscious/self realization.
These are the ingredients one utilizes when practicing one or all of the
six main paths of yoga.
1. Jnana yoga; the path of knowledge, study and meditation.
2. Bhakti yoga; the path of devotion to a diety in which one chooses to be as.
3. Karma; the path of selfless acts. A life of giving for the sake of giving. It is the motive of the giver that brings a state of yoga, rather than the magnitude.
4. Mantra yoga; the path of sacred sounds, chanting, mantras and vibration to raise consciousness.
5. Hatha yoga; the path of physical control in order to meditate on the processes of life and obtain samadhi. This path of yoga is the practice known mostly to those in the states.
6. Raja yoga; The “royal path” of yoga which is the combining of all paths with all eight limbs of yoga philosophy.
