~ Yoga ~

[MysteRy]

Eight Limbs of Yoga

The art of right living and the foundations of yoga philosophy were written down in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, approximately 200 AD. Compiled by Maharishi Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight Limbs of Yoga are a progressive series of steps or disciplines that purifies the body and mind, ultimately leading the Yogi (one who practices Yoga) to enlightenment. While the physical part of yoga is certainly of significance, the eight conventional limbs of Yoga practice have meditation of God as their underlying principle. The practice of yoga is both an art and science, which creates unification of the body and mind with the spirit.

The main objective of Yoga is to help the practitioner cultivate an awareness of self. In other words, it is about making balance and creating calmness to live in peace, good health and harmony. Yoga describes the inner workings of the mind and provides eight steps to control its restlessness to enjoy the lasting peace. Each part ultimately brings completeness to the individual. They tend to find their connectivity to the divine. Being a different individual, a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another according to their understanding. These are the eight limbs of the system found in the famous Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Eight Limbs Of Yoga

Yama
It is known as Moral observances for interactions with others. Broken down into five wise characteristics, they tell us about our fundamental nature that of being compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful. It teaches the directives of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-covetousness)

Niyama
It is known as Moral observances for interactions with yourself. The word itself means rules that are prescribed for personal observance. The niyamas are far more than an attitude, and are more intimate and personal. The directive include Shaucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and repetitions of Mantras) and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship).

Asanas
It is the practice of physical postures and is the most commonly known aspect of yoga. The practice of moving the body into postures helps in improving health, strength, balance and flexibility. On a deeper level, the practice of asana, which means staying or abiding in Sanskrit, is used as a means to calm the mind and move into the inner essence of being.

Pranayama
It controls the energy, in order to restore and maintain health and to promote evolution. Pranayama is the measuring, control, and directing of the breath. It further provides perfect relaxation and balance of body activities are realized.

Pratyahara
In yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. It is most commonly known for sensory inhibition.

Dharana
Immovable concentration of the mind is the underlying principle of Dharana. The essential idea is to hold the concentration or focus of attention in one direction. The mind needs to be stilled in order to achieve this state of complete absorption.

Dhyana
Dhyana focuses on Meditation. It means worship, or profound and abstract religious meditation that involves concentration upon a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. The concept holds that when one focuses their mind in concentration on an object the mind is changed into the shape of the object.

Samadhi
It is the final step in the eight-fold path of Yoga. It means pleasurable fascination of one's individual consciousness in the essence of God. Samadhi means to bring together to merge. In this state, the body and senses are at rest, but the faculty of mind and reason are alert. You need to control the feelings of Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes), Abhinivesha (clinging to mundane life).

[MysteRy]

Yama

Yama can be taken to have different meanings, in different contexts. It may mean "to rein, curb, or bridle, discipline or restrain" In the present context, it is used to mean "self-control, forbearance, or any great rule or duty". Yama can also be interpreted as "attitude" or "behavior". Certainly a particular attitude can be expressed as discipline, which then influences our behavior. Patanjali's Yoga Sutra mentions five different Yama i.e. behavior patterns or relationships, between the individual and the outside world.

Ahimsa (Harmlessness)
The word 'ahimsa' literally means not to injure or show cruelty to any creature or any person, in any way whatsoever. Ahimsa is, however, more than just lack of violence, as adapted in yoga. It means kindness, friendliness, and thoughtful consideration of other people and things. It has to do with our duties and responsibilities too. It could even mean that we must fight if our life is in danger. Ahimsa implies that in every situation, we should adopt a considerate attitude.

Satya (Truthfulness)
Satya means "to speak the truth". However, it is not desirable to speak the truth on all occasions, for it could harm someone unnecessarily. We have to consider what we say, how we say it, and in what way it could affect others. If speaking the truth has negative consequences for another person, then it is better to say nothing. Satya should never come into conflict with our efforts to behave with ahimsa. The Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, says: "Speak the truth which is pleasant. Do not speak unpleasant truths. Do not lie, even if the lies are pleasing to the ear. That is the eternal law, the dharma." Please note that this yama does not mean speaking a lie. Keeping quiet and saying lies are two different things.

Asteya (Non-stealing)
Asteya is the third Yama in yoga. Though the word per se means "to steal", this behavioral pattern means exactly the opposite i.e. to take nothing that does not belong to you. It also means that if you are in a situation where someone entrusts you with something or confides in you, you should not take advantage of him or her. You are to refrain from taking that which is not yours by right of consciousness and karma.

Brahmacharya (Sense-control)
Brahmacharya is a movement toward the essential truth. It is used mostly in the sense of abstinence, particularly in relation to sexual activity. Brahmacharya suggests that we should form relationships that foster our understanding of the highest truths. If sensual pleasures are part of those relationships, we must take care that we keep our direction and do not get lost. We need to avoid relationships that make us deviate from finding the eternal truth. On the path of serious, constant search for truth, there are certain ways of controlling the perceptual senses and sexual desires. Brahmacharya does not necessarily imply celibacy. Rather, it means responsible behavior with respect to our goal of moving toward the truth.

Aparigraha (Neutralizing the desire to acquire and hoard wealth)
The last yama in yoga is known as aparigraha, a word that means something like "hands off" or "not seizing opportunity." Aparigraha means to take only what is necessary and not to take advantage of a situation or act greedily. We should only take what we have earned. If we take more, we are exploiting someone else. In addition, unearned rewards can bring with them obligations that might cause problems later on.

Yoga Sutra
The Yoga Sutra describes what happens when the five behaviors outlined above become a part of a person's daily life. For instance, if we become kind and considerate, our presence will create pleasant and friendly feelings in people around us. If we remain true to the idea of satya, everything we say will be truthful and we will become reliable. The Yoga Sutra also states that a person who is firmly anchored in asteya will receive all the jewels of this world. Such a person may not be interested in material wealth, but he or she will have access to the finest things in life.

The more we recognize and search for the meaning of the essential truth, the less we will be distracted by other things. Certainly, it requires great strength to take this path. The Yoga Sutra teaches that the more faith we have, the more energy we have. At the same time, we also have more strength to pursue our goals. So the more we seek the truth in the sense of brahmacharya, the more vitality we will have to do so.

Parigraha is the increasing orientation toward material things. If we reduce parigraha and develop aparigraha, we are orienting ourselves more inwardly. The less time we spend on our material possessions, the more we have to spend on investigating all that we call yoga. We will learn to enjoy what we have rather than constantly seeking things we don't have and never getting satisfied in life. It is a scientific fact that the more money and material possessions we have, the more stressful we become.

[MysteRy]

Niyama

Niyama is the second limb or constituent of Yoga, which means laws or rules. It contains the five internal practices of Niyama (observance). Niyama can be described as the rules that need to be observed by individuals, at the personal level. It can be divided into five directives - Sauca, Samtosa, Tapas, Svadhyaya and Isvarapranidhana. The niyamas are more intimate and personal, as compared to the yamas. They refer to the attitude that we adopt toward ourselves, as we create a code for living meaningfully. The practice of Niyama helps us maintain a positive environment and gives us the self-discipline and inner-strength necessary to progress along the path of yoga. Read on to explore more on the five niyamas of yoga.

Five Directives Of Niyama

Sauca
This is the first Niyama or rule of yoga and stands for cleanliness. However, in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, Sauca has a deeper meaning, with both inner and outer aspects of a person included in it. Outer cleanliness refers to personal hygiene, while inner cleanliness indicates maintenance of a healthy body and mind, with positive thinking. Cleanliness of mind is achieved by the removal of mental impurities, such as jealousy, pride, anger and so on. On the other hand, the purity of body is attained not only by cleaning one's body parts, but also by consuming nutritious foods and following a vegetarian diet.

Samtosa
This is the second rule of Niyama and stands for contentment. It also means accepting the truth 'as it is'. Yoga sutra teaches us that instead of grieving or complaining about the things that have gone wrong, we should accept the truth and learn from it. It aims at helping a person attain a state of calm and happiness, irrespective of what is going on in the outer world.

Tapas
'Tapas' means the strength of being unaffected by opposites, such as heat and cold, hunger and thirst, sitting and standing, etc. It also refers to the activity of keeping the body fit, or to confront and handle the inner urges without outer show. Tapas also signify cleansing the inner debris existing in the body, through asanas and pranayama. 'Tapas' deals with correct eating habits and breathing patterns. The main purpose of this rule is to make our mind pure and clean.

Svadhyaya
The fourth Niyama in yoga is Svadhyaya, which means becoming close to oneself, through meditation and self-exploration. The name itself explains the meaning - 'Sva' meaning self and adhyaya meaning 'inquiry' or 'examination'. It refers to knowing more and more about oneself, intentionally. This rule teaches us to give up destructive tendencies. It teaches us to be centered and non-reactive to the dualities, to burn out the unwanted and self-destructive tendencies.

Isvarapranidhana
Isvarapranidhana, the fifth rule of yoga, is also known as 'Celebration of the Spiritual'. The simple meaning of Isvarapranidhana is to lay all your actions at the feet of God. Yoga Sutra teaches us to accept the fact that we will not always get what we wish for, in life. We should only be concerned with putting all our efforts in a specific task. As to the end result, it should be left to God. This rule also instructs us to spend some time, each day, in recognition and realization of the omnipresent force (God), which is larger than us and is guiding and directing the path of our life at all times.

[MysteRy]

Yoga Asanas

Asanas can be described as the third one in the eight limbs of Yoga. Asana, which literally means staying or abiding, is basically a specific body position, attained by following certain steps. It is through asanas only that a human being achieves the unity of body and mind, which is the essence of yoga. Yogic asanas, commonly known as postures or posse in the west, are created for the purpose of improving the overall health and well-being of a person.

When a person is performing an asana, there is a corresponding balance between his movements and stillness. Patanjali, in his famous Yoga Sutra, says that each posture of yoga reflects a mental attitude, whether that attitude is one of surrender to the Almighty, strengthening of the will or creation of a physical prayer with the body. Through the performance and practice of different asanas, we revitalize as well as invigorate our body, mind and soul.

Types Of Asanas

Standing Asanas: The standing asanas bring elasticity in joints and muscles and build up stamina and physical stability of a person. The beginners should always start with standing asanas, as they constitute the most basic training of yoga practice.

Forward Bending Asanas: In this type of asanas, the posterior half of the body is stretched. Such asanas prepares you to proceed and bring consistency in the development of physical and mental pliability.

Sitting & Supine Asanas: The asanas that involve sitting upright or supine extending positions help in preparing a person, physically and mentally, for pranayama.

Inverted Asanas: These asanas give strength, mental balance and emotional stability to a person and also help him/her get rid of everyday stress and pressure.

Abdominal & Lumbar Asanas: Abdominal and lumbar asanas are known to tone and massage the abdominal organs and strengthen the pelvic and lumbar areas.

Twisting Asanas: Such type of asanas help tone the internal organs of a person and also tranquilize the mind. They consists of lateral stretching and twisting of the spine

Back Bending Asanas: These asanas are the opposite of forward bends. In forward bends, the posterior spine is extended, whereas in back bends, the anterior spine is extended and stretched. This, in turn, brings physical and mental sharpness.

Balancing Asanas: Balancing asanas are believed to help strengthen the arms and wrists of a person. They also exercise the abdominal organs, making the body feel light.


Benefits of Asanas

The main purpose of yoga asanas is to restore and maintain the practitioner's well-being, both spiritually and physically.

Regular practice of the asanas helps improve health, strength, balance and flexibility.

The asanas are used as a tool to calm the mind and help a human being discover his/her inner essence.

The different poses offer the practitioner the opportunity to explore and control all the aspects a person's mind and body - emotions, concentration, intent, faith and even the unity between physical and ethereal body.

The various asanas in yoga also provide us a way of exploring our mental attitudes and strengthening our will.

Yoga asanas help a person in creating a balance between his/her material world and spiritual experience.

The physical benefits from asanas include muscle flexibility and strengthening of almost all the body parts.

The asanas lead to a better functioning of respiratory system and also help control blood pressure.

and other issues related to the functioning of the circulatory system

Practicing yoga asanas on a regular basis reduces the stress levels as well as the health problems related to stress.

Apart from building the stamina of an individual, the various asanas also improve his/her concentration level.

All those who are trying to lose weight will find the various asanas of yoga to be quite helpful.

[MysteRy]

Pranayama

Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. It can be described as a breathing exercise that promotes proper breathing. The technique of Pranayama is used to measure, control and direct the breath of the practitioner. The aim behind the technique is to restore and maintain the health of a person and promote evolution. Pranayama controls the energy within us, teaches us the proper way to breathe. With the breathing technique, we increase the capacity of our lungs, bringing more oxygen supply to the body to function well. It is the science of breath control.

Pranayama is derived from the following words: Prana - "life force" or "life energy" Yama - "discipline" or "control" Ayama - "expansion", "non-restraint", or "extension" . It consists of series of exercises, especially projected to meet the body's needs and keep it in vibrant health. The deep and systematic breathing through Pranayama helps in reenergizing our body. However, Pranayama should be done only with proper preparation otherwise, it might result into nervous breakdowns. It is part of a process in Yoga and breath control is a spiritual practice of cleansing the mind and body. Therefore, it should be done appropriately and with proper guidance and preparation. 

The Four Stages Of Pranayama

Arambha: This is the initial stage wherein the person's interest in Pranayama is awakened

Ghata: This is the second stage where the three sariras gross, subtle and causal merges to cover the soul.

Parichay: The stage where the yogi gets familiar with the knowledge of Pranayama

Nispatti: The final stage of Pranayama allows the yogi goes beyond his physical body, and unites with the supreme

Breathing is an autonomic function of the body. The process is performed even without concentrating on it. It is a normal part of our life, though many at times we fail to pay attention to it. Here are some reasons why Pranayama is important:

Benefits of Pranayama

Pranayama prevents one from acquiring diseases by reducing the toxins and body wastes from our body.

It also plays a vital role in maintaining the digestive system and helps in one's digestion.

The proper way of breathing helps in improving one's metabolism and health condition.

Pranayama develops and improves the concentration level as well as focus.

It banishes stress and relaxes the body. It also gives tranquility, calmness and peace of mind because of controlling one's breathing.

Pranayama offers a better self-control that also involves control over one's physical body.

It improves the concentration thus, making it easy for an individual to handle temper and reactions.

It allows mind to function clearly, avoiding arguments and wrong decisions.

Last but not the least, Pranayama leads to spiritual journey through a relaxed body and mind.

[MysteRy]

Pratyahara

Pratyahara, which means withdrawal of the senses, is the fifth limb of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga. The etymology of Pratyahara states that it is derived from two Sanskrit words: prati and ahara, where prati means away or against and ahara meaning food, or anything taken into ourselves. So, Pratyahara literally means "to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses." In yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from getting attached to external objects. Pratyahara is the stage at which an expert learns how to control the "tentacles" of consciousness, which are known as indriyas in Sanskrit. Once through this stage, the person is able to see in subtle and the subtlest layers of multidimensional space, and to exit of his material body into them and to settle in them, accustoming himself to their subtlety, gentleness and purity.

Types of Pratyahara
There are two types of Pratyahara - Indriya Pratyahara and Prana Pratyahara; these two further lead to two subsequent types of Pratyahara - Karma Pratyahara and Mano Pratyahara.

Indriya Pratyahara implies Withdrawal Of Senses, or sensory inputs into out physical being. Since five senses create sensory overload, Indriya Pratyahara thwarts the collection in the mind.

Prana Pratyahara suggests Withdrawal Of Prana (vital energy of the body), as prana is what that drives the senses. To stop the dispersion of prana, we are required to control its flow and harmonize it.

Karma Pratyahara implies Control Of Action, which actually entails not just control of motor organs, but also right action or work.

This finally leads to Mano Pratyahara which suggests the Withdrawal of Mind. It is consciously practiced by withdrawing attention from anything that is unpleasant, and distracting for the mind, such as, by withdrawing attention from the senses, and directing it inwards.

Practices In Pratyahara
Pranayama is one of the most common practices for Pratyahara. While doing Paranayama, the person withdraws from the external on its own, and brings his focus inwards towards his breath. His connection with the external senses and stimuli get detached steadily. Besides Pranayama, another practice is to concentrate on Ajna Chakra or the third eye - the point between the eyebrows.

Another common technique to facilitate the development of Pratyahara is to first reduce physical stimuli, and then concentrate on one sense, say hearing. It's natural tendency of the mind to roam between the sensory inputs. In this situation, when there are no longer major sensory inputs, and the mind gets tired of hearing, it is compelled to turn inward. In the advanced stages, the electrical currents, which pulsate through the nerves and even the reflex muscles, are turned off by the practitioners. This may be achieved through Pranayama.

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Dharana

Dharana is the sixth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. The word 'Dharana' simply means 'unbending concentration of mind'. Working with complete focus and concentration is something that satisfies every individual at the maximum. Each of us, feel a sense of frustration, when we are not able to focus. The inability to focus may be because our minds were racing with ideas, judgments, worries, songs, or even memories. The main idea underlying Dharana, is the ability to focus on something (uninterrupted both by external or internal distractions).

Dharana is a form of meditation that can be called receptive concentration. With the help of Dharana, a set of conditions are created that helps the mind focus in one direction and object, rather than concentrating in many directions, thereby diverting the mind. The term 'Dharana' is given to both the practice of deep concentration and the state in which you achieve deep concentration. Ideally, 'Dharana' should be performed at every moment of the day to gain utmost control of both body and mind.

Benefits Of Dharana
Dharana aims at setting up the mind, by focusing it upon some stable entity. One good method to start it is by rolling the eyes upward and downward, in one direction to get the concentration. Any object selected for practicing has no role to play in the meditation process. The object is only used to stop the mind from wandering - through memories, dreams, or reflective thought - by intentionally holding it obsessively upon some static object. This ability is a movement toward perception of its true nature and not an escape from reality.

Dharana helps in channeling one's thoughts on a certain thing. It makes sure that you reach a level of awareness in anything you do, by focusing on every step you take. Dharana can bring richness to one's life. With the help of deep contemplation and reflection, one can create the right conditions. Dharana works with the objective to achieve the mental state, where the mind, intellect, and ego are controlled. The mind becomes purified by the practices. It becomes able to focus efficiently on one subject or point of experience. Dharana also helps in the cessation of fluctuations in the mind.

The practice of Dharana, at the time, when you are struggling with anger, restlessness or expectation would help in balancing those struggles. Dharana is the practice of training the mind, to concentrate and focus, in such a way, that we can possibly avoid frustrations. Concentrating our attention on one point allows the mind to be stable and calms the disturbance of activity, to which we are used to. The point of concentration can be anywhere within our body or outside. Therefore, maintaining a fixed and focused concentration, throughout the practice, gives consistency and clarity to the thoughts.

[MysteRy]

Dhyana

Dhyana Yoga forms the seventh constituent or limb of the ancient science of Yoga. It is derived from the Sanskrit root "dhyai" which means, "to think of". The literal meaning of Dhyana is Meditation. It concentrates upon a point of focus, with the intention of knowing the truth about it and is the thought and meditation of spiritual things. While practicing Dhyana Yoga, we meditate on a single flow of idea. The purpose is to withdraw all senses from various objects of interest. The focus is laid upon on one object.

Dhyana Yoga produces a state of tranquility. Its objective is to cleanse the subconscious, develop concentration, clear the mind, and bring about various stages of unified communion with God. Practising Dhyana Yoga allows the person to calm his mind and allow him/her to look at the outside world without any distractions. This enables him/her to reach a heightened level of awareness. Meditation, consciousness, and experience, are all but a single unity. There are different forms of Dhyana Yoga and it is very important to remember the three things given below.

One-pointedness of mind is the first thing, that means controlling its movements.

Secondly, setting bounds to one's life to help achieve this, this means doing actions after weighing and measuring them.

The third thing is the evenness of vision or state of level-headedness, which means having the nobility and decency to think in terms of the whole world.

Benefits Of Dhyana

Dhyana Yoga is a system that, in the form of meditation, tranquilizes the body and mind.

In the process of meditation, we calm the mind that leads to the realignment our inner self to the right path.

Meditation leads to have lesser thoughts that give rise to lesser worries, which in turn results in spending a simple life.

It enables us to contemplate on important things that we are connecting with the inner self.

It also cut shorts too many distractions from our life.

The mind becomes so occupied with a particular subject that it concentrates deeply in the object to find the underlying differences, making a connection of the mind to a particular object.

While practicing Dhyana, the consciousness of the practitioner flows in the subject and helps in becoming one with the same. The mind is totally observed in the point of focus while concentrating on the same.

On physical level, Dhyana Yoga helps each cell in the body to refresh and regenerate itself.

It also facilitates digestion and makes respiration more efficient as well as improves circulation and quality of blood.

Moreover, it improves your ability to analyze your emotions objectively, and the way you react in certain situation.

[MysteRy]

Samadhi

Samadhi is a physical and mental state of body which denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation, or dhyana. Hindu and Buddhist scriptures consider Samadhi a precursor for enlightenment. It is part of Ashtanga Yoga. When one becomes absorbed in it, personal identity vanishes. In the moment of Samadhi nothing mundane exists.

Total Independence
Literal meaning of Samadhi is 'to bring together, to merge.' When in Samadhi, we are assimilated with the object of our choice. We blend and become one with it. It becomes an identity without differences, and a liberated soul enjoys pure awareness of this pure identity. The final stage of Samadhi terminates at the instance the soul is freed. The absolute and eternal freedom of an isolated soul is beyond all stages. It is beyond the boundaries of time and place. Once freed, the soul does not return to bondage. It is free for ever.

Union with Object of Contemplation
Samadhi refers to the union with the object of contemplation. Here, the centre of the meditation and the meditator become one. It is like the union of function and structure. The polarity of viewer and viewed becomes irrelevant. Difference between self and non-self becomes undistinguished. The object being contemplated and the process of contemplation cannot be segregated now.

Stages of Samadhi
A Samadhi is of several stages, leaning on whether one is uniformed with the object while yet conscious of it. It is important whether one has transcended the object of meditation and is resting in the experience of being independent. It is seen whether one is associated with any aspect of consciousness. This is important in deciding the state of meditation one is in.

Power of Concentration
One has to gather the art of concentration to do a Samadhi, for the latter is just not possible without the former. A person cannot just simply sit down and say that he is going to do a Samadhi. It is not something to flaunt in that way. All the person can do is to create the right conditions to help bring about the state of meditation. He must try and get his mind free of all worldly attachments and concentrate on that omnipotent, omnipresent power.

Let Your Mind Settle
Without gaining top-notch concentration, meditation is just not possible. You must allow things that are going on in the mind to settle so that it becomes quiet. If the mind is too busy responding to external stimuli, it would not be possible for it to enter the state of meditation. If your mind is not ready for meditation and you force it, that could be detrimental.

Doing Asanas
Yoga Sutra suggests various asanas (postures) which help one to prepare for Samadhi. These asanas influence mental activities and create space in the crowded schedule of the mind. These asanas create the atmosphere required for meditation. And the Samadhi is just a step ahead of the state of meditation.

[MysteRy]

Yoga Types

Yoga is considered the essence of a healthy life. A person practising Yoga on a regular basis not only ensures a healthy lifestyle, but also attains the much desired peace of mind. It is the greatest stress-buster and a remedy for curing a number of chronic ailments. Yoga is broadly divided into eight types. Most of them involve the use of different poses (Asanas), meditation and breathing exercises (Pranayams). In this section, we have discussed the eight prominent types of yoga, their technique and their benefits on the health of the practitioner.

Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga emphasizes on the love and devotion to the Almighty. The individual performing this type of Yoga concentrates on the existence of Almighty. He/she learns to show love, compassion to the creatures co-existing with him/her, apart from keenly worshipping the Lord. Bhakti Yoga can be practiced in a number of ways, such as praising the God by singing, chanting slogans, reading religious books, listening to prayers and by watching religious movies.

Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga was founded by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century in India. This type of Yoga is all about the combination of two extremes - 'ha' (the Sun, regarded as the positive current) and 'tha' (the Moon, regarded as the negative current). It involves the performance of physical postures (Asanas), breathing exercises (Pranayams), meditation, mudras and purification procedures known as 'Shatkriyas'.

Jnana Yoga
The Yoga of true knowledge, Jnana Yoga aims to detach the person performing it, from all the temporary things of the life. The person doing it attains tranquility, control over his/her mind, sense, faith, ability for concentration and the endurance to withstand the play of opposites by Mother Nature. By practising Jnana Yoga, the individual stays single-minded in all situations and attains self-control.

Karma Yoga
As the name suggests, Karma Yoga is the dedication of all the actions (karma) and their fruits to the Almighty. This type of Yoga purifies one's heart, and helps attain the knowledge of one's own self. The aim of a Karma Yogic (one, who performs Karma Yoga) is to provide selfless service to the poor and the needy, without expecting money, fame, power, respect and honor in return of the service.

Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga aims at drawing the untapped energy (Kundalini), coiled at the base of the spine, by using a set of technique that uses the person's mind, senses and body. Apart from the physical postures (Asanas), the person performs meditation, chants mantras in order to awaken each of the seven chakras of the body. The Asanas are coordinated with the hold of breath control.

Mantra Yoga
Mantra Yoga, as the name suggests, makes use of mantras to attain a peace of mind and increase the concentration power. The mantras are chanted by the person in a thoughtful way, in order to attain certain goals. Mantra Yoga helps eliminate a number of disorders, including psychosomatic ailments and the problems of anxiety, stress and tension. It boosts the person's self-confidence as well.

Purna Yoga
Known as integral Yoga, Purna Yoga offers wisdom and techniques for the unison of the body, mind and soul. It emphasizes the Karma of your everyday life. It involves meditation, pranayams and the performance of alignment-based Asanas. Purna Yoga is an improvisation of the traditional systems of Yoga.

Raj Yoga
Raj Yoga is the best way for the complete and holistic healing of one's mind and soul. This type of Yoga helps a person to alleviates himself/herself from the emotional and mental conflicts. Also called Astanga or eight-limbed Yoga, Raj Yoga helps the person to be in harmony with the co-existing creatures and the environment.

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Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga, as the name suggests, is the spiritual practice of loving devotion or 'Bhakti' to the Almighty. It lays emphasis on the love and devotion of a devotee to the God. Highly religious though, Bhakti Yoga should be adopted by every human being, living in this world of infidelity and rage, because it helps one to develop a positive attitude towards life. An individual performing this Yoga concentrates on the existence of the Almighty. It develops the peace of mind of the person. With a peaceful mind, it becomes possible for the person to live contented. He/she expresses the emotion of compassion and love for the other creatures co-existing with him/her. Hence, Bhakti yoga is beneficial to lead a healthy and peaceful life.

There are no fixed ways to perform Bhakti Yoga. It varies from person to person. It involves anything that talks about God. Some may resort to religious books, religious movies that emphasize the power and existence of God. Others may simply chant the name of the Almighty and think about the God all through the day. Singing prayers is another way to practice this Yoga. Meditation also finds place in Bhakti Yoga. In order to surrender themselves to the God and thus develop a close relationship with Him, some people go on pilgrimage, which is another way to perform Bhakti yoga.

The beauty of Bhakti Yoga lies in its simplicity. There is no need to master any particular technique, which has made Bhakti yoga as one of the most appealing types of Yoga. While practicing this type of Yoga, the individual seems to do the things positively. Moreover, whatever an individual does, while practicing Bhakti Yoga, proves beneficial for him/her or the people around him/her, in the long run. When he/she resorts to Bhakti Yoga, the environment is charged with pure energy. Since, Bhakti Yoga has appealed to many people. It gives them the confidence that the Almighty will always be there to protect them, when they face any kind of adversity in life.

An important thing to consider, when a person is interested in following the path of Bhakti Yoga, is that he/she should be emotionally bonded with the object of the faith in the Almighty. In most of the cases, people suppress their emotions, which often reflect in the form of physical and mental ailments. Bhakti yoga is beneficial for them, who want to release their suppressed emotions. Moreover, Bhakti Yoga brings the purification of inner self. People practicing this type of Yoga are able to enhance the quality of their life. It banishes all the unpleasant emotions of hatred, lust, anger, greed and purifies the heart with the only thought of love and devotion to the God.

[MysteRy]

Hatha Yoga

Introduced by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century in India, Hatha Yoga is one of the prominent types of Yoga. Hatha Yoga is the origin of many other styles of Yoga, including Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. The word 'hatha', derived from Sanskrit, means the combination of the opposites - ha (meaning Sun) and tha (meaning Moon). It unites the positive (Sun) and negative (Moon) currents in the system. It is mainly concentrated on the third (Asana) and fourth (Pranayams) in the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It aims to attain a balance between the body and mind, through the physical postures of Asanas, purification procedures (Shatkriyas), poses (Mudras), yogic breathing (Pranayams) and meditation. It also aims to pacify the mind through relaxation and meditation techniques.

During Hatha Yoga, Asanas are performed to improve the overall health. The regular practice of Asanas grants the practitioner with the improvement in his/her overall health. The postures make the body feel relaxed for long time after they are performed. The muscle flexibility and bone strength are improved, by performing Asanas. Apart from the physical postures, Pranayams also form an important part of Hatha Yoga. Yogis in the ancient times believed that the control to one's mind could be unlocked by controlling one's breath. Hence, the practice of Hatha Yoga can help you identify your hidden physical and mental strengths. Meditation is another part of Hatha Yoga, which rewards the practitioner with some non-physical benefits such as the increase in his/her concentration power.

By the regular practice of Hatha Yoga, one can ensure overall physical and mental health. The branch of Yoga helps the person to reduce the risk of various kinds of physical and mental ailments. The individual tends to feel more relaxed during stressful situations, after performing Hatha Yoga. Apart from toning the internal organs, the physical postures of Hatha Yoga help prevent diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. Muscular-skeletal problems such as scoliosis can be prevented by doing Hatha Yoga. The physical postures also improve blood circulation, immune system and stimulate endocrine glands. On the other hand, Pranayams help prevent breathing problems like asthma and bronchitis.

Hatha yoga is beneficial for people of all ages. Children, adults and elderly people can enjoy the benefits of Hatha Yoga, alike. The Asanas and Pranayams are gentle, but highly effective forms of exercises. Patience, calmness and determination can help you garner the benefits of Hatha Yoga, effectively. It is the best bet to lead a life free of anxiety, stress and tension. If you are in search of inner-enlightenment, Hatha Yoga is the answer for you. The relaxation exercises will help in opening up the energy channels, thereby allowing the free flow of spiritual energy within you.

[MysteRy]

Jnana Yoga

Jnana Yoga is the Yoga of true knowledge, which incessantly strives to know and understand the difference between the real and unreal, the permanent and the temporary. The holistic path of Jnana Yoga was described as a straight, but steep course, by Sadananad in his Vedanta-Sara, a 15th century text. Jnana Yoga preaches that there are four means of salvation. According to Jnana Yoga, the person should be able to detach himself/herself from everything that is temporary, after following the holistic path. It also aims to attain tranquility, the control of the mind and the senses, endurance, faith and the ability for perfect concentration.

It is a popular belief that Jnana Yoga is based on the Hindu philosophy of nondualism. Contrary to the assumption, the holistic path of Yoga also finds its place in many branches of Buddhism, including Zen, Islamic Sufism and some branches of Christianity that follow the Gospel of Thomas. Jnana Yoga emphasizes on the use of mind to surpass or discern the mind. It aims to explore knowledge. There are the Eight Limbs of Yoga in Jnana Yoga. The person, who follows this holistic path, attains self-discipline, hears the truth and reflects upon it. There is an urge in the person to attain freedom from whatever is temporary.

The 'liberation' is attainted through knowledge, rather than following rituals and ceremonies. However, not everyone is knowledgeable. Knowledge is limited to the special few people, who are prepared for sound examination and clear judgment of the nature of consciousness. This knowledge is attained only if the person goes through conclusions of the seers by reading scriptures, accumulated through millions of years. The knowledge, thus accumulated, is examined by the individual in the light of his own intelligence and then comes to his own realization. After going through this rigorous process of Jnana Yoga, the person seeking the knowledge ultimately gains insight, the ability to discriminate what is true, and what is untrue.

The benefits of Jnana Yoga are manifold. The person, who follows this holistic path of Jnana Yoga, attains tranquility, which is the art of remaining calm even in the face of adversity. Self-control in one's own self is attained by following Jnana Yoga. Another benefit of following this holistic path is cessation, or keeping one's self abstained from the actions that are irrelevant to the maintenance of the body and the pursuit of inner-enlightenment. After a significant period, the person even attains endurance. He/she is remains unruffled by the play of the opposites in Nature, such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain, praise and censure. Apart from this, the person remains single-minded in all the situations. He/she also becomes able to increase his/her concentration power.

[MysteRy]

Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga is the consecration of all the actions and their outcomes to the Almighty. Known as the Yoga of action, Karma Yoga purifies the heart, for the reception of the Divine Light and attainment of the knowledge of one's own self. The ultimate aim of Karma Yoga is to provide selfless service to humanity, without any ego. People performing Karma Yoga serve the needy, without urging to bear fruit for all their actions. It is one of the most popular types of Yoga, which cannot be done without dedication, determination and altruism.

Karma takes the shape of Karma Yoga, when the practitioner acts as an instrument in the hands of the Almighty, as a participant in the cosmic activity of Nature and does the service without the expectation of fruits. The person then believes that he/she is only the instrument and that the Lord is working unselfishly, through him/her. He/she surrenders all the actions and their fruits to the Lord. He/she attains the knowledge of the Self. Ultimately, the person is released from the bonds of Karma.

A person aspiring to follow the divine path of Karma Yoga doesn't have to possess materialistic wealth. All the person needs is a peaceful mind, body and a selfless attitude, to serve humanity. The person following the path of Karma Yoga, known as Karma Yogi, should be free from lust, greed, egoism and anger. His/her heart should be filled with the thought of serving the poor and the helpless people, selflessly. Even if the person has any traces of these 'doshas', he/she should try to eliminate them immediately. In addition, he/she should not desire for name, fame or money in return of the service.

A jealous person can never be a Karma Yogi. He/she should be humble, free from meanness, miserliness, harshness, hatred and jealousy. He/she should be a soft-spoken person and should never use any harsh words. The person, who expects respect and honor from others, cannot serve people selflessly. Moreover, a Karma Yogi should be fearless. He/she should be amiable and social. He/she should never differentiate people in terms of their caste, creed, color and gender. The Karma Yogi should have the feeling of love, compassion and mercy and should have perfect adaptability and tolerance.

Karma Yoga purifies the heart. It releases the Karma Yogi from the ties of the kindred and indulges him/her into activities of selfless social service. Bad qualities of egoism, jealously, superiority and hatred are completely removed from the mind of the person, when he/she follows the path of Karma Yoga. The person gets a broad outlook on life. He/she attains the knowledge of the Self and realizes the concept of 'one in all' and 'all in one'.

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Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is an ancient form of Yoga, which creates a communication between the mind and the body by making use of a set of technique that involve the mind, senses and body. In Sanskrit, the word 'kundalini' literally means 'something that is coiled'. The life force, lying dormant in the seven chakras in the body, is regarded as a coiled up serpent and Kundalini is the untapped energy (prana), 'coiled' at the base of the spine that can be drawn up through the body, by awakening each of the seven chakras.

Kundalini Yoga focuses on the practitioner's psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation. The enlightenment of the seven chakras of the body occurs, when the untapped energy (Kundalini) reaches the Crown Chakra. The type of Yoga is often represented as a snake, coiled at the base of the spine. Hence, the role of spine and the endocrine system are given special consideration by this type of Yoga. Kundalini Yoga also pays special attention to the breath and the movement of the person performing it.

Kundalini Yoga consists of Asanas that are performed in conjunction with a specific breath, which intensifies the effects of the particular poses. The purpose of such a control of breath is to freed the energy in the lower part of the body and allow it to move freely, in the upward direction within the body. The sequences of Kundalini, known as kriyas, consist of repetitive movements, done by holding a pose, while breathing in a specific way. The entire thing is done in a rapid pace, so that the person gets the full benefit of Kundalini Yoga.

Apart from the kriyas, Kundalini Yoga also involves the performance of meditation as well as the chanting of mantras. Pranayams and mudras are also done, while performing the Kundalini Yoga. All these focus on a specific area of the body. Since all theses are included in it, Kundalini Yoga is considered physically intense. According to the Yoga gurus, the stretching exercises included in Kundalini Yoga are not merely gymnastic exercises. In fact, the bodily postures, expressive movements and utterances are beneficial for the health in a number of ways. Apart from increasing the breath control, it aids in improving the concentration of the practitioner.

Kundalini Yoga is sometimes referred to as 'the yoga of awareness'. This is because the different methods of breath control, the chanting of mantras, mental focus and various types of Asanas (typically with cross-legged position, with the spine positioned straight) together awaken the Kundalini within the body. By doing Kundalini Yoga, the infinite potential energy in the body is raises, with stimulates the higher centers, thereby giving the practitioner the enhanced intuition and mental clarity.