Branches Or Basics of Yoga
...Ancient practitioners have likened yoga to a living tree with six branches coming from the trunk, with each branch having its own unique function relating to a particular lifestyle. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is one of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside the Bhagvada Gita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, is a milestone in the history of Yoga. Though brief, the Yoga Sutras are an enormously influential work, just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today, as when written many thousands of years ago.
The six branches of Yoga tend to have some aspects in common and familiarizing oneself with all six will certainly help in the selection of your own yoga programme that incorporates routines that appeal from any of the six branches. Asanas or postures, Pranayama or breath control, these two disciplines along with meditation and a strict moral code are the fundamentals of the practice of yoga.
Hatha Yoga
Introduced in the 15th century by an Indian sage as a preparatory stage of physical purification to enable the body to be fit for the practice of higher meditation as in Raja Yoga, Ha means sun and tha means moon, a reference to the energy channels of the body. Fully opened energy channels allow the body to become supple enough to attain the mental disciplines of Raja Yoga. In practice, both Hatha and Raja Yoga are inter-related and dependant upon each other. Western practitioners associate yoga with the hatha branch to attain mental and physical wellbeing.
Raja Yoga
Raja translates as royal and meditation is central to this branch of yoga, which has eight side branches or limbs in an order that must be strictly followed. We start with Yama meaning ethical standards, Niyama self discipline, asana posture, pranayama breat...more
What is Yoga?
...As part of the Hindu religion and way of life, traditional yoga philosophies require students to attain complete peace in body and mind through behavior, diet and meditation. In Sanskrit the word Yoga translates to union or unite.
Most people in the United States are interested in what is known as Hatha Yoga, the practi...more
The Purpose of Yoga - Inspiration and Goals
...and meditate. Yoga is not about competition. In each of these statements - there is some truth, but not the whole truth.
Patanjali must have had goals to write and complete the Yoga Sutras. Gandhiji must have had goals and vision to see that peaceful protest would result in the independence of India. Gandhiji also said, What is faith worth if it is not translated into action? So, now you see, goals are not bad.
However, goals should be ethical, helpful to others, and be meaningful. This formula creates passion within the devotee. If the purpose of a goal is for the common good, it is only limited by our imaginations.
Unlimited ...more
Modern Benefits of an Ancient Practice
...iscovered the most famous of these seals, the Pashupati seal. He claimed that it represented a Shiva figure, though modern archaeologists dispute this. There is still debate on whether these seals represent yoga at all.
Yoga is a 5,000 year old practice, but began appearing in Sanskrit texts much later. Some of these texts, called the Upanishads, outline many principle beliefs of Hinduism including the philosophy of yoga. Later, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras united m...more
