What is Yoga?
Yoga is a science of health and spirituality that originated
many thousands of years ago in India. The ancient yogis sought
to harmonize the body, mind and soul in an effort to achieve
health, long life, and ultimately, enlightenment. Thus, the
Sanskrit word yoga means union with or to join. This union with
the divine is achieved through the disciplined practice of
specific exercises, meditation and breath work.
Yoga is essentially a lifestyle, dealing with all the aspects of
our being. The physical postures, or asanas that are widely
perceived as yoga, are just one aspect of a very profound
science of life. The Eight Limbs of Yoga, articulated by C.E.
Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra, describe the eight aspects of a
yogic lifestyle. These aspects guide the yogi on a path
self-development to harmonize the body, mind and spirit and
attain enlightenment.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The first limb, yama, focuses on one's behavior in the world and
attitude towards those around him or her. The five yamas are:
ahimsa or nonviolence, satya or truthfulness, asteya or
non-stealing, bramacharya or non-lust, aparigraha or
non-possessiveness.
The second limb, niyama, refers to one's behavior and attitude
towards oneself. There are five niyamas: sauca or cleanliness,
santosha or contentment, tapas or austerity, svadhyaya or study
of the sacred text and of oneself, and isvarapranidhama or
living with an awareness of the divine.
Asanas or physical poses are the third limb. Asanas are designed
to bring strength, vitality and relaxation to every bodily
system.
Pranayama, or breathing exercises, encompass the fourth limb.
Through disciplined regulation of the breath--the duration of
inhalation, retention and exhalation, one strengthens and
cleanses the nervous system. The result is increased life-force
and a calmer mind.
The fifth limb is prathayara or withdrawal of the senses. One's
focus goes inward, losing awareness of what is going on outside
of oneself.
Dharana, or concentration is the sixth limb. One trains the mind
to focus without distractions.
Dhyana, or meditation is the seventh limb. In meditation one
practices constant observation of the mind, stilling the mind in
order to heighten one's awareness and oneness with the universe.
The final limb, the ultimate goal of yoga, is samadhi or
enlightenment. It is the achievement of oneness with the
universe in which one experiences a state of peace, utter
contentment and completion.
Yoga as it was designed and practices by the ancient yogis
encompasses all these aspects of the self and of life. It is a
spiritual path and a lifestyle meant to lead the student towards
health, self-knowledge, and union with the divine.
The ancient yogis sought to harmonize the body, mind and soul in
an effort to achieve health, long life, and ultimately,
enlightenment. Visit WayofYoga.com to find out how you too can
do the same.
Yoga is a
lifestyle choice and health decision
http://www.wayofyoga.com
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