Yoga has now become extremely popular all over the western world even though it has been known to the eastern world for thousands of years. A lot of yoga asanas are named after and emulate the plant and animal world, such as the eagle pose, the tree pose, the cat pose, the frog pose, etc. The ancient Vedic seers must have been trying not only to imitate the postures and the character traits of these animals, but also to create compassion for them. By reading the old yogic texts, you can understand the connection compassion has with yoga and its aim of freedom from the earthly world.
You can understand the meaning of the Vedas only when you are deep in meditation, be it the Rig Ved (knowledge of praise), Yajur Veda (knowledge of sacrifice), Sama Veda (knowledge of chants), and Atharva Veda (knowledge of atharvan). When we can understand the teachings of the Vedas, we can experience an ecstasy which is beyond the material world.
When you have comprehended the Vedic sutras, then this humdrum everyday world recedes and you have a greater insight and more acute perception of things.
This feeling has been described by H. P. Blavatsky, who is an expert of Eastern sacred texts, in his The Voice of Silence. He says, ‘Compassion is no attribute. IT is the LAW of LAWS—eternal Harmony, Alaya’s SELF; a shoreless universal essence, the light of everlasting Right, and fitness of all things, the law of love eternal.’
Yoga always instructs one not to strain oneself to do an asana properly, since straining causes discomfort and pain, which is opposed to compassion. This is because yoga believes that we are all part of the cosmic whole. If an individual hurts himself, then he causes pain to the entire world at large. Thus, strain should be avoided when doing yogic asanas.
There are many yogic postures meant to bring peace. Patanjali in the Yoga-Sutra says relaxation is the spirit of yoga, which shows itself in the asanas we practice today. Yoga demands that we respect our bodies and have compassion for its physical limitations. Yoga wants us to see our bodies as heavenly objects and requires us to foster health in this mortal temple. Yoga experts know that their bodies have flaws, even though they look toned. While yoga encourages us to preserve the body’s health, it also reminds us that true freedom is achieved only when one is free from one’s body, when one has escaped the incessant cycle of death and rebirth.
Yoga is different from the western concept of exercising. The physical outcome is the only goal of exercise, but yoga aims for the betterment of the soul, with the physical results being an offshoot. Since the ancient texts stress that the mind and spirit are more important than the body, yoga stands apart from modern notions of exercise. It aims for unification with the divine, and the feelings of compassion can be merged into each pose.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Yoga For Beginners
Yoga has been around for centuries, but it has become popular over the world only during the past five years. It offers tremendous health benefits if only yoga is done regularly. For a beginner, yoga holds the door open to many possibilities, as yoga can cure a lot of health problems, help one reduce weight, and also tone one’s body.
Yoga: Types
There are many types of yoga to choose from. Since you are a beginner, you should go through all the various types of yoga and choose one which suits your personality, condition of health and fitness level.
Understand what each kind of yoga offers and select the sort which you know you will be able to perform without straining your muscles.
Yoga: Instruction
Since you are a beginner, you should definitely consult a yoga instructor. An experienced yoga teacher should supervise you while you do yoga. He or she will also help you select the type of yoga which is suited to your body’s fitness and health. It is vital that you are able to maintain the correct body alignment. A yoga instructor will help you made adjustments so that you don’t hurt yourself, and also offer changes to the posture if you have any physical limitations. A teacher will also be able to help you get the most out of every yoga pose so that your health problems are all targeted and solved in the shortest time.
Yoga classes are offered in many gyms and studios. Since is many of these places the first yoga class is free, you can try different places and see which one suits you the best.
Yoga: Attitude
Your attitude is important during yoga lessons. You have to remember that yoga is absolutely non-competitive.
You only have to concentrate on your body and its responses to yoga. You might want to challenge your body and make it more flexible, but always listen to your body’s complaints. If you feel the slightest pain, then come out of the yoga posture or ease up a bit. As a beginner, you do not have to do each yoga pose perfectly. It is normal for your body to protest a bit. Always listen to it.
Yoga: Breathing
It is very important that you breathe properly during your yoga poses. Breathe in and out through your nose during yoga, and breathe deeply. Proper breathing will help you to feel more relaxed and also to do the yoga poses better. In case you feel a tense spot on your body, try and channel your breath to that area in order to relax it. Whenever you feel that you are not being able to breathe properly, immediately come out of the posture.
Get yourself a yoga beginner’s kit which contains a sticky mat, a strap, and a couple of yoga blocks and maybe a yoga video. Yoga is best done on an empty stomach, but do drink a lot of water before and after yoga practice to prevent dehydration.
Yoga: Types
There are many types of yoga to choose from. Since you are a beginner, you should go through all the various types of yoga and choose one which suits your personality, condition of health and fitness level.
Understand what each kind of yoga offers and select the sort which you know you will be able to perform without straining your muscles.
Yoga: Instruction
Since you are a beginner, you should definitely consult a yoga instructor. An experienced yoga teacher should supervise you while you do yoga. He or she will also help you select the type of yoga which is suited to your body’s fitness and health. It is vital that you are able to maintain the correct body alignment. A yoga instructor will help you made adjustments so that you don’t hurt yourself, and also offer changes to the posture if you have any physical limitations. A teacher will also be able to help you get the most out of every yoga pose so that your health problems are all targeted and solved in the shortest time.
Yoga classes are offered in many gyms and studios. Since is many of these places the first yoga class is free, you can try different places and see which one suits you the best.
Yoga: Attitude
Your attitude is important during yoga lessons. You have to remember that yoga is absolutely non-competitive.
You only have to concentrate on your body and its responses to yoga. You might want to challenge your body and make it more flexible, but always listen to your body’s complaints. If you feel the slightest pain, then come out of the yoga posture or ease up a bit. As a beginner, you do not have to do each yoga pose perfectly. It is normal for your body to protest a bit. Always listen to it.
Yoga: Breathing
It is very important that you breathe properly during your yoga poses. Breathe in and out through your nose during yoga, and breathe deeply. Proper breathing will help you to feel more relaxed and also to do the yoga poses better. In case you feel a tense spot on your body, try and channel your breath to that area in order to relax it. Whenever you feel that you are not being able to breathe properly, immediately come out of the posture.
Get yourself a yoga beginner’s kit which contains a sticky mat, a strap, and a couple of yoga blocks and maybe a yoga video. Yoga is best done on an empty stomach, but do drink a lot of water before and after yoga practice to prevent dehydration.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Yoga: The True Meaning
If you enroll yourself for a modern yoga class, you will find that it has many similarities with ballet. Most people take up yoga due to the grace, poise and flexibility it promises, like ballet. However, whatever yoga has in common with other exercises does not last beyond the first look. Even though yoga is now touted as the modern chic way to achieve fitness and health benefits, yoga is a centuries old Eastern practice with deep spiritual roots, combining different cultures and traditions.
But because of the Anglicization of yoga, it has lost a great part of its spiritual aspect, and has become just a new form of exercise to the western world. The meaning of yoga has been lost though the ritual itself has been preserved unchanged. In the olden days, yoga was viewed only as a small part of a larger whole, such as the branch of a tree. But now, the West views yoga as the tree itself, the essential deeper meaning has been lost.
Even though the development of yoga cannot be traced to the exact moment in time, it is roughly taken to be at the time of the discovery of the seals of the Indus Valley civilization which depicts figures in the yoga posture (asana) of the lotus pose at about 3000 BCE. Around this time, the Vedas were also being written and these are the sources of the current yoga postures. The Vedas gave rise to Vedic yoga which created the old Indian obsession with ritual and sacrifice. The yogic corpse asana shows the importance given to sacrifice.
It involves lying as if placed in a coffin, signifying death, the greatest of sacrifices. This is deeply meaningful, even though it might seem morbid today. The corpse pose meant that one understood that according to the Veda’s teachings, death leads to freedom.
Yoga means ‘union’ and sacrifice was seen as something which would join the physical and the spiritual. The Vedanta sutras (verses 4:4, 13-14) say that the free soul is not attracted to material possessions. By wanting us to liberate ourselves from being attracted to materiality, compassion wants us to be self-sacrificing. This spirit of unselfishness and giving must needs be compassionate.
Even today, modern yoga does make this possible. Through the medium of the asanas and stillness, we can change our awareness and thus, our outlook. We will feel ourselves to be part of the cosmic whole, and see how giving to others is also giving to ourselves, as we are all one.
Yoga, in the ancient days, was seen as a small part of a whole. Millennia ago, yoga focused on breath work and postures amid the betterment of the mind, body and spirit. But today, yoga concentrates more on postures and less on breathing. Yoga’s postures and concentration on breathing do offer tremendous advantages. The medical benefits of yoga include increase in flexibility and energy, reduces stress, improves muscle strength and tone, reduces depression, and improves balance and coordination.
But because of the Anglicization of yoga, it has lost a great part of its spiritual aspect, and has become just a new form of exercise to the western world. The meaning of yoga has been lost though the ritual itself has been preserved unchanged. In the olden days, yoga was viewed only as a small part of a larger whole, such as the branch of a tree. But now, the West views yoga as the tree itself, the essential deeper meaning has been lost.
Even though the development of yoga cannot be traced to the exact moment in time, it is roughly taken to be at the time of the discovery of the seals of the Indus Valley civilization which depicts figures in the yoga posture (asana) of the lotus pose at about 3000 BCE. Around this time, the Vedas were also being written and these are the sources of the current yoga postures. The Vedas gave rise to Vedic yoga which created the old Indian obsession with ritual and sacrifice. The yogic corpse asana shows the importance given to sacrifice.
It involves lying as if placed in a coffin, signifying death, the greatest of sacrifices. This is deeply meaningful, even though it might seem morbid today. The corpse pose meant that one understood that according to the Veda’s teachings, death leads to freedom.
Yoga means ‘union’ and sacrifice was seen as something which would join the physical and the spiritual. The Vedanta sutras (verses 4:4, 13-14) say that the free soul is not attracted to material possessions. By wanting us to liberate ourselves from being attracted to materiality, compassion wants us to be self-sacrificing. This spirit of unselfishness and giving must needs be compassionate.
Even today, modern yoga does make this possible. Through the medium of the asanas and stillness, we can change our awareness and thus, our outlook. We will feel ourselves to be part of the cosmic whole, and see how giving to others is also giving to ourselves, as we are all one.
Yoga, in the ancient days, was seen as a small part of a whole. Millennia ago, yoga focused on breath work and postures amid the betterment of the mind, body and spirit. But today, yoga concentrates more on postures and less on breathing. Yoga’s postures and concentration on breathing do offer tremendous advantages. The medical benefits of yoga include increase in flexibility and energy, reduces stress, improves muscle strength and tone, reduces depression, and improves balance and coordination.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Part 5: Yoga: Tips On Position
Yoga has been in practice since a long time, and followers of yoga positions and continuous practitioner benefit by it through their mind, muscles and even the internal body systems. With time, its popularity has only shot up. But before one initializes it, one must have a fair idea of its impact to squeeze the most out of the yoga experience. So let’s start with some tips before you begin with your mental and spiritual body set-up.
• Continuous practice
Yoga practice should be continuous, not only in the class under an expert teacher, but also at home, which will make the body and the mind feel at peace. For a newbie, regular practice will make the benefits more pronounced which will result in further involvement in yoga. In yoga, the number of times you practice your position is more important than the duration of each session that you enter into. A very minor part of your daily schedule, if devoted to yoga, can do you a world of good.
One important thing to remember while doing yoga is to get the positions right. Most of the TV shows and self-help books will suggest practicing yoga more often but what they skip to remind us is the right poses that one must strike while doing this exercise. Extending oneself more in each session will help, and one must not only practice the poses one is comfortable with, but also try to practice those with one he is struggling.
This will ensure that the practice session is more fertile and gives one the self-belief to do even better, and will make him realize that he’s doing well.
• Peaking your potential
Getting rid you one’s ego is one of the most important aspects for the novice. To give it the best shot to maximize the utility derived from the yoga exercise, one must not try to just make an impression on the teacher or the fellow learners. Self-study is the nucleus of yoga therapy. Instead of being an exact replica of the teacher or a good student, one must try to improvise and then maximize his own potential and benefits derived from the class.
• Who am I??
One of the fundamental features of yoga is to remember oneself, remember who he is. Instead of going deep into his yoga poses, one must realize how deep he has actually evolved with the therapy, himself. Learning about one’s inner attention is important in yoga. While practicing, with the aid of the guider, one must strive to use that attention and get most of his poses. It’s only secondary if the physical position is not altogether perfect.
• Continuous practice
Yoga practice should be continuous, not only in the class under an expert teacher, but also at home, which will make the body and the mind feel at peace. For a newbie, regular practice will make the benefits more pronounced which will result in further involvement in yoga. In yoga, the number of times you practice your position is more important than the duration of each session that you enter into. A very minor part of your daily schedule, if devoted to yoga, can do you a world of good.
One important thing to remember while doing yoga is to get the positions right. Most of the TV shows and self-help books will suggest practicing yoga more often but what they skip to remind us is the right poses that one must strike while doing this exercise. Extending oneself more in each session will help, and one must not only practice the poses one is comfortable with, but also try to practice those with one he is struggling.
This will ensure that the practice session is more fertile and gives one the self-belief to do even better, and will make him realize that he’s doing well.
• Peaking your potential
Getting rid you one’s ego is one of the most important aspects for the novice. To give it the best shot to maximize the utility derived from the yoga exercise, one must not try to just make an impression on the teacher or the fellow learners. Self-study is the nucleus of yoga therapy. Instead of being an exact replica of the teacher or a good student, one must try to improvise and then maximize his own potential and benefits derived from the class.
• Who am I??
One of the fundamental features of yoga is to remember oneself, remember who he is. Instead of going deep into his yoga poses, one must realize how deep he has actually evolved with the therapy, himself. Learning about one’s inner attention is important in yoga. While practicing, with the aid of the guider, one must strive to use that attention and get most of his poses. It’s only secondary if the physical position is not altogether perfect.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Part 4: Yoga: Advantages
It is not the fact that people are not acquainted with the term ‘yoga’, but the actual scenario makes it clear that a large share of these people does not know too many things about it. It is at times thought to be a physical training for having a flexibility of limbs. But, yoga surpasses this narrow idea as it provides a through mental and physical fitness training. It is something that can help you in any aspects whatsoever of your life because, it is, after all, the mind and the body which stand as the backbones of a human being.
Due to its holistic approach, as mentioned earlier, yoga does not draw any demarcating line between the realm of mind and realm of body. Yoga does not make any distinction because, in the world of yoga, mind and body are the two integral parts of a whole, which cannot be separated.
‘Asanas’, a term, which we all are aware of, actually refers to those poses and postures through which an all-round training of mind and body are accomplished by yoga. This sort of training is something that can extend an aid as it exerts an improvement in your strength, stamina, flexibility, concentration and blood-circulation.
Not only that, it will also provide you with calmness and energy which would cut down your mental stress and help you doing your daily works with absolute ease.
Irrespective of the profession you are in- a housewife staying at home or a cashier in a grocery store or an athlete or office worker- yoga keeps helping you. It should not only be viewed as an end but it is to be treated as a means. Yoga can make you enabled to do, what you like to do, with much more perfection and contentment.
Yoga can be a good remedy in your injuries and illness but before starting up yoga or any exercise routine, you should consult with your doctor, especially, in case you do have any medical conditions.
In this regard, one thing can be assured that you should obviously try out yoga after making sure that you have consulted with your doctor. You should go for it because, at the worst, you may not like to continue and in that case you can put an end to it.
You will be getting a few options after you become well determined to start yoga. To contact with the local gym or yoga studio is the way that easily comes to one’s mind but if you want to avail it more conveniently sitting at your home and spending less, the option of having a yoga DVD is always there to work as a guideline for you. It gives you the advantage of making your own routine. Notwithstanding this advantage, it has to be said that a gym or yoga studio is always a better option as it provides you with instant instruction.
Due to its holistic approach, as mentioned earlier, yoga does not draw any demarcating line between the realm of mind and realm of body. Yoga does not make any distinction because, in the world of yoga, mind and body are the two integral parts of a whole, which cannot be separated.
‘Asanas’, a term, which we all are aware of, actually refers to those poses and postures through which an all-round training of mind and body are accomplished by yoga. This sort of training is something that can extend an aid as it exerts an improvement in your strength, stamina, flexibility, concentration and blood-circulation.
Not only that, it will also provide you with calmness and energy which would cut down your mental stress and help you doing your daily works with absolute ease.
Irrespective of the profession you are in- a housewife staying at home or a cashier in a grocery store or an athlete or office worker- yoga keeps helping you. It should not only be viewed as an end but it is to be treated as a means. Yoga can make you enabled to do, what you like to do, with much more perfection and contentment.
Yoga can be a good remedy in your injuries and illness but before starting up yoga or any exercise routine, you should consult with your doctor, especially, in case you do have any medical conditions.
In this regard, one thing can be assured that you should obviously try out yoga after making sure that you have consulted with your doctor. You should go for it because, at the worst, you may not like to continue and in that case you can put an end to it.
You will be getting a few options after you become well determined to start yoga. To contact with the local gym or yoga studio is the way that easily comes to one’s mind but if you want to avail it more conveniently sitting at your home and spending less, the option of having a yoga DVD is always there to work as a guideline for you. It gives you the advantage of making your own routine. Notwithstanding this advantage, it has to be said that a gym or yoga studio is always a better option as it provides you with instant instruction.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Part 3: Yoga Accessories
Yoga accessories are extremely useful as they make practicing yoga safer and more relaxing, even though not too many yoga accessories are needed. There are some items you cannot do without such as a yoga mat, yoga socks and shoes, pants and upper body wear.
There are other additional yoga accessories such as a water bottle, a bag to carry the yoga mat, yoga props, and DVDs for practicing alone, but these are optional and whether you buy them is up to you.
The upper body wear is very important as it has to make you feel comfortable. There will be no way you can relax and do yoga if your clothes are ill-fitting and uncomfortable. The upper body wear should ideally be made of a combination of lycra and cotton as these fabrics help absorb sweat, fit well, and give pores for proper circulation. During cold weather, wear comfortable pants which will not get in the way of your exercises.
They should not be too loose, or of a very think material, as it will make you feel very hot when you’re exercising. Apart from your t-shirt and jeans/pants, leave your jewellery and watch outside, to prevent them from hampering your yoga.
A yoga mat is an absolutely necessary yoga accessory. It serves as a cushion protecting you from the hard floors, and it is also hygienic as it prevents contact with the floor. Make sure the yoga mat stays clean as your body and head will have contact with it. People living in cold climates should ensure that their yoga mat stays flexible after it’s kept in the trunk of the car, or after it’s been exposed to the cold air.
Usually, yoga is practiced barefoot or variably in a pair of cotton socks. But experts say that wearing yoga shows makes it more relaxing and comfortable. Yoga shoes are not the same as exercise shoes. They have thinner soles and are lighter at the top to facilitate air circulation.
Additionally, yoga shoes prevent bacteria and germs from forming and are important when you need to share a yoga mat. Moreover, the yoga shoes help maintain certain yoga postures and prevent you from slipping.
Some people prefer to wear yoga socks to yoga shoes because they are like gloves for the feet. Toe socks with non-slip rubber dots are also available and these give friction, and they’re a good buy.
A bag for your yoga accessories which will hold your mat, change of clothes, keys and wallet will help carrying your stuff to and from yoga class. Yoga props can help you with certain postures, and yoga DVDs can help you practice certain moves which you learnt in class. Water bottles are helpful but not really necessary as you’ll sweat out all the toxins during yoga class.
You can get all the yoga accessories you need at yoga specialty retailers because of the wide range of stuff and also the staff will be well-informed about your yoga needs.
There are other additional yoga accessories such as a water bottle, a bag to carry the yoga mat, yoga props, and DVDs for practicing alone, but these are optional and whether you buy them is up to you.
The upper body wear is very important as it has to make you feel comfortable. There will be no way you can relax and do yoga if your clothes are ill-fitting and uncomfortable. The upper body wear should ideally be made of a combination of lycra and cotton as these fabrics help absorb sweat, fit well, and give pores for proper circulation. During cold weather, wear comfortable pants which will not get in the way of your exercises.
They should not be too loose, or of a very think material, as it will make you feel very hot when you’re exercising. Apart from your t-shirt and jeans/pants, leave your jewellery and watch outside, to prevent them from hampering your yoga.
A yoga mat is an absolutely necessary yoga accessory. It serves as a cushion protecting you from the hard floors, and it is also hygienic as it prevents contact with the floor. Make sure the yoga mat stays clean as your body and head will have contact with it. People living in cold climates should ensure that their yoga mat stays flexible after it’s kept in the trunk of the car, or after it’s been exposed to the cold air.
Usually, yoga is practiced barefoot or variably in a pair of cotton socks. But experts say that wearing yoga shows makes it more relaxing and comfortable. Yoga shoes are not the same as exercise shoes. They have thinner soles and are lighter at the top to facilitate air circulation.
Additionally, yoga shoes prevent bacteria and germs from forming and are important when you need to share a yoga mat. Moreover, the yoga shoes help maintain certain yoga postures and prevent you from slipping.
Some people prefer to wear yoga socks to yoga shoes because they are like gloves for the feet. Toe socks with non-slip rubber dots are also available and these give friction, and they’re a good buy.
A bag for your yoga accessories which will hold your mat, change of clothes, keys and wallet will help carrying your stuff to and from yoga class. Yoga props can help you with certain postures, and yoga DVDs can help you practice certain moves which you learnt in class. Water bottles are helpful but not really necessary as you’ll sweat out all the toxins during yoga class.
You can get all the yoga accessories you need at yoga specialty retailers because of the wide range of stuff and also the staff will be well-informed about your yoga needs.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Part 2: Yoga: The Six Branches
Yoga has been around in the eastern world for centuries, and the classical techniques of yoga go back to about five thousand years ago. If you are interested in going in for practicing yoga, you should have an overall idea about the various branches of yoga.
There are six branches of yoga, namely Hatha, Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Tantra and Jnana. Hatha, which is the most popular branch of yoga, is actually the physical part of yoga or the yoga which involves postures or asanas. The Hatha yoga is thus basically composed of ‘asanas ‘ are the physical postures which yoga practitioners have to do, ‘pranayama’ or breathing techniques, and meditation. Hatha joins the body and soul and make the body healthy, and helps to keep the mind free from stress and anxiety.
Bhakti is the yoga of devotion, involving the heart and faith. This branch of yoga permits the yogis to discern the actual humanity in all people and makes them able to see everything from all aspects, thus enabling them to endure, love and accept everything and everyone peacefully. Bhakti yoga teaches its practitioners how to devote themselves completely to god, and teaches them that all creatures are created by the Almighty and that appreciating other creatures and life itself is an act of devotion to god.
Karma yoga is the branch of yoga which considers that a person’s current state is a result of his past state, i.e. whatever the person’s situation is in this life is a consequence of his previous life, and whatever he will do in this life will determine his condition in his next life.
It deals with service and involves action’s energy. Karma yoga teaches yogis that they should ignore all negative aspects of their life and focus on doing good things and thinking good thoughts. It teaches that if lead a virtuous life in this life, then you will have a happy life in the next life.
Raja is the ‘king of yogas’ as ‘raja’ means ‘royal’. It’s based on the eight limbs of yoga and involves meditation. It teaches that the universe exists for the self, and this leads to self-esteem and reverence for your fellow creatures.
Tantra yoga is based on understanding of Mantra (mystic syllables) and Tattva (truth). Tantra yogis feel an increased awareness regardless of whether they’re awake or asleep. However, only those who are chaste, brave, devoted, loyal to his guru, true, trusty, honest, and be humane and have love for the whole universe can be practitioners of Tantra yoga.
Jnana yoga involves the mind as it is concerned with knowledge and wisdom. It improves the yogi’s cleverness and astuteness.
After reading about the six branches of yoga, you should be able to decide which yoga is suitable for you. You can sign up for a yoga class, or get a yoga DVD, a book, or a videotape and practice it at home. There are also yoga instructions available on the internet which you can search for.
There are six branches of yoga, namely Hatha, Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Tantra and Jnana. Hatha, which is the most popular branch of yoga, is actually the physical part of yoga or the yoga which involves postures or asanas. The Hatha yoga is thus basically composed of ‘asanas ‘ are the physical postures which yoga practitioners have to do, ‘pranayama’ or breathing techniques, and meditation. Hatha joins the body and soul and make the body healthy, and helps to keep the mind free from stress and anxiety.
Bhakti is the yoga of devotion, involving the heart and faith. This branch of yoga permits the yogis to discern the actual humanity in all people and makes them able to see everything from all aspects, thus enabling them to endure, love and accept everything and everyone peacefully. Bhakti yoga teaches its practitioners how to devote themselves completely to god, and teaches them that all creatures are created by the Almighty and that appreciating other creatures and life itself is an act of devotion to god.
Karma yoga is the branch of yoga which considers that a person’s current state is a result of his past state, i.e. whatever the person’s situation is in this life is a consequence of his previous life, and whatever he will do in this life will determine his condition in his next life.
It deals with service and involves action’s energy. Karma yoga teaches yogis that they should ignore all negative aspects of their life and focus on doing good things and thinking good thoughts. It teaches that if lead a virtuous life in this life, then you will have a happy life in the next life.
Raja is the ‘king of yogas’ as ‘raja’ means ‘royal’. It’s based on the eight limbs of yoga and involves meditation. It teaches that the universe exists for the self, and this leads to self-esteem and reverence for your fellow creatures.
Tantra yoga is based on understanding of Mantra (mystic syllables) and Tattva (truth). Tantra yogis feel an increased awareness regardless of whether they’re awake or asleep. However, only those who are chaste, brave, devoted, loyal to his guru, true, trusty, honest, and be humane and have love for the whole universe can be practitioners of Tantra yoga.
Jnana yoga involves the mind as it is concerned with knowledge and wisdom. It improves the yogi’s cleverness and astuteness.
After reading about the six branches of yoga, you should be able to decide which yoga is suitable for you. You can sign up for a yoga class, or get a yoga DVD, a book, or a videotape and practice it at home. There are also yoga instructions available on the internet which you can search for.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Part 1: Yoga In The West
Yoga as a concept was introduced in the West a long time ago. It is only now that more and more Americans are taking it more seriously than they ever did before.
Yoga as a way of life is catching on fast with the Westerners as more and more people familiarize themselves with the truth behind this centuries-old Indian practice.
It was towards the end of the eighteenth century that Western scholars began to understand how closely related the Indian languages are with their European counterparts. The study of such an interconnectedness that ensued introduced them to the concept of yoga as it was present in the Indian sacred texts.
A breakthrough came when Englishman Charles Wilkins pioneered the translation of Sanskrit text of The Bhagvad Gita to English. It was also the efforts of American statesman Alexander Hamilton who closely studies the Indian culture, tradition, languages and even delivered a lecture in Paris about India in the year 1802-03.
By the nineteenth century, the knowledge of yoga was spreading among the Westerners who were involved closely with the study of Indian texts. They were able to trace the development of the concept from its source, now that English translations of the texts were available to them. Notable in this field and worthy of mention are the efforts of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson who made the above mentioned possible.
Also, during the same time, a strain of the though processes behind yoga also began to be felt in the works of the American and European Romantics.
However, as is commonly known, and earlier mentioned, yoga has become a way of life with many Westerners. It has not only been incorporated in the daily lives of people, but also in their way of thinking.
This knowledge of yoga as a concept came into the popular consciousness of westerners through several instances of cross-fertilization due to close interaction between the two cultures.
Swami Vivekananda’s, an Indian intellectual, contribution to making Indian culture familiar to the West is notable. His address at Chicago in 1893 to the World’s Parliament of Religions is perhaps the most important event that helped India to reach out to the world. Indian guru Parmahansa Yogananda I another important figure who made yoga popular in the West, through his teachings, the Self-Realization Fellowship that he set up, and through his own autobiography.
Other figures worthy of mention are B.K.S. Iyengar (founder of Iyengar Yoga), Swami Rama (the Himalayan Institute), Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga), and Swami Vishnu-devananda (Sivananda Yoga).
Yoga as a way of life is catching on fast with the Westerners as more and more people familiarize themselves with the truth behind this centuries-old Indian practice.
It was towards the end of the eighteenth century that Western scholars began to understand how closely related the Indian languages are with their European counterparts. The study of such an interconnectedness that ensued introduced them to the concept of yoga as it was present in the Indian sacred texts.
A breakthrough came when Englishman Charles Wilkins pioneered the translation of Sanskrit text of The Bhagvad Gita to English. It was also the efforts of American statesman Alexander Hamilton who closely studies the Indian culture, tradition, languages and even delivered a lecture in Paris about India in the year 1802-03.
By the nineteenth century, the knowledge of yoga was spreading among the Westerners who were involved closely with the study of Indian texts. They were able to trace the development of the concept from its source, now that English translations of the texts were available to them. Notable in this field and worthy of mention are the efforts of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson who made the above mentioned possible.
Also, during the same time, a strain of the though processes behind yoga also began to be felt in the works of the American and European Romantics.
However, as is commonly known, and earlier mentioned, yoga has become a way of life with many Westerners. It has not only been incorporated in the daily lives of people, but also in their way of thinking.
This knowledge of yoga as a concept came into the popular consciousness of westerners through several instances of cross-fertilization due to close interaction between the two cultures.
Swami Vivekananda’s, an Indian intellectual, contribution to making Indian culture familiar to the West is notable. His address at Chicago in 1893 to the World’s Parliament of Religions is perhaps the most important event that helped India to reach out to the world. Indian guru Parmahansa Yogananda I another important figure who made yoga popular in the West, through his teachings, the Self-Realization Fellowship that he set up, and through his own autobiography.
Other figures worthy of mention are B.K.S. Iyengar (founder of Iyengar Yoga), Swami Rama (the Himalayan Institute), Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga), and Swami Vishnu-devananda (Sivananda Yoga).
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