___ASANAS___

Asana is a Body posture, it is a Sanskrit word used to describe a position of the body. Patanjali, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga defines asana as "Steady and comfortable posture". Traditionally many asanas are practiced in Hatha Yoga tradition, primarily to achieve better physical and mental health. Asanas have deep impact on the entire body and mind complex, it affects different systems in the body like muscular, respiratory, circulation, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine, nervous system.

Asanas can be mainly divided into two:  Meditative and Cultural

                                                   

MEDITATIVE ASANAS

                These are cross-legged sitting postures which allow you to sit upright and relaxed for a longer time. They provide a stable seat for meditation. The aim is to train your body so you can sit a long time without moving any part of your body. This is important if you are practicing meditation or pranayama and want to come to a deep concentration.

You should choose the posture that is most comfortable for you and start practicing it for 1-3 minutes. You can increase the length gradually.

OBJECTIVE OF MEDITATIVE POSTURES: Meditative postures are solely intended as aids in the processes of abstraction, concentration, meditation and trance. These Asanas neither meant for bodily ailments nor are expected to possess any therapeutic value, even though some of these have been found to be excellent physical exercises.

CULTURAL ASANAS

                There are three important phases in the practice of cultural asanas — each of them equally important and should be paid equal attention:

·         Coming into the position

·         Holding the position

·         Getting out of the position

                This group contains by far the largest amount of asanas. It is said that there are 84 lakhs (8.4 million) yoga asanas. Of these, 84 are more important and 12 of them constitute the structure of the Rishikesh sequence sometimes called Sivananda series or Yoga Vidya series.

The cultural asanas can be divided in seven groups:

·         Dynamic sequences - such as the sun salutation(surya namaskar)

·         Inverted postures - such as the headstand(shirshasana), shoulderstand(sarvangasana)

·         Forward bending postures - such as the sitting forward bend (paschimottanasana)

·         Backward bending postures - such as the cobra(bhujangasana) , locust(shalabasana) ,  bow (dhanurasana)

·         Twisting postures - such as the half spinal twist(ardha matsyendrasana)

·         Side ward bending postures - such as the triangle(trikonasana) pose

·         Standing postures including balancing poses - such as the tree(vrikshasana) pose.

Every yoga sequence should at least contain one out of every of the groups listed above. If you take one asana of every group, you will move your spine in every direction and use all the muscles of your body. Depending on the order in which you practice they influence the flow of the prana in your body.

___YOGIC APPROACH TO DIET___

Whatever we eat can generally be considered as diet. It consists of concrete things such as solid food, fluids, air. Although people sometimes don’t realize it, proper diet is an integral part of yoga. Food is your sustenance, the source of the thousands of ingredients your body needs to keep you alive and healthy, but it can also be the source of substances that may be harming you. Diet can play a huge role both in causing and perpetuating disease, as well as in helping to remedy the situation if you are already sick. Using your diet as a tool for health and healing is so consistent with the philosophy of yoga as medicine, precisely because it’s safe and effective and is something you can do for yourself.

Some of the yogic thinking on diet is based on philosophical ideas about nonviolence and compassion and, as a result, most yogis – though not all – are vegetarians. Whatever the motivation, the health advantages of a vegetarian diet include a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, colon cancer etc. Vegetarians generally have lower blood pressure and cholesterol readings as well. From a yogic perspective, food is meant to be balanced and a ‘sattvic’ or clear state of mind.

According to Ayurvedic and yogic teaching, the three GUNAS or qualities are said to infuse everything.

      1) SATTVA  (sattvic)  - The quality of calm/clarity/balance. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, milk, curd, buttermilk, butter, ghee etc.

      2)  RAJAS  (rajasic)  -  The quality of activity/restlessness/passion.  Excessively bitter, sour, salts, pungent, Liquor, intoxicating things, meat, fish, garlic, onion, egg.

     3) TAMAS  (tamasic)  -  The quality of inertia/dullness. Tasteless, packed, rotten or stinking food items.

From a Yogic and Ayuredic perspective, fresh food is best, because food loses prana (life energy), when it is canned or processed (even when it is just refrigerated and reheated). Fresh food is not only is the vitamin content higher, but the food tastes better. Most processed food has large amount of salt, sugar and unhealthy fats, preservatives added to it, while much of the fibre and many of the vitamins and healthy plant chemicals have been lost in manufacturing and storage.

Furthermore fruits and vegetables contain fibres which prevent or cure constipation. It is a common experience that one who suffers from constipation cannot practice asanas (postures) well. Cereals provide mostly carbohydrates. These constituents give heat to the body. Butter and ghee provide fat to the body and also provide heat. Besides, it oils the joints. Proteins are available from milk, curd and buttermilk. This is necessary for the constitution of the body and the reconstruction of the cells. Hathayoga Pradeepika says, one’s diet should be nutritious, sweet, and oily and it should be nourishing. Moreover, it should please and satisfy the mind and should be pleasant in taste. This kind of food is called SATTVIC FOOD.

The yoga shastra (yoga scripture) describes ‘how much to eat’ together with ‘what to eat’. It lays emphasis on ‘mit-ahar’ (temperance in eating).  Several yoga shastras have suggested that while eating, one should fill half the stomach with food, a quarter with water and the remaining quarter for free movement of air. From a yogic perspective you are not just what you eat, but also how you eat. Yoga encourages you to be aware of every bite you put in your mouth, noticing its taste, texture and temperature. Yogis suggest you think about where your food came from and feel gratitude toward those who grew it and prepared it. To facilitate awareness and better digestion, yoga says; eat slowly in an undistracted fashion. It is best not to read or watch television while you chew, but instead to attend to the meal in front of you. The more you can make eating a form of meditation, the healthier it is likely to be. Such awareness tends to prevent overeating and can make a big difference in your weight.

___NATURE & EFFECTS OF THOUGHTS___

One of the most important aspects of our life is our thought process. All our actions and behavior have their origin in our thoughts. Thoughts are not ordinary things. They are potent weapons which can care as well as injure others and therefore should be handled very carefully. It will not be an exaggeration to say that thoughts are the greatest forces in the world acting on mankind, although invisible in nature.

In fact every thought acts as a mold in which our future is being constantly shaped. Hence it is very desirable for an evolving soul to understand correctly the nature of thoughts and their effects and powers so that they can be controlled to the best of their advantages.

Thoughts have vibrations: As there are vibrations of light, sound etc.  Similarly there are vibrations of thoughts. Whenever we think some good or bad thoughts, vibrations of these permeate in the surrounding atmosphere and affect the people present there positively or negatively, depending upon the nature of thoughts. In other words the atmosphere gets charged with the thought vibrations present there. Thought vibrations are different from physical vibrations.  They are not physical in nature like vibrations of light and sound etc. Physical vibrations are felt by our conscious mind directly through our physical senses, while thought vibrations are first registered in our subconscious mind and from there the impression is passed on to the conscious mind.

Thought have the power of materialization:  Whatever we think, we attract physical conditions and events in accordance with it. By a mysterious process, our subconscious mind tends to materialize all our thoughts into their physical equivalent by the most direct and practical media available. More the power of thought more the power of materialization. The power of thought increases by repetition of the same thought again and again by attaching emotions (e.g. love, faith, expectancy etc.) with the thought. If your thoughts are positive, positive conditions will emerge in life, if they are negative, negative conditions will emerge. The subconscious mind doesn’t make any distinction between good or bad thoughts. It will just accept any thought whether good or bad transmitted to it by our conscious mind and starts executing it like a faithful and the most powerful servant on the conscious mind.

Thoughts are constantly modifying and affecting our subconscious mind: Whatever we think, it goes on depositing in the vast lake of our subconscious mind. We are constantly depositing good and bad impressions in our subconscious mind according to the thoughts we are harboring. Accordingly this lake becomes dirty or clean. Impressions of these thoughts in our subconscious mind further incite us to have similar thoughts off and on again. So this becomes a vicious circle that needs to be broken. By various yoga practices and deliberate positive thinking the negative impressions of our thoughts can be gradually erased leading to the purity of mind.

This should make it clear that thoughts should not be treated as a small matter. Ordinarily people think that nothing will happen just by thinking. But thought make a groove in our subconscious mind and become a part of our overall personality.

Personality is nothing but a sum total of all impressions deposited in our subconscious mind.

A strong and positive thinking mind remains immune to negative thoughts: It is a sure antidote to any negative thought vibrations or psychic attacks. It has a strong aura which can’t be pierced by negative thought vibrations. Negative thoughts will not affect such a person. One can increase his mental strength and positivity by practice of yoga and meditation.

Thoughts attract like thoughts: Our atmosphere always remains filled with all sorts of thought vibrations. Whenever we think something, we attract similar types of thoughts from the thought atmosphere, according to the law of psychic attraction.

Negative thoughts weaken the mind and make it restless, agitated and impure while positive thoughts strengthen it and make it pure. Hence, it is not a question of just thinking a thought. Each thought is making a definite impact upon the health of your mind also.

Positive thinking creates a positive ‘Aura’ around your body: Aura is radiations or emissions around your body and their quality depends upon the state of your health and state of your mind. If your mind is always positive, cheerful and peaceful, the quality of your aura will be very good. This aura or auric vibrations benefit not only you but also all those who come in contact with you. A tired and restless mind feels a soothing effect in the vicinity of such persons.

Negative thoughts produce stress response in the body while positive thoughts create relaxation response: Negative thoughts not only disturb your mind they also create stress or alarm response (also called fight or flight response) in the body, because of which certain biological changes occur in the body system due to arousal of the sympathetic nervous system. If this happens frequently or constantly due to one’s habit of indulging in negative thoughts, continuous imbalance is created in the two components of autonomous nervous system (namely sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system) which leads to stress and many other psychosomatic diseases.

In yogic terminology, the same thing is understood in this manner that when your mind is negatively charged, the flow of prana gets disturbed and disturbance in the flow of prana leads to physical disorders or diseases because the physical body is sustained by prana only.

On the other hand positive thoughts create relaxation response in the body tending to bring physical parameters to more balanced conditions. Positive thoughts increase your pranic energy and direct it upward in the body which helps in your spiritual growth, while negative thoughts deplete the pranic energy of the body and turn its direction downwards in the body which takes man more away from it.

Watch your thoughts, they become your words.

Watch your words, they become your actions.

Watch your actions, they become your habits.

 Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character; it will be your destiny.

-  From different spiritual scriptures -

___THE MIND___

The essence of yoga and spiritual education is the control of mind. Once you control your mind, happiness and peace come as a natural consequence.

Almost all our agonies and pains are due to not having proper control over our mind. Instead of becoming master of our mind, we have become its slave. It makes us dance from here to there according to its whims. Instead of us dictating upon it, it is dictating on us and pulling and pushing us in various directions.  The servant has become the master and the master has become the servant. We have to restore our master status and place the servant in its proper position if we want to be really happy and peaceful again.

Although difficult, yet by constant practice and firm determination, it is definitely possible to conquer your mind.

WHAT IS MIND?

                Mind is that faculty by virtue of which we are able to be conscious and aware of ourselves. Consciousness and awareness of self and others are the basic characteristics of mind which distinguish sentient or living things (having mind) from insentient or non living things (not having mind). It is the mind which thinks, reasons, analyzes, discriminates, feels good or bad, senses pleasure and pain, imagines and worries etc. An inanimate object doesn’t have all these faculties. Your mind is the real you. Your body is in your possession, it is an instrument of mind through which it (mind) acts in the world and also suffers or enjoys.

It is the mind which sees, hears, smells, tastes etc. through respective sense organs and through the mechanism of the brain. Mind feels the pleasures or pains of the body. If mind is off or disconnected from the body, you will feel no pain. It is also the mind which speaks, eats and works through respective physical organs.

MIND IS DIFFERENT FROM THE BRAIN

                The brain is a physical organ like any other organ of the body while mind is a non-physical entity. The brain can be compared with a sophisticated computer through which mind controls and connects itself to the body.  Thus the brain acts as a link between the mind and the body. The body and the brain are made alive and animated by entry of mind only.

LEVELS OF MIND: There are three levels of mind which together give the mind a single identity.

                Conscious Mind is that part of our mind which reasons, thinks, discriminates, contemplates and analyzes emotions or feelings of all sorts, i.e. likes, dislikes, love, hatred, jealousy, anger, joys, sorrows etc., are all experienced in this mind. Imagination of all sorts of future happenings and worrying about the past are all done through this mind. Through physical senses (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste), conscious mind remains in contact with the outside world.

                Subconscious Mind is another level of mind and is accessed when we go deep inside our inner journey. The subconscious mind is the storehouse of our memory. All that we have ever seen, heard, thought, talked, done,  get stored here as a sort of permanent record. Emotions linked with our thoughts, words and actions are also deposited in our subconscious mind along with memory. It is this emotional part of our thoughts/words/deeds which after depositing in the subconscious mind plays havoc with us. These emotions make the conscious mind restless by constantly agitating it from below. They are like fire balls kept below the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. The urges and impulses rising from the subconscious mind constantly demand satisfaction through the conscious mind.

                Super-conscious Mind is our real self without any impurity and full of bliss and peace. If we can have a glimpse of it even for a moment we will be filled with indescribable peace. The more we are able to stay at this place, the more of bliss and peace we can have. In fact what we call everlasting peace and happiness comes by our contact with this real self. The illusory happiness or pleasures which we derive from worldly possessions and sensory enjoyments are only short lived and mixed with pain.

STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Waking State (Jagrat):  There are various states in which your mind or consciousness can express itself. When you are wide awake to the world around you, thinking, analyzing, reasoning, feeling about things, you are said to be in a waking state of consciousness. In this state your conscious mind is fully active and alert.

Dream State (Swapna):  Here your conscious mind goes to sleep but subconscious mind remains active.

Deep Sleep State (Sushupthi):  Here both your conscious and subconscious mind is at rest.

Meditation/Transcendental (Turiya):  In meditation also, first you still your conscious mind and then the subconscious mind and finally reach the super conscious state with full awareness. Please note that in deep sleep    also, both conscious and subconscious mind are quiet but since you have no awareness, you slip   into an unconscious state rather than to the super conscious state.

SLOWING DOWN THE MIND

Mind of most of the people runs with a tremendous velocity with one thought after another. Their mind is not able to remain calm even for a moment. They are always planning, worrying, moving and tensing. Gradually it becomes a deep rooted habit and a type of mind set. Even when there is nothing to worry, these people search some cause for worry and remain under free floating anxiety. When there is nothing to do, they move tense as to what to do now, instead of utilizing this opportunity to relax their minds.

What is meant by high velocity of mind?  It is a parameter indicating the number of thoughts moving across your mind per unit of time. Slowing down your mind essentially means reducing the number of thoughts in your mind per unit of time. Suppose previously one thousand thoughts used to move across your mind in a minute, and now only hundred thoughts move in the same time. It means you have slowed down your mind to that extent. Mind velocity is particularly high during emotions of hurry, impatience and desperation.

High velocity of mind or the tremendous rush of thoughts in mind is essentially a sign of a weak and uncontrolled mind. A controlled mind can continue to keep only one thought for as long as it desires without allowing other thoughts to come in. It may even remain thoughtless for a period of time.

Now the way to reduce the velocity of mind is to slow it down to attend to only the present activity in your hand. Don’t remain in the memory of past and anticipations and apprehensions of future. Learn to live in the present. It is only when you think ahead of time and become past and future oriented that the speed of your mind increases and it also leads to poor performance of the present task in hand.

Normally while doing anything, we think ahead of the time when this work will be finished and we can enjoy our leisure. In this process we neglect the present and spend our time in unhappiness. It is our future-oriented and rushing mind which blocks our happiness of the present moment and keeps our mind constantly agitated. Once you learn to slow down your mind to the activity in hand, you will find that the most ordinary and mundane work, which used to be quite boring earlier, becomes quite interesting and a source of great joy and satisfaction.

It is only by slowing down and paying attention to each moment that many of the things happening around us which are normally taken for granted and seem dull and uninteresting, become highly interesting and enjoyable. If we want to experience joy and happiness in our work, we should leave the attitude of rushing through our activities and to somehow finish them as early as possible. This should be replaced by an attitude of care and awareness in each activity however trivial it may be. If we are not mindful in each small activity, we can’t be mindful in carrying out important tasks also because attitude and frame of mind can’t be suddenly changed.

  

When we become the master of our mind, nothing good or bad will work upon us.

                               We will be free from the bondage of anything.

‘Mind is the most powerful thing in the world.

One who has controlled his mind can control anything in the world’

-  Swami Sivananda -

___STREAMS OF YOGA___

1. Karma Yoga:

Karma means action or sum total of acts. It has been derived from the sanskrit word ‘kri’. Any act physical or mental is karma. So karma is the sum total of the acts in this life and the previous births.  Karma or the actions are of three types: manasika(mental), vachika (speech), kayika (physical). Karma is not only action but also the result of an action. It is the foundation of life and keeps the life moving. Every action has an object behind it and this may be good or bad. So it is necessary to do good and positive actions only. Karma yoga is the method which helps us to select actions by setting higher objects. That is all the actions we do should be based on love, forgiveness and feeling of caring for others.

Karma and destiny are two diff things but interlinked. Destiny is the sate of circumstances and surroundings in which one is born and this state depends on our karma. So it’s not destiny which decides our state of life but it’s the karma or the action.

Karma is fashioned in three ways - Iccha(desire), jnana(knowldege/thought), kriya(action). Desire creates a thought and finally leads into an action. So as per the actions we get the results. This is Law of Karma.

Karma is of 3 kinds –

•        Sanchita– This is accumulated karma from our past. This becomes a part of our character, inclinations and desires.

•        Prarabdha – This is the present life karma and this cannot be changed or avoided. It is exhausted only by being experienced.

•        Agami - This is that part of karma which is being made for the future.

So karma yoga is selfless service done, work without expectations or ego. Work as if you are an instrument of God and be free from the cycle of birth-rebirth.

2. Bhakti Yoga:

Bhakti yoga is the real search for God and becoming one with the God. The search begins, continues and ends in intense love with the god. Whatever you do, do it in the name of god and for the god.

There are 9 modes of devotion in bhakti yoga:

•        Shravana – Hearing or listening to the name of the god.

•        Keertana – Singing songs in praise of god.

•        Smarana – Remembering the god always

•        Pada sevana – service at the feet of god.

•        Archana – offerings to the god as flowers etc

•        Vandana – Prostration before the image of god.

•        Dasya – servant – master attitude towards god.

•        Sakhya – feeling of friendship to god.

•        Atma nivedana- self surrender to the god.

So in bhakti yoga one becomes absolutely merged with the object of worship or love and he realizes the truth that – the lover, love and the loved are one.

3. Jnana Yoga:

                Jnana Yoga is the path or wisdom associated with the understanding of real from the unreal or the illusionary. It is the path of knowledge, wisdom or insight which leads us to universal truth, the purpose or the self realisation.

                The main principle of jnana yoga makes you understand about “Tat Twam Asi” which means “thou art that”. In simple words ‘You are that’. You and the Supreme are identical.

Sri Shankaracharya quotes:

                “Brahma Satya Jagat Mithya

                 Jiva Brahma eva na apaarah”

This means:        “Brahman or the Supreme is the truth, the only reality.

                                  Jagat or the cosmos is ureal. It is just an illusion.

                                  Jivatma and Brahman or the Paramatma are identical.”

               

4. Raja Yoya:

It is the widely followed yoga which literally means Royal Yoga (also known as Asthanga Yoga). Patanjali is regarded as the founder of the formal Yoga philosophy and his Yoga is known as Raja Yoga, which is a system for control of the body-mind. This is also known as Ashtanga Yoga because of the eight limbed concept.

Ashtanga Yoga - THE 8 STAGES

Yama and Niyama

As a first principle, Yoga advocates and insists on the daily practice of a code of universal ethics emphasizing its need as a disciplinary training till the whole process of moral elevation becomes a part of a man's life and living. The reasons advanced by Yoga for such a moral conduct are not merely logical and convincing but they actually demonstrate, even in the light of modern science, the physical, mental and psychic advantages of a wholly moral life.

 Yama (The five self disciplines): Non-violence, truthfulness, non-covetousness, non-sensuality/celibacy, non-stealing.

 Niyama (The five social disciplines): Mental & physical purity, contentment, austerity, knowledge and surrender to god.

Asana

Good health, according to Yoga, is not only an important requisite for further training but is looked upon as a sacred duty. Yoga, therefore, insists on the primary need for day-to-day good health both sedative and positive. This has to be achieved through physical education which promotes mental discipline and psychic absoluteness. The methodical study of the science of Yoga thus begins with postural training and rhythmic breathing associated with preventive measures, the process of nerve purification. It also includes the technique of rejuvenation through hormonal stimulation, eliminate and neutralise hyper-energy, followed by complete rest to all vital organs.

Pranayama

Yoga has demonstrated that its system of physical culture, in conjunction with respiratory and nervous control, enables an individual to regulate his biological living through conservation and control of bio-energy (prana). The stoppage of pulse and heart, the indifference to heat and cold, to thirst and hunger, immunity to the effects of chemicals and natural elements, the ability to stay live underground, are a few of the powers that accrue from the system of yoga.

Pratyahara

With the physiological activities well harmonized and under control, the next step is to bridge the gap between body and the mind through psychosomatic training, with a view to controlling the external and internal senses which affect the equanimity and peace of mind. This is achieved through a series of graded psychic efforts of withdrawing the mind from the sensory world.

Dharana and Dhyana

Progressively, the purity of human nature and therefore, of the mind can be achieved through a sound and healthy body. In Yoga, the control of the mind is followed up through the control of the senses. The course includes methods of pure and applied psychology, psychoanalysis, parapsychology, mental hygiene and therapeutics, and psychic unfolding with a view to ultimately exploiting all conscious and subconscious potentialities so as to reach the highest consciousness. The preliminary stage begins with concentration, focus on single thought or object (Dharana) aided by a variety of psychosomatic measures which by habituation, leads to the continued process of meditation (Dhyana).

Samadhi

Trance-consciousness, wherein the Yogi remains unmoved by physical and mental afflictions, is the final stage of and has been described variously as state of uninterrupted joy and peace, absolute consciousness and self realization.

The techniques mentioned here should be practiced under the guidance & expert in this field or Guru to get maximum benefit. One may not get the expected result otherwise.

IS YOGA A RELIGION?

                Yoga systematically teaches man a search for the divinity within himself, but it is not a religion. Anyone from any religion can do Yoga. It is a science, philosophy, a spiritual way of life.

___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