What is Yoga?
It is often suggested that yoga originated in India circa 2000 BCE.
Definition of Yoga:
Yoga is a generic word (such as health, fitness) and means union (from the root Sanskrit verb: Yug ~ to join). It is often interpreted as the union of mind, body and soul, and can provide perfect harmony and balance.
Forms of Yoga
Raja Yoga
The Royal path is broken into eight steps which are:
- Yama (with 5 abstinences: ahimasa - non harming; satya - truthfulness; asteya - non-stealing; brahmacharya - moderating the senses; aparigraha - non possessiveness)
- Nyama (with 5 observances: shaucha ~ self-purification; santosha ~ contentment; tapas ~ self-discipline; svadhyaya ~ self-study; ishwara pranidhana ~ self-surrender)
- asana (seated posture ~ usually translated as posture)
- Pranayama (the practice of breath awareness)
- Pratyahara (the practice of withdrawal of the senses)
- Dharana (the practice of concentration)
- Dhyana (effortless meditation)
- Samadhi (enlightenment)
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is generally interpreted as the yoga of (physical) action and is practiced in most western classes. Swami Vishnudevananda and BKS Iyengar are partly responsible for bringing yoga to this side of the world. Hatha yoga is a form of Raja yoga and usually Hatha yoga consist of the following elements:
~kriyas (neti ~ nasal cleaning; nauli ~ abdominal churning; dhauti ~ upper digestive tract cleaning; basti ~ colon cleansing; kaphalabati ~ cleansing of lungs and bronchial tubes, tratak ~ steady gazing)
- Asana
- Relaxation
- Pranayama
- Meditation
- Theory and philosophy
Hatha also means balance - HA means the sun and THA means the moon and can represent male and female energies. Much Hatha work is on the physical body as a preparation for the deeper practices like meditation and pranayama which are more often experienced as part of Raja yoga pathway.
Credit BWY.