Understanding Yoga

Yoga is understood to be both a process and a goal, a means and an end. The process is consistent and intentional utilisation of a set of formal and informal practices; the goal is attainment, of which the description varies. Yoga is a state of mind which is an end in itself.

The Origins of Yoga

Yoga has its origins in the ancient Vedas, scriptures sacred to all Hindus. The Vedas were passed down orally in story and song for many centuries and were first recorded between 1000 and 3000 BC. In the first half of each of the Vedas, ancient sages (rishis) express instruction in rituals and rules of conduct.

In the last half of each of the Vedas (which are collectively called The Upanishads) these sages express philosophical insights gained by their experiences of superconcious states, and offer encouragements to help readers achieve these insights through direct experience.

In the Vedas, Yoga is one of six equally valid systems described as paths to that experience. Later, The Bhagavad Gita, meaning "Song of God", was passed along and set down in writing to further help people understand and practice yoga. It is a section of the sacred epic scripture, The Mahabharata. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna, as an incarnation of God, describes how one can carry on rightly in life. Krishna describes some of the paths in yoga which help one to achieve self-realisation.

These paths include jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, karma yoga and raja yoga. Many versions of Bhagavad Gita are available, translated from the Sanskirt with commentaries by the teachers of various yoga traditions. Philosophical and practical approaches can vary widely depending on the translator's lineage and training.

Yoga Teachings

The wealth of teachings expounded as yoga can range from a specialised secular framework to a highly ritualised religious structure. Although yoga and Hinduism share common roots, people who practice yoga are necessarily Hindu, and Hindus do not necesarily practice yoga. Hinduism, according to Houston Smith, is unique among most religions by holding that other religions "are alternate and relatively equal paths to the same God". However, it also stated by other authorities that yoga is not wedded to any specific religious tradition, whereas other believe that yoga neither accepts nor rejetcs God. Yoga has been interpreted as being theistic, and it is certainly similar to religion in that it is based on ethical precepts, codes of behaviour and established rituals and practices.

Raja Yoga

The Yoga Sutras us another text translated and interpreted by a wide variety of yoga teachers. They were compiled at some time between the third century B.C. and the fifth century A.D. by a man named Patanjali. Raja yoga is the study and practical application of the Yoga Sutras. The name was bestowed by Swami Vivekananda, a prolific writer who expounded on the "paths" og yoga, of which there are six (raja yoga, karma yoga, hatha yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga and japa yoga).

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali consists of four chapters which serve as a guide for exploration of the nature of the mind. The first chapter describes the goal of yoga (direct experience of true essence). Patanjali defines practice and non-attachment as two elements essential for achieving the experience of unity. He says that practice is persistence in making consistent efforts toward steadiness of the mind. Maintained over time with trust in the goal; non-attachment is an acceptance of how things are in each moment. It is neither resignation nor disinterest; rather, it is an active effort toward non-judgement and flexibility of the mind. The rest of the chapter focuses on the nature of samadi: the culmination of meditation. Samadhi is a complete absorption into the superconcious state of oneness with all that is.

Kriva Yoga

This consists of accepting pain as a purification, studying spiritual texts, and surrendering completely to Divine Will. Krive Yoga is the name Paramahansa Yogananda chose to describe the set of practices he developed for his followers. Each of these concepts takes a lifetime of applying them.

Ashtanga Yoga

These eight sequential building blocks mean "eight limbs". Ashtanga Yoga is the name Pathabi Jois uses for his teaching approach. These limbs are the cornerstones of raja yoga. They begin at athical precepts (yama, niyama), move from physical practices (hatha, pranayama) to more inner-directed practices (pratyhara, dhyana) and finally number eight absorption (samadhi).

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is compromised of postures (asanas) and breath control (pranayama). "Ha" means sun and "tha" means moon, therefore hatha yoga means balancing opposites. Hatha balances movement and stillness, activity and rest. It balances forward bends with backward bends, standing poses with inverted poses, and inhalation with exhalation. Hatha is designed for relaxing and releasing deep body tension. It brings balance to the nervous system, and stimulates the internal organ functions. Breathing evenly, without strain, is one of the most important aspects of hatha yoga, both with stretching and with holding poses.

Benefits & Practices of Hatha Yoga

• Exercise tolerance improves menting glucose metabolism
• Muscles gain strength and become more resilient
• Flexibility and joint range of motion increase
• Bones become stronger along with the structural integrity of joints
• Circulation and respiration are more efficient enhancing blood oxygenation
• Healthy lipid and cholesterol metabolism are achieved
• Sensitivity to insulin improves augmenting glucose metabolism
• Normal bowel function results in regular elimination
• Replacement of red and white blood cells occurs, stimulating the immune system
• Reproductive organs and secual function improve
• Emotions become balanced, a sense of equipoise is experienced
• Intellectual performance sharpens, increasing concentration

Pranayama Yoga

Pranayama means control of the prana. Prana is the life force, a subtle energy believed to be composed of waves and particles. It is called chi, ki or qi energy in the Orient. The breath, as the vehicle of prana, bridges the physical and the invisible realms. For this reason, it is of profound importance during hatha yoga. Breathing practices are also used by themselves or prior to meditation. They help control the mind. Yoga breathing practices increase tidal volume and vital capacity and have been found useful for asthmatics.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana yoga is the path of yoga which actively uses the mind to get beyond the mind. Some people recognise traces of jnana yoga philosophy in humanistic psychology and psycohosynthesis. The jnana yogi directs the intellect toward the big questions: Who am I? What is life? What is reality? What is permanent and inchanging?. Jnana means wisdom. By focusing the mind on the nature of the mind, the nature of nature, and the nature of reality, one can achieve highest knowledge. The yoga sutras recommend use of viveka or discriminative discernment to remove ignorance and to provide understanding of the truth of universal oneness. Viveka means distinguishing what is real, permanent, and everlasting from what is temporary, transitory and changing.

Japa Yoga

Japa yoga is "communion with God through the repetition of God's name" according to Swami Satchidananda. He says that a mantra is a golden cord between the chanter and the cosmic force, which links a part of the mind to God until, finally, the mind is absorbed and communion wtih God is experienced.