#Unity of Karma Hatha and Raja Yoga
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bhishmsharma95 · 4 days ago
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All Yoga Is One: From Karma to Hatha to Raja – My Real Experience
For International Yoga Day — by a Seeker Starting Point In my youth, I was healthy and mentally curious. After a certain experience, which I later understood was a transient Savikalpa Samadhi, a shimmering image of meditation stayed in my mind. That image remained alive for years and I used it for deep inner nourishment. With that energy, I studied, experimented, and shared spiritual knowledge…
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maashaktiyogbali · 9 months ago
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The Origins of Yoga: Tracing Its Ancient Roots
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Yoga, for many of us, is a way to find balance, peace, and connection. Whether it's through a few sun salutations in the morning or a calming meditation before bed, yoga has become an essential part of daily life. But where did it all begin? How did this ancient practice, now loved by millions around the world, come to be?
At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we believe that understanding the origins of yoga is key to fully embracing its depth and wisdom. Yoga isn’t just about physical postures—it's a rich, spiritual tradition that stretches back thousands of years. Let’s take a journey back in time and explore the fascinating roots of yoga, from its early beginnings to its modern-day practice.
The Birth of Yoga in Ancient India
The story of yoga begins over 5,000 years ago in Northern India, within the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, one of the world's earliest known cultures. Archaeologists have uncovered stone seals showing figures in yoga-like postures, hinting that people in ancient India were practicing some form of yoga as far back as 3000 BCE.
Yoga was first mentioned in the Vedas, a collection of ancient texts that laid the foundation for Indian philosophy and spirituality. In those early days, yoga wasn’t about bending and stretching—it was deeply spiritual, focused on rituals, meditation, and connecting with the divine. While the physical side of yoga would come later, these early practices set the stage for the holistic approach we know today.
The Upanishads: A Shift to Inner Exploration
As time went on, yoga evolved. The next key moment in yoga’s history came with the writing of the Upanishads, around 800 to 500 BCE. These texts shifted the focus from external rituals to internal self-exploration. The Upanishads introduced the idea that we are all connected to a greater universal consciousness, and through meditation and self-discipline, we can achieve unity with this higher power.
This is where many core concepts of yoga, like the idea of prana (life energy) and chakras (energy centers in the body), first appeared. The Upanishads helped shape yoga into a practice that isn’t just physical, but one that also encourages reflection, mindfulness, and spiritual growth.
The Bhagavad Gita: Yoga as a Way of Life
Fast forward to around 500 BCE, and we arrive at one of the most important texts in the history of yoga—the Bhagavad Gita. This text, part of the epic Mahabharata, is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna about life’s biggest questions—duty, morality, and spiritual purpose.
In the Gita, yoga is described as a way of life, not just a physical practice. It outlines four paths of yoga:
Karma Yoga (selfless action)
Bhakti Yoga (devotion)
Jnana Yoga (knowledge)
Raja Yoga (meditation)
The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes balance and mindfulness in all aspects of life. Whether you are working, meditating, or helping others, you can practice yoga. It’s about how we live, how we treat ourselves, and how we interact with the world around us.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: The Blueprint for Yoga
By around 200 CE, the sage Patanjali took all the various aspects of yoga and put them into a clear, organized system in what’s now known as the Yoga Sutras. This text introduced the Eight Limbs of Yoga, a roadmap to living a life of purpose, balance, and peace. These eight limbs are:
Yamas (ethical guidelines)
Niyamas (self-discipline)
Asana (physical postures)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (enlightenment)
At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we teach our students that yoga is much more than asana (postures). It’s a journey inward, guided by these Eight Limbs, helping us cultivate a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
Hatha Yoga: The Physical Practice Takes Shape
It wasn’t until the 11th century that Hatha Yoga emerged, bringing more attention to the physical side of yoga. Hatha Yoga emphasized postures, breathing techniques, and cleansing rituals that helped the body and mind prepare for deeper meditation.
The physical postures (asana) in Hatha Yoga are designed to remove blockages in the body’s energy pathways, allowing prana (life force) to flow freely. This practice laid the groundwork for the more physically oriented yoga styles that many of us are familiar with today.
At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we integrate Hatha Yoga into our teachings, allowing our students to experience the full spectrum of yoga—balancing physical strength and flexibility with inner calm and mental clarity.
Yoga’s Journey to the West
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, yoga began to make its way from India to the West. Swamis and yogis like Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda played pivotal roles in introducing the spiritual side of yoga to Western audiences. Then, in the mid-20th century, the focus shifted more toward the physical aspect of yoga, thanks to teachers like Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who is often called the father of modern yoga.
Krishnamacharya’s students, such as B.K.S. Iyengar (Iyengar Yoga) and Pattabhi Jois (Ashtanga Yoga), helped popularize yoga in the West, teaching that yoga was for everyone—regardless of age, body type, or background. Their teachings continue to influence how yoga is practiced worldwide today.
Honoring Yoga’s Ancient Roots at Maa Shakti Yog Bali
At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we honor yoga’s ancient roots by teaching it as it was originally intended—a holistic practice for body, mind, and spirit. Our Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training programs are steeped in the traditional teachings of Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, combined with the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras and other ancient texts.
Located in the serene beauty of Bali, we offer students the chance to step away from the busyness of life and dive deep into the true essence of yoga. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, our programs are designed to help you grow, both on and off the mat.
Conclusion: Yoga’s Timeless Relevance
Yoga’s journey from ancient India to the modern world is a testament to its timeless relevance. Whether you practice for physical fitness, mental clarity, or spiritual growth, yoga offers something for everyone. By understanding its ancient roots, we can deepen our practice and appreciate the wisdom that has been passed down through generations.
At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we invite you to embark on your own journey with yoga—exploring its history, philosophy, and practices, while discovering the profound peace and strength that lies within.
Whether you're just beginning your yoga journey or have been practicing for years, knowing where yoga comes from helps you connect more deeply to the practice. By blending the old with the new, yoga continues to be a guiding light for many, offering peace and balance in a chaotic world.
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drneethamlava · 1 year ago
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The National UN Volunteers-India
International Yoga Day - June 21, 2024
Interactive session with Our National UN Volunteer-India Dr Neetha M Lava, Naturopathy Physician and clinical Nutrition at Radio Siddhartha 90.8 FM - Tumkur, Karnataka
1.FM: What does “Yoga” mean?
Dr. Neetha: Yoga refers to an ancient practice originating in India that encompasses physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation, and ethical principles. It aims to connect the body, mind, and spirit.
2.FM: What is the theme for International Yoga Day this year (2024)?
Dr. Neetha: While specific themes may vary, the essence of International Yoga Day remains consistent: promoting holistic well-being through yoga. The theme often emphasizes unity, harmony, and balance.
3.FM: What are the various streams or branches of yoga?
Dr. Neetha: Yoga has several branches, including:
▪️Hatha Yoga: Focuses on physical postures and breath control.
▪️Raja Yoga: Emphasizes meditation and self-discipline.
▪️Bhakti Yoga: Devotional practice centered around love and devotion.
▪️Karma Yoga: Involves selfless service and action.
▪️Jnana Yoga: The path of knowledge and wisdom.
4.FM: What are the benefits of yoga for women?
Dr. Neetha: Yoga offers numerous benefits for women, including improved flexibility, strength, stress reduction, hormonal balance, and support during pregnancy.
5.FM: What are the overall health benefits of practicing yoga?
Dr. Neetha: Yoga positively impacts overall health by reducing stress, enhancing cardiovascular health, improving breathing, toning muscles, and promoting digestive well-being.
6.FM: Why is Yoga Day celebrated on June 21?
Dr. Neetha: June 21 was chosen as International Yoga Day because it aligns with the Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It symbolizes light, vitality, and energy.
7.FM: Why is yoga important?
Dr. Neetha: Yoga fosters physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It promotes balance, inner peace, and self-awareness.
8.FM: How is yoga connected to wellness?
Dr. Neetha: Yoga and wellness are intertwined. Yoga contributes to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
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Yoga for Beginners: The First Step of Yoga Practice
Maybe your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or best friend told you Yoga would be good for you. You have heard so much about Yoga; it seems that Yoga is a "cure" for almost anything. The more you hear, the more confusing it is to understand what Yoga is all about.
Should you go out and buy a Yoga book? What would be the best Yoga book to buy? If you visit the local book store, you see hundreds of Yoga books, CD's, DVD's, card decks, and kits. Should you buy a copy of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali or buy one of the "for dummies" Yoga books?
Below is an overview of Yoga, which may help you decide your path of Yogic study. There is no right or wrong path of Yoga study, but be selective when you choose a Yoga teacher, Yoga book, or Yoga class..
You should first realize that there are many styles of Yoga. There are nine major styles of Yoga; many more styles exist, as well as many sub-styles. The nine major styles of Yoga are Bhakti, Hatha, Jnana, Karma, Kundalini, Mantra, Raja, Tantra, and Yantra Yoga. Each style emphasizes unity of body, mind, and spirit.
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The literal meaning of Yoga is "union" or "unity." If we can unify the body, mind, and spirit in harmony, we can achieve tranquility. One of the main purposes of Yoga is tranquility through improved health due to a holistic approach to life.
India is the birth place of Yoga. There are many written works about Yoga, but the origin of Yoga dates back thousands of years. Yoga is the "mother" of most of the world's health maintenance systems. Asian martial arts, with an origin from the Shaolin temple, and Pilates, can trace their ancestry back to Yoga.
The "higher forms of Yoga" are said to be Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, and Raja Yoga. Each of these four styles is a complex subject, within themselves, and I cannot do them justice by a summarization.
Hatha Yoga sub-styles are the most prolific outside of India. Most new Yoga practitioners will learn a Hatha Yoga sub-style first. Hatha Yoga, and its many sub-styles, primarily emphasize physical health, which will likely result in improved mental health. Most Hatha Yoga classes, outside of India, do not approach spiritual health.
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Nevertheless, Hatha Yoga is seen by fundamentalists as an "export of Hinduism." In some rare instances, this may be true, but most Hatha Yoga teachers are content to teach improved health for body and mind.
Therefore, when you choose a book, or local Yoga teacher, be aware that the Yoga teacher or Guru is a guide - but you have a right to know which direction you are being guided to. The Yoga practitioner learns to expand his or her mind and make independent decisions "along the way."
Yoga is non-threatening to religion. If a Yoga instructor teaches intolerance, of any kind, that is not Yoga. Unity is not sectarianism. We have to learn to appreciate diversity, and we should never tolerate prejudice. Prejudice and intolerance are often the cause of crime and wars.
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bhuwank · 5 years ago
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Why so many kinds of Meditation?
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Often people are confused about so many varieties of meditation, as each and every centers of yoga around the world promote different kinds of meditation. A common person who wants to learn this technique of achieving relaxation often gets confused about the selection of the type of meditation. All of them are probably good and lead to the good feeling but which one is the best?
The list can be extended if we want to hundred even.
You can easily note that most of these meditations are promoted by one guru (spiritual leader) or other. Transcendental meditation has been promoted by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi where as the Vipassana has a Buddhist origin. Sahaja Yoga has been promoted by Matajee Nirmala Devi whereas Brahmakumari group has promoted their brand of meditation. The real cause seems to be the attitude of the person or groups promoting a particular type of meditation.
If we analyze deeply almost all kinds of meditation are having similar components and each has similar effects. When a scientist studies many kinds of meditation with an open scientific mind he can easily make the similarity. Dr. H. Benson a well known medical scientist from Boston, USA carried out an extensive study on all kinds of meditation and found they were similar.
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT                
Types of Yoga                                              
Different groups or people who practiced yoga in the past hundreds and thousands of years have given more importance to one component of Yoga or the other. Some have made Asanas more important which make Yoga a kind of Physical exercise in their system. Some have modified yoga according to their perceptions. Rajyoga, Layayoga, Karmayoga – are some of the schools of yoga promoted by different groups.
Yoga Schools
The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The schools are merely named according to the yogi’s objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change.
The yoga schools are:
Purna Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga and its different variations, for the most part, aim at the fullest development of any human faculty the mind, emotions, life-force or the physical body. Such partial perfection is then allowed to spill over to one’s entire being. But Sri Aurobindo Purna Yoga or Integral Yoga focuses on the whole being in order to bring about total transformation. The approach, objective and means of Purna Yoga are all integral in essence.
In his philosophy, Rishi Aurobindo termed this rarefied region of higher consciousness as the “Supramental Consciousness”, the attainment of which is necessary for the liberation of the soul. The Master believed this stage of spiritual awareness to be potentially the ultimate rung on the human evolutionary ladder.
And the realization of this “Supramental Consciousness” is the principal aspiration of Sri Aurobindo’s Purna Yoga or Integral Yoga.
Gyana Yoga
Gyana refers to knowledge but the emphasis is not on acquiring information but on developing the analytical powers of the mind. The manner in which the power of analysis is applied depends on the metaphysical system within which it is practiced. In the Samkhya System of Indian philosophy, the focus is on understanding one’s own inner self. In Advaita (non-dualist Vedanta philosophy), the idea is to understand the difference between reality and illusion.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga is all about getting in touch with the Divine being by following the outpourings of one’s heart. The term ‘bhakti’ can be roughly translated to mean ‘devotion’, and this emotion coupled with the Christian concept of faith leads to a state of mind which can be described as being immersed in bhakti. This strand of yoga principally advocates love and devotion as the path to moksha or liberation.
Karma Yoga
According to the Bhagvad Gita, the three different paths of yoga (gyana, bhakti and karma) help to define three different categories of men, reflective, emotional and active, respectively, distinguished on account of the distribution of emphasis on the theoretical, emotional and practical aspects of human personalities.
Raj Yoga
Raj Yoga or Ashtanga yoga, which was formulated by Patanjali into a definite system from classical yoga, forms one of the Shad Darshanas or classical syatems of Indian philosophy. The school of Raja yoga prescribes to a particular meditative system, which focuses on the analysis and control of the field of human consciousness. Often known as the ‘royal road’ or the ‘royal path���. It  offers a comprehensive method for controlling waves of thought by channeling mental and physical energies into spiritual energy.
Hatha Yoga
The school of Hatha Yoga attaches a lot of importance to the perfect physical form, believing it to be a way of attaining spiritual perfection. And to this end it takes the help of pranayama (breath control exercises) and mudras (hand gestures) to attain self realization.
Often seen as part of Raja Yoga, the origins of Hatha Yoga can be traced to Gorakhnath, the 12th century founder of the Kanphata Yogis. The word ‘hatha’ is derived from the two root terms; ‘ha’ means the sun and ‘tha’ means the moon. Taken together, the term stands for ‘union of force’. Hence, central to Hatha Yoga disciplines is the harmonizing of its positive (sun) and negative (moon) currents.
Kundalini
Kundalini is the potential form of prana or life force, lying dormant in our bodies. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent (literally, ‘kundalini’ in Sanskrit is ‘coiled up’) lying at the base of our spine, which can spring awake when activated by spiritual disciplines. The practitioners of Kundalini Yoga concentrate on psychic centers or chakras in the body in order to generate a spiritual power, which is known as kundalini energy.
Mantra Yoga
Mantra Yoga refers to the repetition of mantras (words or sounds) during various yoga meditation techniques. This ritualistic chanting helps bind the mind to a single thought until it attains the state of Samadhi.
Tantra Yoga
The Tantra school equates spiritual awakening with the awakening and rising of the kundalini power. According to tantra, the kundalini is present in everything even in the smallest of particles, in the form of cosmic energy. Only a fraction of it is operative, while an unmeasured residue is left ‘coiled up’ and untapped at the ‘base root’.    
Hope you liked this blog!
This blog is written by Dr. Bimal Chhajer (India’s best heart doctor)
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i-heart-hinduism · 8 years ago
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Basic Hindu mantras
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Here I am going to give some basic Hindu mantras to main Hinduism deities. It may sound very basic and known to everyone to more experienced practitioners of Hinduism or born in India, yet a terra incognita to many westerners. 
1. Shiva mantra :
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA “Om Homage to Lord Shiva” Devata of mantra – Shiva. Very ancient and powerful mantra, removes all negative influences and brings inner and outer harmony. Give ability to keep mind silent and calm. Bring intuitive knowledge, fearlessness, stamina, asceticism and great confidence in practice. Protect from evil influences and bad karma.
2. Ganesh mantras: OM SHRI GANESHAYA NAMAHA (Om Homage to Ganesha) OM GUM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA Devata of mantra: Ganesha – Deva with a head of elephant, son of Shiva, known as ruler over heavenly armies of spirits and who brings good fortune, luck and knowledge. Patron of literature, arts and commercial activities. Gives perfection in intellectual work and right perception and knowledge of people, conceptions, what is real and what illusions.
3. OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA (“Om Homage to all-pervading transcendental consciousness”) Devata – Krishna, one of his names. Qualities: Brings spiritual enlightenment, self-realization, awareness about ultimate values, divine bliss, success in all beginnings.
4. HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE (“Glory to Krishna, Glory to Rama”) - The famous in the western world Hindu sanskrit mantra, brought to the west by Shrila Prabhupada in the 60’s and sung by the Beatles and many devotees around the world and considered by certain groups the supreme. Is it really supreme for you or not, a very nice mantra indeed among many others Dedicated to the glory of Krishna and Rama, who both are considered avatars or embodiments of great God Vishnu in a human form. Brings many many spiritual benefits. Takes away all worries, brings joy, harmony and energy. Gives clear mind, purifies heart from negativities and sins, gives intelligence. Eliminates confusion and evil, removes sorrows and sufferings. Brings light and love to everything. Have a number of Ayurvedic effects, especially for heart diseases and frees from drug-dependency among other things.
5. OM SHRI KRISHNAYA NAMAHA (Om Homage to shri Krishna) One more mantra to Krishna, the embodiment of Vishnu. Mantra helps to acquire happiness and success in all material and spiritual matters. Gives wisdom, joy, self-awareness and purity.
6. OM SHRI KRISHNAYA GOVINDAYA GOPIJANA VALLABHAYA NAMAHA - Mantra mentions several names of Krishna, brings joy, love, light, wisdom, purity, intelligence, spiritual realization, harmony and happiness. Very beneficial for a joyful mood. Harmonizes all health energies.
7. OM NAMO NARAYANAYA (Homage to Narayana) Narayana is a name of Vishnu. Mantra gives love to all existing, limitless power, fame, wisdom and liberation. Gives powers to overcome all obstacles arisen as an outcome of selfishness and confusion. Frees from a pride. Brings joy through awareness of absolute truth. Makes water “alive” or healing can be chanted while bathing.
8. OM SHRI RAMAYA NAMAHA (Om Homage to Rama) Rama – an avatar of god Vishnu, believed to be a divine ruler in very ancient times. His adventures have been described in Vedic scriptures Ramayana. His mantra gives spiritual powers, success in worldly matters, relieves from diseases, brings perfection. Helps in sorrows.
9. OM SHRI DURGAYAY NAMAHA (Om Homage to Durga) - Mantra dedicated to goddess Durga, removes evil influences, protects against dark disturbing forces, removes obstacles. Eliminates apathy, selfishness, gives power. Very popular among unmarried girls, among other things.
10. OM SHRI KALIKAYAI NAMAHA - Mantra of black goddess Kali, she takes care of her devotees as a loving mother for her child. Protects from evil psychic influences. Destroys wrong inclinations, brings fearlessness and powers to overcome confusion. Believed to be giving magic powers and drinking blood of demons. Take care!
11. OM SHRI HANUMATE NAMAHA (Om Homage to Hanuman) - You probably remember the monkey-men, servant of Lord Rama, the son of Sun-god – Hanuman! His mantra gives strength, energy of life, ability to overcome fears, difficulties, gives power over emotions. This mantra may help in very critical situations.
12. OM SHRI KARTIKEYAYA NAMAHA - Mantra to Kartikeya or Murugan, son of Shiva, heavenly warrior. Gives strength, might, victory in fights, fame, qualities of a leader, manliness, skills.
13. OM SHRI SKANDAYA NAMAHA - Yet another name of Murugan. Gives fame, decisiveness, courage, victory and success in struggles, liberates from bad karma.
14. OM SHRI MAHA LAKSHMIYAI NAMAHA - Mantra of Lakshmi Devi – goddess of good fortune and happiness. Gives all kinds of success, both spiritual and material. Bring harmony to a family. Gives abundance, health, wisdom, compassion, non-violence, virtue, self-knowledge and intelligence. Heavenly spouse of Lord Vishnu.
15. OM SHRI MAHA SARASWATIYAI NAMAHA Or OM AEEM SARASWATIYAI NAMAHA Mantra of goddess Saraswati – patroness of arts, knowledge, learning and eloquence. Her mantra gives all kinds of creativeness, true knowledge and intelligence, intuition, love, beauty, self-control, harmony and so on. It is repeated before giving lectures, performances, writing. Not to be confused with the river with the same name in India
16. JAYA JAYA SHRI NRISIMHA OR HRIM KSHRAUM HRIM - Mantras of Lord Nrisimha – the avatar (embodiment) of Lord Vishnu in ancient times, similar to Krishna, but with a Lion head (simha – lion). A very protective mantra, protects against all psychic influences, fears, etc. Brings the help of a lion.
17. OM UGRAM VIRAM MAHAVISHNUM JVALANTAM VISHWATOMUKHAM NRISIMHAM BHISHANA BHADRAM MRITYUMRITYUM NAMAMYAHAM - Once again – a very poverful mantra-prayer to Lord Nrisimha, helps and protects from all dangers, problems and evil influences.
18. OM TRYAMBAKAM YAJAMAHE SUGANDHIM PUSHTI VARDHANAM URVARUKAMIVA BANDHANAN MRITYOR MUKSHIYA MAMRITAT - Considered a very powerful health mantra, a prayer to Lord Shiva from Rigveda. Should be of some worth if kept so long!
1 and 8 gives a very good number 9. We have exactly 9 planets in the universe and I am going to finish for now! Be good, practice mantras and tell me which one is the supreme for you!
P.S.If you are interested in Hindu mantras and sacred texts, you may look also in my collection of Hindu stotras and mantras under Scriptures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzlZEJrZ_TQ
People are often searching for experience. If we speak about Hinduism – the word yoga has gained a wide popularity in the west in last decades. However, not too many people in the west take time to realize, that yoga is a name for a practice of Hinduism or in other name – when we think what actually is Hinduism – most people and state organizations agree that it is Religion. And Hatha Yoga – or gymnastic postures - now wide spread in the west – is one of the forms of religious practice. The lowest one, because the most physical and most rooted in the transitional world, but practiced accordingly can bring a little more healthy and prolonged life.
But practicing only physical exercises it is easy to lose the goal behind clouds. And the absolute goal of yoga is an absolute union with God or Divine. The union with divine traditionally can be reached most successfully with such methods as limitless love to divine and humanity, mantras and hymns to God, contemplation about Divine, selfless service to God and man and finally prostrations to God. While in the west there are many speculations about the word of yoga, like Hot Yoga, Yoga Science, yoga this and yoga that, which often is done due to marketing and commercial reasons and often doesn’t have much in common with yoga actually, according to traditional classification and Vedic scriptures there are generally five types of yoga, which includes Bhakti Yoga or yoga of love to God, Raja Yoga or contemplation about God, Jñana Yoga or yoga of wisdom and knowledge about God, Karma Yoga or selfless service to God and humanity and finally Hatha Yoga or prostrations and other postures to God.
So, there are five major yogas. We have heard from scriptures that in the history have been times, when the lifespan of people was like thousand years, everyone was living in a great abundance and religious teachings were flourishing. People had time to practice all five yogas and reach the highest realizations and unity with God. Does it sound like about us? Well, in our times the lifespan of people is short, we don’t know what will bring tomorrow for us, we don’t know when we will die and most people are poor and have to spend most time in worldly activities, so we have to make priorities.
Love is one of the most universal priorities possible, and so are mantras, which bring it to us. The one may be not very clever or educated, may be not in a very good physical shape to perform all postures, one may not have a teacher near them or pay for classes or travel. Yet, almost everyone can chant mantras, have love and harmony and be happy. You always have a mind to work with. And Mind is not only brains, but what perceives the world and yourself, what makes you alive or dead.
Religion can be the greatest joy, adventure and happiness and it is often sad to deal with people who don’t have such experience, who tend to use different religious elements for commercial reasons, who tend to see religion as restrictions or organizations. And now to the meat. While Hinduism has collected thousands of effective mantras and hymns, in this article I am going to introduce you with the most popular.
Also, I have to warn that Hinduism mantras are not the same thing as Buddhist mantras you may find elsewhere. They work differently and use different energy channels in the body and although both approaches may be good, mixing is strongly not recommended, at least not in the same session. It is much like with language. While there may be several beautiful languages, mixing them might bring something poor.
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yogatherapyclass · 5 years ago
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Yoga Philosophy
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Yoga is an ancient art that goes way beyond the practice of asanas - postures. It is a philosophy that goes back to the times before the religions existed more than 2,000 years ago. It is a philosophy that talks about union. It talks about union between all human beings and also about union with a greater energy that itself connects us all.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient art that has the aim of bringing the practitioner back to the true self. The ancient scriptures tell us that the true self is the state of bliss. It is a state of inner happiness. The sage Patanjali who wrote the 'Yoga Sutra' - an ancient recorded text on yoga codifying the system to date - gave the definition of yoga as 'Yoga chiti vriti nirodha'. This translates from the original Sanskrit into English to meaning that yoga is the stopping of the fluctuations of the psyche. Historically there have been two main paths of yoga -- raja yoga and hatha yoga - and these both ultimately aim for control over the mind. Asana practice - the practice of yoga postures - was created in order to stabilise us for sitting during meditation. Yoga was created ultimately to bring us into meditation and hence deeper states of awareness.
Dhyana
Now the next question arises what is meditation or dhyana in Sanskrit? Meditation is the stilling of the mind by the stilling of the body.
Also pranayama - the breathing techniques of yoga - aim to still the breath and hence still the mind.
Our meditational practices in yoga help us to overcome the ego. The ego is individuality. But in reality we are all connected and with yoga we realise this connection. The definition of yoga is union. Through the practice of yoga one realises the union between the you who you think you are, that is your individual consciousness, and the you who you really are - that is you are a part of a supreme consciousness. In order to transcend between the individual consciousness and the supreme consciousness one needs to overcome the ego. And in order to overcome the ego we need what the Upanishad texts describe as Vivek Chudamani. This is the crown jewel of the power of discrimination over what is real and what is not. Hence we need to be able to see that really there is no I but that we are all connected.
We need to establish what it means to come back to the true self - or what is self realisation. Self realisation is in essence identifying yourself as peace and happiness. Once you have made this true identification you will just radiate peace and happiness.
The Chakras
One way of looking at yoga is in terms of the chakras (energy points within us). Now yoga aims for the ultimate functioning of all the chakras within us. This lifts us from individual consciousness to supreme consciousness.
The Vedas
Now the Vedas - the scriptures which talk about knowledge - say that there are three defects in the mind. These are mala which is dirt, waste, excessive thoughts and emotions. Then there is vikshep which is instability and then there is avaran which means cover. The presence of avaran means that it is very hard for us to see the truth.
The ancient philosophy of India was named Sanathana Dharma which can be translated as meaning the eternal law. It saw everything in the universe as being connected, as having a spiritual union - that is man, animals, nature, the whole universe. In Vedic times - the times in which the Vedas were written - the world was called Vasudevakudambakam which means one world family. When we consider the world as one family, we experience true spirituality. The world at that time was seen as being beyond the differences brought about by race, country or religion. Spirituality is about seeing the unity in all things.
The Paths of Yoga
Moving on from this knowledge, it is important for us to understand that there are several different paths of yoga all of which lead us back to self realisation or inner happiness.
Karma yoga is the yoga of action. It is about removing mala. There are two different types of action or karma. Sakam involves looking for the fruit of one's actions whereas nishkam is purer. It involves not looking for the fruit's of one's actions but acting through a pure heart and pure mind with no thought for expectation. Living a life of nishkam karma leads to a happier, more well balanced and peaceful life.
Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion. There exists conditional devotion, however unconditional devotion is what is needed to remove vikshep or instability.
Gyana yoga is the yoga of knowledge. It exists in order to remove avaran or cover. Gyana yoga talks a lot about the nature of consciousness. Now the nature of consciousness can be described as 'sat chit anand'. 'Sat' is existence or truth. We are all immortal in the sense that we are all souls and the soul itself is immortal. This is our true nature. We are all in search of our true immortal selves - our souls. This is why we constantly aim to live a longer life - we are trying to connect with our true selves - our immortal souls. 'Chit' is wisdom - hence we are all looking for wisdom, we are looking for the wisdom that inherently is inside every one of us. 'Anand' is bliss. Happiness is that which we have all always looked for and in the deepest core of our beings we are all essentially happiness or bliss. On the basis of sat chit anand we are all looking for self realisation or inner happiness through knowledge.
Raja yoga is the kingly path. Just as a king brings law and order into his kingdom, the practitioner of raja yoga rules the kingdom within - the kingdom of the senses, so rather than being ruled by the senses, the yogi is in a state of peace and has his/her senses under control. The yogi brings law and order within.
Vedanta
After the Vedic period of Indian philosophy, the Vedantic period commenced. Vedanta means the end of the Vedas - the time where knowledge ceases and self realisation begins.
Within the Vedantic tradition of philosophy, we read that there are five layers above the consciousness which stop us from identifying with who we are. We are all actually so caught up in these 5 layers that we think we are these 5 layers. These layers are known in Vedanta as the 'panch kosha'. The word 'panch' means five and the word 'kosha' means envelopes or coverings over our consciousness. With the practice of yoga we move towards the innermost layer.
The first layer is called the food body or the physical body. This is known as the annamaya kosha. It is our physical body composed of the nutritients we have eaten - protein, minerals and so forth. Many times we identify ourselves with the physical body and do not look beyond that. Even when we are only looking at the physical body it is important to realise that the food we eat makes up our body and our brain. Therefore by eating healthily and also by exercising we maintain a healthy and hence happy physical and mental state.
The second layer is known as the pranamaya kosha and this is the energy or etheric body. Prana can be called breath, oxygen or vital energy and relates to the chi of Chinese philosophy. Oxygen is needed for every cell of our body. Trees and plants release oxygen hence we feel alive when we are surrounded by and at one with nature.
The third layer is known as the manomaya kosha or the mental body. From this understanding we can appreciate that the mind and the body are connected. This is why we are physically more healthy when we keep a positive outlook. Laughter and happiness always create good health.
The fourth layer is the gyanamaya kosha or intuitive body. This is where we experience our sixth sense. The answers to all of our questions are found in reality in the fourth layer.
And to be in the awareness of the fifth layer is our ultimate aim as yogis -- this is the bliss body -or anandmaya kosha. We experience this when we have transcended the ego completely and have become aware of who we truly are and our connection with everything. Yoga is a journey that takes us from annamaya kosha to anandmaya kosha. Once we have reached anandmaya kosha we then live in the bliss body.
It can be said that meditation is a practice that allows us to go beyond the mind and senses to the deeper levels to see who we truly are.
Within the practices of yoga, asanas work on the food body, pranayama works on the energy body and dhyana or meditation works on the mental body. Hence the three practices of yoga push us further and further towards the deepest kosha.
Turiya
A 'turiya' is a person who has transcended the five koshas. The Turiya state is the transcendental self. It is not affected by anything - neither likes nor dislikes. It is in a balanced state. When we reach this state - when we are in the bliss body - then we are beyond both pleasure and pain. We practice yoga in order to move away from being the body, the mind and the breath and just move to being the person on the inside.
The Ashtanga
The raja yoga of Patanjali talks about controlling the mind and hence the breath and hence the body. It has eight limbs attached to it - the asthanga. The word asht means eight and the word anga means limbs. The first steps of the asthanga are yama and niyama. Yama are social rules and regulations and niyama are personal rules and regulations. Just these two limbs alone are enough to give one self realisation. The other paths of yoga also take one to self realisation. To discuss these further, yama includes ahimsa (non violence), satya (truth and honesty, asteya (non stealing), bramacharya (functioning according to the supreme consciousness - which leads to acting in balance) and aparigraha (non accumulation or a sense of non possession).
Niyama includes sauch (cleanliness including mental cleanliness), santosh (contentment), tapa (austerity or self discipline), swadhyaya (self study) and Ishwar parnidhan (belief in the Supreme or seeing the Supreme in everything).
The eight limbs of yoga, the asthanga, are as follows - yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyan and samadhi.
Dharna is one pointedness where one is so focused on the object of concentration that all other thoughts disappear.
Pratyahara is withdrawal from the senses. Continuous practice of asanas and pranayama brings one to pratyahara. All the techniques of meditation are pratyahara.
Samadhi is oneness with the universe. Once one has crossed dhyan and reached Samadhi, the awareness of 'I' disappears. There is only oneness with the focus of your meditation, and ultimately with the universe. At Samadhi the ego disappears and there is a realisation that we are all connected.
Within Samadhi there is savikalpa samadhi where some seeds of 'I' are left and there is nirvikalpa samadhi where no seeds are left. In yoga the aim is to move towards nirvikalpa samadhi.
Kewalya
According to Patanjali the ultimate aim of yoga is towards kewalya where there is no return from samadhi. This is the state of oneness with the universe in which there is no sense of self, no sense of 'I', no ego and no awareness of it to return to. It is just a state where we realise how we are all connected and it is a state of bliss because it is where we have overcome all the attachments of the pleasures and pains that attachment to this material world brings. It is where we connect with the supreme self and experience our natural state of bliss. It is at this point where we have realised our true self through the practice of yoga.
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The History of Yoga and Its Different Philosophies
Yoga, in today's world has become a commodity and something of a statement. Arguably India's greatest cultural export, yoga has morphed into a mass culture phenomenon. All our popular assumptions about this ancient science actually date back to the last 100 -odd years. Yoga has been subjected to reinventions for thousands of years. Yoga, today involves a complex regimen of postures (asanas) - that are either held for a long duration of time or are executed in a rapid manner - along with breath control (pranayamas). However, the ancient Hindu texts, like Bhagvad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali make no mention of body postures and breathe control. They have laid more stress on the theory and practice of meditation (dhyana).
So, what are we missing here? How did Yoga undergo such a transformation since its use in the classical scriptures? To understand this, let us have a brief look at the history of yoga.
The word Yoga was first mentioned in the oldest sacred Hindu scriptures, The Vedas. The Vedas are a collection of texts that describe rituals, hymns, mantras and songs to be used by Brahmans, or the Vedic priests. The first mention of the term yoga was found in a hymn to the Sun-God in the Rig Veda (1700-500 BCE). The Vedas were known to contain the oldest known Yogic teachings and these teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is characterized by rituals and ceremonies that strive to surpass the limitations of the mind. During the period of Vedic Yoga, people practiced the ritualistic way of life. Various rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices were considered as a means to connect to the spiritual world.
Pre-classical period 500-200 BCE:
The vedic priests or the Brahmanas, redefined and developed the yoga and they then documented their beliefs and practices in the Upanishads. Upanishads are a huge work that contains more than 200 scriptures. Upanishads changed the idea of ritual sacrifice of Vedas and taught the principles of sacrificing the ego through a medium of self-knowledge, action (Karma yoga) and wisdom (Jnana yoga). Upanishads also introduced the acoustic spells, most prominent amongst them being, 'OM', which is the spell of the Supreme Being.
Yoga also shares some characteristics with Buddhism. In the 6th century, Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which laid stress on meditation and the science of asanas. It was during this period that a number of principles of yoga theory and practice were formulated. Siddharth Gautam, was the first Buddhist to practice yoga and he became the "Awakened" or "Enlightened" One (Buddha), and so was liberated from future rebirths, realizing the extinction of suffering (nirvana) at the end of his life at the age of 35. Amongst the Indian religious groups, the Jains were the last ones to inculcate the teachings of Yoga. In 1200 BC, the great Jain teacher Rishaba, who was the exponent of the tradition of Jainism, emphasized on the principles defined by yoga, which involved efforts dedicated to the liberation of the spirit.
Later, around 500 BC, the Bhagvad Gita was scripted. Today, it is one of the oldest scriptures that define the yoga. The Gita is mainly result of the conversation that takes place between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna. The Gita mainly states that, our life should be filled with actions, irrespective of the rewards to be gained. Our actions have to free from the ego and be benign in nature. The Bhagvad Gita had reiterated the doctrines found in the Upanishads. Gita states that, each man should follow Bhakti (devotion), Jnana (Knowledge) and Karma (selfless actions). Teachings in the Bhadvad Gita strive to bring about unification between the Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga - stating that each is responsible for the other.
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Classical Period (200 BCE-500 CE)
The classical period is mainly marked by the creation of the Yoga sutras By Sage Patanjali in the 2nd century. It is composed of 195 aphorisms or sutras (from the Sanskrit word i.e., thread) that explain the Raja Yoga or the Classical yoga and its underlying principle, Patanjali's Eightfold path of 'Ashtanga Yoga' (Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga). Patanjali's sutras are the first compilation of the yoga philosophy.
Sage Patanjali believed that each individual is a composed of matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha). He further believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit - a stark contrast to Vedic and Pre-Classical Yoga that signify the union of body and spirit.
Post Classical Yoga (500-1500CE):
In this period, yogic principles underwent a sea-change. Here yoga no longer tries to liberate the person from reality but teaches a person to accept the present and live in it. This period asserts the teachings of Vedanta (philosophical system based on the teachings of the Upanishads), that there is fundamental unity in everything in the universe. In this period, yogis began to exploit the hidden power of the human body. As a result, yogic masters designed many new techniques that would lead to healthy bodies and prolong life. Hatha Yoga was a product of such teachings, which is now practiced widely in the world.
Modern Yoga:
Yoga came to the attention of an educated western public in the mid- 19th century along with other topics of Indian philosophy, when yoga masters started travelling to West and attracting attention and following. The first Hindu teacher to actively promote and broadcast various aspects of yoga to the western audience was Swami Vivekananda. He had come to deliver a talk in The Parliament of Religions, Chicago, in 1893. During his talk, Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Saint Ramakrishna, addressed the gathering as, 'Brothers and Sisters of America". Through these words, he attracted many students to yoga.
In the early 21st century, Hatha Yoga was strongly practiced and followed in India due to the works of T. Krishnamacharya, Swami Sivananda and other yogis practicing Hatha Yoga. In was during 1930s and 40s, that Yoga gained more public acceptance due to its celebrity endorsement. In 1965, Shrila Prabhupada came to the United States and founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON). He spread a movement based on Bhakthi Yoga (yoga of devotion).
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During this period, most of the significant Indian teachers propagating yoga were from two families - one belonging to Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963) and the other to Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888-1989). Many yoga masters including B.K.S. Iyengar (1918-2014), K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009), Swami Vishnudevananda (1927-1993), and Swami Satchidananda (1914-2002) were actively teaching the philosophies of Hatha yoga.
Today, Yoga has gained world-wide popularity and is used daily for profound mental, physical and spiritual awareness along with its benefits as a form of stretching, and as an enhancer of breath control and of core strength.
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joroanblog · 6 years ago
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The Types of Yoga
The expression "yoga" is connected to an arrangement of practices and techniques that likewise incorporate Hindu, Jain and Buddhist practices. In Hinduism these practices incorporate Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Laya Yoga and Hatha Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga Yoga Sutras of Pantajali, which are the most seasoned known composed gathering about yoga, incorporate the Raja Yoga or the Ashtanga Yoga, (the eight appendages to be drilled to achieve Samadhi). A definitive point of the yoga practice is to get Samadhi or solidarity of the individual self with the Supreme Being. Patanjali states that one can accomplish this incomparable association by disposal the 'vruttis' or the various adjustments of the brain. The psyche can thusly be constrained by right control and preparing of the body. The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali include: Yama: Social restrictions or moral qualities for living. They include: Ahimsa (Non-viciousness), Satya (honesty) Asteya (non-taking), Brahmacharya (chastity, constancy to one's accomplice) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Niyama - They incorporate the individual observances of - Sauca (lucidity of brain, discourse and body), Santosha (satisfaction), Tapas (constancy). Svadhyaya (investigation of self, self-reflection, investigation of Vedas), and Ishvara-Pranidhana (examination of God/Supreme Being/True Self) Asana: Literally signifies "situate", and in Patanjali's Sutras alludes to the situated position utilized for reflection. Pranayama - Prana, breath, "ayama", to control or stop i.e., guideline of breath Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the sense in arrangement to reflection. Dharana - Concentration Dhyana - Meditation. Samadhi - Liberating one's body to achieve joy. Additionally, Patanjali has distinguished some fundamental hindrances that don't permit the brain from rehearsing yoga. He has partitioned them into 2 classes: Antarayas (gatecrashers in the way of yoga) Viksepasahabhuvah (coinciding with mental diversion) There are 9 Antarayas: Vyadhi (physical ailment) - If a body is experiencing some ailment, it should be relieved and reestablished to a solid state. Ailment causes issue of the brain and makes it hard to rehearse yoga or some other type of physical control Styana (mental lethargy) - The human want to harvest the products of activity with no exertion isn't helpful for emotional well-being. Solid self discipline should be utilized to get rid of this affliction. Samshaya (question) - Faith is the main fix to dissipate all emerging questions. Pramada (lack of regard) - If one is neglectful of develop ethics, Yoga can't be drilled. Alasya (physical lethargy) - Involving in solid exercises beats this apathy Avirati (separation) - The mind should be withdrawn from material articles to accomplish Yoga Bhrantidarsana (false discernment) - prompts self-pride and should be fended off. Alabdha-bhumikatva (non-achievement of yogic states) - Recognizing the abhorrent qualities as a part of our character and banishing them would help over the long haul Anavasthitatva (falling ceaselessly from yogic states achieved) There are 4 Viksepasahabhuvah Dukha - distress and enduring perpetrating the human personality. Daurmanasya - disillusionment due to non-satisfaction of wants and desire. Angamejayatva - fretfulness of the appendages because of mental unsettling. Shvasa and prashvasa - constrained inward breath and exhalation. Controlled breathing or a parity in breathing applies a quieting impact in the psyche. Patanjali states that these hindrances can be evacuated through contemplation and dedication to God; which will make ready for self-acknowledgment. Vashishta Yoga: Yoga Vashishta should have been unveiled by the Vedic sage, Vashishta to his illustrious pupil Lord Rama, who is said to be a resurrection of Lord Vishnu. Yoga Vashishta includes 32000 shlokas. In this sacred text, sage Vashishta clarifies the lessons of Vedanta in type of stories to Lord Rama. He shows him the beguiling idea of the world, shows him the best way to accomplish intelligence and joy in this way demonstrating to him the way prompting the preeminent soul. Kundalini Yoga (Laya Yoga): This type of yoga was first presented in The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad in the primary portion of seventeenth century. Kundalini yoga is the yoga of awareness. Kundalini is base vitality or Shakti, which untruths torpid and is curled at the base of the spine like a snake. It is the vitality of cognizance and mindfulness in any human structure. Kundalini yoga should stir the dozing Kundalini Shakti from its snaked position at the spinal base through a progression of 6 chakras, and infiltrate the seventh chakra, or the crown. The motivation behind this type of yoga through day by day routine with regards to kriyas and contemplation in sadhana is said to be a viable innovation of human cognizance to accomplish their definitive imaginative potential. Rehearsing this Kundalini Yoga routinely, drives one to be freed from one's Karma and to understand their motivation throughout everyday life (Dharma). Nothing Yoga: The fundamental hypothesis behind Nada Yoga is that the whole universe and every one of its occupants comprise of sound vibrations or nadas (Sanskrit, 'nad' signifies sound). 'Nothing' reverberates to the sound of 'Om', which is the crude type of vitality. Nothing yoga practices types of activity calling the association of the self with God, through sound or music. The N?da yoga framework partitions sound or music into two classifications: inside sound, anahata, and outside sound, ahata. In Nada yoga, the individual concentrates on the 'anahata' nothing or the inward stable. The spotlight is to be principally on the sound that is created inside the human body and not on any outside vibrations. The applicant encounters a sentiment of stillness, which mixes an ability to reconnect with the spirit or the 'atman'. Nothing yoga helps with tuning ourselves to every one of the sounds, at last inundating oneself with the grandiose sound, 'Om'. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali states that, the mantra 'Om' is "the sound that communicates the Supreme Being, which ought to be over and again recited while simultaneously engrossing its importance." Jnana yoga: Jnana (insight or information) is the most troublesome way to accomplish in Yoga and requires extraordinary quality of will and astuteness. The essential objective of this type of yoga is to wind up freed from the misleading universe of maya (musings and observations) and to accomplish association of the internal identity (Atman) with the unity of all life (Brahman). This is accomplished by persistently rehearsing the psychological strategies of self-doubting, consideration and cognizant enlightenment expressed in the sadhana chatushtaya (Four Pillars of Knowledge). These Four Pillars are the means toward accomplishing freedom. Nonstop routine with regards to these means would develop profound knowledge, comprehension and decrease enduring and disappointment throughout everyday life. The 4 stages are: Viveka (insight, segregation) - conscious scholarly exertion to separate between the changeless and the brief and Self and not-Self Vairagya (separation) - The mind should be withdrawn from material items to achieve Yoga Shatsampat (six ideals) - six mental practices of tranquility, restriction, renunciation, continuance, trust and center to balance out the brain and feelings Mumukshutva (longing) - enthusiastic want for freedom from torment. It is similarly critical to rehearse modesty and sympathy on the way of self-acknowledgment. Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti (commitment or love) Yoga is one of the four principle ways to accomplish illumination. This type of yoga tries to join the bhakta (wannabe) with the Divine. Bhakti Yoga is said to be the least demanding and the most immediate technique to encounter the solidarity of brain, body and soul. Bhakti Yoga requires just an open, adoring heart, though Hatha Yoga requires a solid and adaptable body, Raja Yoga requires a trained and thought psyche, and Jnana Yoga requires a sharp insight. Bhakti Yoga supplements different ways of yoga well, and it is said that jnana (information or shrewdness) will develop when you submerge yourself in the reverential practices of Bhakti Yoga. Hatha yoga Hatha (Ha-sun; tha-moon) yoga alludes to adjusting the manly angles dynamic, hot, sun-and ladylike perspectives responsive, cool, moon-inside us all. It makes a way toward equalization and joining the contrary powers. It endeavors to accomplish the association of psyche and body by a progression of asanas (stances) and pranayama (breathing activities) as portrayed in old Hindu writings. These practices help initiate the Kundalini vitality and refine the assemblage of negative musings. It is exceptionally mainstream type of Yoga in the Western world as of now. Business Name: AgapeYogaandFitness.com Street Address: 1920 Terracina Drive Suite 200 City: Sacramento State: CA Zip Code: 95834 Phone Number: 916 835 7717 Website: www.AgapeYogaandFitness.com Business Email: [email protected] Business Hours: Mo - Fr 5PM - 8PM Saturday: 8:30AM to 11AM
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yesdanielblisslove · 6 years ago
Text
The Types of Yoga
The expression "yoga" is connected to an arrangement of practices and techniques that likewise incorporate Hindu, Jain and Buddhist practices. In Hinduism these practices incorporate Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Laya Yoga and Hatha Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga Yoga Sutras of Pantajali, which are the most seasoned known composed gathering about yoga, incorporate the Raja Yoga or the Ashtanga Yoga, (the eight appendages to be drilled to achieve Samadhi). A definitive point of the yoga practice is to get Samadhi or solidarity of the individual self with the Supreme Being. Patanjali states that one can accomplish this incomparable association by disposal the 'vruttis' or the various adjustments of the brain. The psyche can thusly be constrained by right control and preparing of the body. The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali include: Yama: Social restrictions or moral qualities for living. They include: Ahimsa (Non-viciousness), Satya (honesty) Asteya (non-taking), Brahmacharya (chastity, constancy to one's accomplice) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Niyama - They incorporate the individual observances of - Sauca (lucidity of brain, discourse and body), Santosha (satisfaction), Tapas (constancy). Svadhyaya (investigation of self, self-reflection, investigation of Vedas), and Ishvara-Pranidhana (examination of God/Supreme Being/True Self) Asana: Literally signifies "situate", and in Patanjali's Sutras alludes to the situated position utilized for reflection. Pranayama - Prana, breath, "ayama", to control or stop i.e., guideline of breath Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the sense in arrangement to reflection. Dharana - Concentration Dhyana - Meditation. Samadhi - Liberating one's body to achieve joy. Additionally, Patanjali has distinguished some fundamental hindrances that don't permit the brain from rehearsing yoga. He has partitioned them into 2 classes: Antarayas (gatecrashers in the way of yoga) Viksepasahabhuvah (coinciding with mental diversion) There are 9 Antarayas: Vyadhi (physical ailment) - If a body is experiencing some ailment, it should be relieved and reestablished to a solid state. Ailment causes issue of the brain and makes it hard to rehearse yoga or some other type of physical control Styana (mental lethargy) - The human want to harvest the products of activity with no exertion isn't helpful for emotional well-being. Solid self discipline should be utilized to get rid of this affliction. Samshaya (question) - Faith is the main fix to dissipate all emerging questions. Pramada (lack of regard) - If one is neglectful of develop ethics, Yoga can't be drilled. Alasya (physical lethargy) - Involving in solid exercises beats this apathy Avirati (separation) - The mind should be withdrawn from material articles to accomplish Yoga Bhrantidarsana (false discernment) - prompts self-pride and should be fended off. Alabdha-bhumikatva (non-achievement of yogic states) - Recognizing the abhorrent qualities as a part of our character and banishing them would help over the long haul Anavasthitatva (falling ceaselessly from yogic states achieved) There are 4 Viksepasahabhuvah Dukha - distress and enduring perpetrating the human personality. Daurmanasya - disillusionment due to non-satisfaction of wants and desire. Angamejayatva - fretfulness of the appendages because of mental unsettling. Shvasa and prashvasa - constrained inward breath and exhalation. Controlled breathing or a parity in breathing applies a quieting impact in the psyche. Patanjali states that these hindrances can be evacuated through contemplation and dedication to God; which will make ready for self-acknowledgment. Vashishta Yoga: Yoga Vashishta should have been unveiled by the Vedic sage, Vashishta to his illustrious pupil Lord Rama, who is said to be a resurrection of Lord Vishnu. Yoga Vashishta includes 32000 shlokas. In this sacred text, sage Vashishta clarifies the lessons of Vedanta in type of stories to Lord Rama. He shows him the beguiling idea of the world, shows him the best way to accomplish intelligence and joy in this way demonstrating to him the way prompting the preeminent soul. Kundalini Yoga (Laya Yoga): This type of yoga was first presented in The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad in the primary portion of seventeenth century. Kundalini yoga is the yoga of awareness. Kundalini is base vitality or Shakti, which untruths torpid and is curled at the base of the spine like a snake. It is the vitality of cognizance and mindfulness in any human structure. Kundalini yoga should stir the dozing Kundalini Shakti from its snaked position at the spinal base through a progression of 6 chakras, and infiltrate the seventh chakra, or the crown. The motivation behind this type of yoga through day by day routine with regards to kriyas and contemplation in sadhana is said to be a viable innovation of human cognizance to accomplish their definitive imaginative potential. Rehearsing this Kundalini Yoga routinely, drives one to be freed from one's Karma and to understand their motivation throughout everyday life (Dharma). Nothing Yoga: The fundamental hypothesis behind Nada Yoga is that the whole universe and every one of its occupants comprise of sound vibrations or nadas (Sanskrit, 'nad' signifies sound). 'Nothing' reverberates to the sound of 'Om', which is the crude type of vitality. Nothing yoga practices types of activity calling the association of the self with God, through sound or music. The N?da yoga framework partitions sound or music into two classifications: inside sound, anahata, and outside sound, ahata. In Nada yoga, the individual concentrates on the 'anahata' nothing or the inward stable. The spotlight is to be principally on the sound that is created inside the human body and not on any outside vibrations. The applicant encounters a sentiment of stillness, which mixes an ability to reconnect with the spirit or the 'atman'. Nothing yoga helps with tuning ourselves to every one of the sounds, at last inundating oneself with the grandiose sound, 'Om'. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali states that, the mantra 'Om' is "the sound that communicates the Supreme Being, which ought to be over and again recited while simultaneously engrossing its importance." Jnana yoga: Jnana (insight or information) is the most troublesome way to accomplish in Yoga and requires extraordinary quality of will and astuteness. The essential objective of this type of yoga is to wind up freed from the misleading universe of maya (musings and observations) and to accomplish association of the internal identity (Atman) with the unity of all life (Brahman). This is accomplished by persistently rehearsing the psychological strategies of self-doubting, consideration and cognizant enlightenment expressed in the sadhana chatushtaya (Four Pillars of Knowledge). These Four Pillars are the means toward accomplishing freedom. Nonstop routine with regards to these means would develop profound knowledge, comprehension and decrease enduring and disappointment throughout everyday life. The 4 stages are: Viveka (insight, segregation) - conscious scholarly exertion to separate between the changeless and the brief and Self and not-Self Vairagya (separation) - The mind should be withdrawn from material items to achieve Yoga Shatsampat (six ideals) - six mental practices of tranquility, restriction, renunciation, continuance, trust and center to balance out the brain and feelings Mumukshutva (longing) - enthusiastic want for freedom from torment. It is similarly critical to rehearse modesty and sympathy on the way of self-acknowledgment. Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti (commitment or love) Yoga is one of the four principle ways to accomplish illumination. This type of yoga tries to join the bhakta (wannabe) with the Divine. Bhakti Yoga is said to be the least demanding and the most immediate technique to encounter the solidarity of brain, body and soul. Bhakti Yoga requires just an open, adoring heart, though Hatha Yoga requires a solid and adaptable body, Raja Yoga requires a trained and thought psyche, and Jnana Yoga requires a sharp insight. Bhakti Yoga supplements different ways of yoga well, and it is said that jnana (information or shrewdness) will develop when you submerge yourself in the reverential practices of Bhakti Yoga. Hatha yoga Hatha (Ha-sun; tha-moon) yoga alludes to adjusting the manly angles dynamic, hot, sun-and ladylike perspectives responsive, cool, moon-inside us all. It makes a way toward equalization and joining the contrary powers. It endeavors to accomplish the association of psyche and body by a progression of asanas (stances) and pranayama (breathing activities) as portrayed in old Hindu writings. These practices help initiate the Kundalini vitality and refine the assemblage of negative musings. It is exceptionally mainstream type of Yoga in the Western world as of now. Business Name: AgapeYogaandFitness.com Street Address: 1920 Terracina Drive Suite 200 City: Sacramento State: CA Zip Code: 95834 Phone Number: 916 835 7717 Website: www.AgapeYogaandFitness.com Business Email: [email protected] Business Hours: Mo - Fr 5PM - 8PM Saturday: 8:30AM to 11AM
0 notes
yesdanielblisslove · 6 years ago
Text
The Types of Yoga
The expression "yoga" is connected to an arrangement of practices and techniques that likewise incorporate Hindu, Jain and Buddhist practices. In Hinduism these practices incorporate Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Laya Yoga and Hatha Yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga
Yoga Sutras of Pantajali, which are the most seasoned known composed gathering about yoga, incorporate the Raja Yoga or the Ashtanga Yoga, (the eight appendages to be drilled to achieve Samadhi). A definitive point of the yoga practice is to get Samadhi or solidarity of the individual self with the Supreme Being. Patanjali states that one can accomplish this incomparable association by disposal the 'vruttis' or the various adjustments of the brain. The psyche can thusly be constrained by right control and preparing of the body. The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali include:
Yama: Social restrictions or moral qualities for living. They include: Ahimsa (Non-viciousness), Satya (honesty) Asteya (non-taking), Brahmacharya (chastity, constancy to one's accomplice) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
Niyama - They incorporate the individual observances of - Sauca (lucidity of brain, discourse and body), Santosha (satisfaction), Tapas (constancy). Svadhyaya (investigation of self, self-reflection, investigation of Vedas), and Ishvara-Pranidhana (examination of God/Supreme Being/True Self)
Asana: Literally signifies "situate", and in Patanjali's Sutras alludes to the situated position utilized for reflection.
Pranayama - Prana, breath, "ayama", to control or stop i.e., guideline of breath
Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the sense in arrangement to reflection.
Dharana - Concentration
Dhyana - Meditation.
Samadhi - Liberating one's body to achieve joy.
Additionally, Patanjali has distinguished some fundamental hindrances that don't permit the brain from rehearsing yoga. He has partitioned them into 2 classes:
Antarayas (gatecrashers in the way of yoga)
Viksepasahabhuvah (coinciding with mental diversion)
There are 9 Antarayas:
Vyadhi (physical ailment) - If a body is experiencing some ailment, it should be relieved and reestablished to a solid state. Ailment causes issue of the brain and makes it hard to rehearse yoga or some other type of physical control
Styana (mental lethargy) - The human want to harvest the products of activity with no exertion isn't helpful for emotional well-being. Solid self discipline should be utilized to get rid of this affliction.
Samshaya (question) - Faith is the main fix to dissipate all emerging questions.
Pramada (lack of regard) - If one is neglectful of develop ethics, Yoga can't be drilled.
Alasya (physical lethargy) - Involving in solid exercises beats this apathy
Avirati (separation) - The mind should be withdrawn from material articles to accomplish Yoga
Bhrantidarsana (false discernment) - prompts self-pride and should be fended off.
Alabdha-bhumikatva (non-achievement of yogic states) - Recognizing the abhorrent qualities as a part of our character and banishing them would help over the long haul
Anavasthitatva (falling ceaselessly from yogic states achieved)
There are 4 Viksepasahabhuvah
Dukha - distress and enduring perpetrating the human personality.
Daurmanasya - disillusionment due to non-satisfaction of wants and desire.
Angamejayatva - fretfulness of the appendages because of mental unsettling.
Shvasa and prashvasa - constrained inward breath and exhalation. Controlled breathing or a parity in breathing applies a quieting impact in the psyche.
Patanjali states that these hindrances can be evacuated through contemplation and dedication to God; which will make ready for self-acknowledgment.
Vashishta Yoga:
Yoga Vashishta should have been unveiled by the Vedic sage, Vashishta to his illustrious pupil Lord Rama, who is said to be a resurrection of Lord Vishnu. Yoga Vashishta includes 32000 shlokas. In this sacred text, sage Vashishta clarifies the lessons of Vedanta in type of stories to Lord Rama. He shows him the beguiling idea of the world, shows him the best way to accomplish intelligence and joy in this way demonstrating to him the way prompting the preeminent soul.
Kundalini Yoga (Laya Yoga):
This type of yoga was first presented in The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad in the primary portion of seventeenth century. Kundalini yoga is the yoga of awareness. Kundalini is base vitality or Shakti, which untruths torpid and is curled at the base of the spine like a snake. It is the vitality of cognizance and mindfulness in any human structure. Kundalini yoga should stir the dozing Kundalini Shakti from its snaked position at the spinal base through a progression of 6 chakras, and infiltrate the seventh chakra, or the crown. The motivation behind this type of yoga through day by day routine with regards to kriyas and contemplation in sadhana is said to be a viable innovation of human cognizance to accomplish their definitive imaginative potential. Rehearsing this Kundalini Yoga routinely, drives one to be freed from one's Karma and to understand their motivation throughout everyday life (Dharma).
Nothing Yoga:
The fundamental hypothesis behind Nada Yoga is that the whole universe and every one of its occupants comprise of sound vibrations or nadas (Sanskrit, 'nad' signifies sound). 'Nothing' reverberates to the sound of 'Om', which is the crude type of vitality. Nothing yoga practices types of activity calling the association of the self with God, through sound or music. The N?da yoga framework partitions sound or music into two classifications: inside sound, anahata, and outside sound, ahata. In Nada yoga, the individual concentrates on the 'anahata' nothing or the inward stable. The spotlight is to be principally on the sound that is created inside the human body and not on any outside vibrations. The applicant encounters a sentiment of stillness, which mixes an ability to reconnect with the spirit or the 'atman'. Nothing yoga helps with tuning ourselves to every one of the sounds, at last inundating oneself with the grandiose sound, 'Om'. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali states that, the mantra 'Om' is "the sound that communicates the Supreme Being, which ought to be over and again recited while simultaneously engrossing its importance."
Jnana yoga:
Jnana (insight or information) is the most troublesome way to accomplish in Yoga and requires extraordinary quality of will and astuteness. The essential objective of this type of yoga is to wind up freed from the misleading universe of maya (musings and observations) and to accomplish association of the internal identity (Atman) with the unity of all life (Brahman). This is accomplished by persistently rehearsing the psychological strategies of self-doubting, consideration and cognizant enlightenment expressed in the sadhana chatushtaya (Four Pillars of Knowledge). These Four Pillars are the means toward accomplishing freedom. Nonstop routine with regards to these means would develop profound knowledge, comprehension and decrease enduring and disappointment throughout everyday life. The 4 stages are:
Viveka (insight, segregation) - conscious scholarly exertion to separate between the changeless and the brief and Self and not-Self
Vairagya (separation) - The mind should be withdrawn from material items to achieve Yoga
Shatsampat (six ideals) - six mental practices of tranquility, restriction, renunciation, continuance, trust and center to balance out the brain and feelings
Mumukshutva (longing) - enthusiastic want for freedom from torment.
It is similarly critical to rehearse modesty and sympathy on the way of self-acknowledgment.
Bhakti Yoga:
Bhakti (commitment or love) Yoga is one of the four principle ways to accomplish illumination. This type of yoga tries to join the bhakta (wannabe) with the Divine. Bhakti Yoga is said to be the least demanding and the most immediate technique to encounter the solidarity of brain, body and soul. Bhakti Yoga requires just an open, adoring heart, though Hatha Yoga requires a solid and adaptable body, Raja Yoga requires a trained and thought psyche, and Jnana Yoga requires a sharp insight. Bhakti Yoga supplements different ways of yoga well, and it is said that jnana (information or shrewdness) will develop when you submerge yourself in the reverential practices of Bhakti Yoga.
Hatha yoga
Hatha (Ha-sun; tha-moon) yoga alludes to adjusting the manly angles dynamic, hot, sun-and ladylike perspectives responsive, cool, moon-inside us all. It makes a way toward equalization and joining the contrary powers. It endeavors to accomplish the association of psyche and body by a progression of asanas (stances) and pranayama (breathing activities) as portrayed in old Hindu writings. These practices help initiate the Kundalini vitality and refine the assemblage of negative musings. It is exceptionally mainstream type of Yoga in the Western world as of now.
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