Yoga is severing the connection with that which causes suffering, Yoga should be practiced with insight and an unperturbed heart.
Bhagavad Gita VI. 23
Bhagavad Gita VI. 23
The word yoga literally means, joining, and the most important purpose of the practice of yoga is to reunite the individual Self with the Absolute or pure consciousness or Brahman. This union liberates the spirit from all sense of separation and frees it from the illusion of time, space and causation, and allows us to discriminate from what is real and unreal, and helps us realize our true nature. The physical rejuvenation we get from doing yoga is just a pleasant side effect. This classical system was compiled by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras and covers an entire range of yogic practices from asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), to mantra (active meditation) as well as other forms of meditation. Yoga and Ayurveda are sister systems dealing with all aspects of our nature from body to soul, and all the various healing methods from food to meditation
Raja Yoga, as it is called, has an eight-fold approach called the eight limbs of yoga. These eight limbs are utilized to control the mind and develop consciousness. The eight limbs of yoga are:
* Yama - Rules of social Conduct
* Niyama - Rules of Personal behavior
* Asana - Physical Postures
* Pranayama - Control of the breath, the Vital Force
* Pratyahara - Control of the Senses
* Dharana - Right Attention or Control of the Mind
* Dyana - Meditation
* Samadhi - Absorption
In yoga there is no insistence to follow one path or another. Instead, we are encouraged to follow the path that most appeals to our heart. Paths and styles are many, as there are people. Other paths of yoga are:
Jnana Yoga - Yoga of Knowledge Bhakti Yoga- Yoga of Devotion, Kriya Yoga - including Hatha Yoga - Yoga of Technique, Karma Yoga - Yoga of Service, Raja Yoga - Combination of all four, Integral Yoga Here we will combine Ayurveda with yoga and offer both asana and various meditations for various kinds of imbalances.
Remember that no two bodies are alike. Some are more flexible than others so start off slow and easy. Make
sure to warm up with some gentle stretches before doing a particular set of yoga postures. Use a mat to do them on. Make sure you listen to your body. Yoga should accommodate your body, mind and soul. In case of any physical ailment, injury or discomfort, be sure to consult your health care practitioner.
Let's begin with some simple warm up stretches:
haradvajasana
Spinal Twist
Sit partly off your heels to the left
place left hand on floor a little behind left hip
place right hand on outside of your thigh
inhale, lengthen spine, exhale, and slowly twist to the left
repeat action to the right side
Spinal Twist
Sit partly off your heels to the left
place left hand on floor a little behind left hip
place right hand on outside of your thigh
inhale, lengthen spine, exhale, and slowly twist to the left
repeat action to the right side
Bidalasana
Cat Cow pose
Get on your hands and knees
Exhaling, contract abdominal muscles & tuck the pelvis
round the spine, arching the back upwards
inhaling, release the abdominal muscles
lift the head and arch the spine down
repeat 5 times
Cat Cow pose
Get on your hands and knees
Exhaling, contract abdominal muscles & tuck the pelvis
round the spine, arching the back upwards
inhaling, release the abdominal muscles
lift the head and arch the spine down
repeat 5 times