Yoga is stilling the fluctuations of the mind* – this may come as a surprise to many who think yoga is a system of stretching and exercise with a bit of "spirituality" on the side, but this is what the sage Patanjali wrote of yoga in the definitive explanation of yoga called the "Yoga Sutras" more than 2000 years ago. When you are in a state of yoga, all misconceptions that can exist in your mind disappear.
To get to this "state of yoga"? That’s where the stretching with a bit of spirituality on the side come in, but it doesn’t just "happen". The Sanskrit word yoga means union, and this union can come in many forms – the union of the body and the breath, the union of the body and the mind, and ultimately, the union of oneself with god, the universe, all-that-is – whatever you like to call that unchanging, eternal force that underlies all of life. Some even called it your "True Self".
Body and Breath Align
By practising the many postures of yoga, along with aligning the breath with our movements in those postures, we become aware of long held tensions, tight spots, shallow breathing and mental stresses. When you are in a challenging posture – whatever that may be, from a simply raising your arms above your head to the most pretzel-like of poses – you become aware of how your body, breath and mind react. Emotions such as panic, frustration, anger, sadness, joy and calm can arise and paying attention to these helps us learn how to deal with the same emotions in our everyday lives. Learning to control the breath in challenging postures enables us to watch how we react to what comes up in our daily lives and respond to it in the same way. It is a tool for everyday life.
The Practical Side of yoga
The yoga that most people know is but a small part of the vast system of yogic practice and philosphy. Asana – as the postures of yoga are known – is one of the eight "limbs" of yoga. These eight limbs, also known as "astanga" are:
- Yamas and niyamas – behaviour towards ourselves and others
- Asana – postures to keep the body strong, flexible and relaxed
- Pranayama – breathing practices
- Pratyahara – drawing the attention inwards towards silence
- Dharana – holding one’s concentration in one direction
- Dhyana – meditation
- Samadhi – the ultimate state of self- realisation, bliss.
Asanas aim to keep our bodies strong, flexible and relaxed. In fact the description of asana in the Yoga Sutras is "Sthira sukham asanam" which roughly translates as meaning yoga must have the dual qualities of alertness and relaxation, which may sound paradoxical, but feels so good when you get it. The philosophy around asanas is that they not only have a strong physical effect on the body but also a psychological effect.
Pick Your Style
While there are many different styles of yoga, all asanas form part of a system called hatha yoga. Hatha yoga is essentially the physical practices of yoga. Howver, hatha is often used as a general term to describe a style. Some other popular "styles" of yoga include:
- Astanga – a dynamic, flowing form
- Iyengar – very precise and alignment oriented, extensive use of props
- Power – dynamic and flowing, often done in a slightly heated room
- Bikram – a set of 26 postures practiced in a room heated to 37 degrees
- Satyananda – a gentle style
- Kundalini – the only popular form of yoga that is not technically hatha, aims to awaken the "kundalini" energy dormant at the base of the spine.
The form of yoga you choose will depend on how much you like to move your body – a relaxing practice versus an invigorating practice. It may help to think how you can balance the yoga practice you choose with other aspects of your life, for example if you do a lot of very physical sport then perhaps a more gentle form would be beneficial, or if you are desk-bound for long hours, an invigorating practice could be useful.
Ultimately the benefits you get from yoga may be difficult to quantify, but pay attention to the "fluctuations of the mind" and you may be on the way to discovering your true nature.
* "Yogas citta vritti nirodhah"
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