___A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF Y O G A___

WHY YOGA?

It is observed in today’s world that a major segment of society is unhappy, miserable, worried, and full of stress and anxiety. It is also seen that there is no harmony between desires and resources culminating in sorrow. This happens in spite of having all the prerequisites and when civilization is at its peak with the most refined technology available. The comforts that take man on whirlwind tour became cause for many psychosomatic diseases. Modernization / urbanization take us away from nature and people from all walks of life suffer from diseases. The beginning is with slight aches, depression, high or low BP / Cardiac arrests, paralysis and diseases alike. The reaction of unforeseen complication in life, delays, errors, misunderstanding, emotions, panic, leads to insomnia, nervousness, stomach upsets, chest pains etc.

Yoga is science, philosophy, technology, and technique in the form of mental and physical discipline that can be followed to avoid, prevent and restrict the problems, diseases mentioned above. Simple techniques like proper breathing, relaxation, stretching body parts result in removal of common ailments & help to manage the stress resulting to function at the optimum of abilities. It is not only resistance to emotional storms but the best kind of health (mental, physical, spiritual), insurance starting a beneficial cycle with improved functioning of glands leading better metabolism, better vitality & vigour, a pleasant appearance. Yoga improves concentration, helps complete integration with self, control of thoughts and thus living a full healthy life.

According to medical scientists, Yoga is successful because of the balance it creates in the nervous and endocrine systems, which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and preventive therapy.  It is not only exercise, but also for relaxation and rejuvenation. It reduces stress and fatigue, releases tension, increases the range of motion and helps us to adjust our bodies to environmental changes for improved immunity. Since yoga teaches to live a healthy & happy life it is necessary that it should be imbibed by all.

WHAT IS YOGA?

The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, meaning to unite or the union. In simple words Yoga is union, union of body & mind, individual consciousness with the pure consciousness, Jivatma with Paramatma or the Brahman. Its origin is the beginning of mankind, though the philosophy of yoga was written 2000-3000 years ago.

Yoga is a way of life, an integrated system of education for body, mind and inner spirit which deals with universal truth. Yoga is a philosophy and science which was codified before 2000 years by Patanjali Maharishi. It is also a therapy which calms and relaxes the body, mind and soul giving inner peace to the individual. It is the solution to all the problems physical, mental, spiritual. Yoga though taught in India thousands of years ago still holds a strong position after many scientific discoveries and competes with most modern scientific knowledge.

Ultimately a serious yoga practitioner will be in a state of ‘sat-chit-ananda’; wherein he comes to know about the real truth of his existence and the pure consciousness and is always in bliss.

Definitions of Yoga:

We have seen that yoga is the science of healthy and better living- physical, mental, moral, intellectual and spiritual. It originates from Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ means to join or come together or unite so it is the union of the body, mind and soul. Different personalities, experts, saints have defined yoga in a different ways.

Bhagavat Gita:

Yoga Karmashu kaushalam: Do the work skilfully. Skill in work leads to perfection in work and perfection leads to excellence. Excellence in work is yoga.

Patanjali yoga sutra:

Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha: To control the mental modifications of mind and its regulation is yoga.

Yoga is also highest level of concentration. Bridge the gap between oneself & divine consciousness. To raise oneself from animal self to divine self is yoga.

Unity of body, mind & soul is yoga; Soul is known as Atma. There is one supreme power called Paramatma'. The union of Atma & Paramatma is yoga; which is union with God.

Different definitions by different wise persons according to their sadhana, knowledge, experience show that it is a combination of philosophy, psychology, science that teaches how to live a healthy & happy life. We may define yoga as a way of life. It is the education of body-mind. One may adopt one more definition according to requirement. In order to lead / live a better life one must adopt the techniques of yoga which improve the life style & teaches the right way to live. In short yoga is the science of healthy and better living, physical, mental, moral, intellectual and spiritual.

Streams of Yoga

Even though there are a lot many streams of Yoga, we mainly focus into 4 streams.

•        Karma yoga

•        Bhakti Yoga

•        Jnana Yoga

•        Raja Yoga