Yoga at the Yoga Path - SummerRainz Studios

Maharishi Patanjali was the founder of the Yoga School of Indian philosophy, which was created as the practical discipline to the sister system of Samkhya, which is the oldest system of Indian philosophy. Samkhya follows the doctrine of karma and of the transmigration of souls. It theoretically illustrates the need for liberation and leaves the method of liberation to the practice of yoga to accomplish. Yoga is therefore said to be ‘applied samkhya’ and is more concerned with the liberation of the soul from its bondage to matter, than with the nature of the soul. Yoga is a system designed to help one attain release from the cycle of births and deaths through the practice of various asana (poses), pranayama (breathing) and dhyana (meditation) techniques.

Patanjali wrote a treatise known as the ‘Yoga Sutras’. They were called sutras because the word ‘sutra’ means ‘bead’ and each verse in the treatise is strung like a bead, one on top of the other until a beautiful necklace is created. This mirrors the way that the guidelines of a yogic lifestyle are put together, each sutra ultimately forming a whole.

The principles from the sutras include the ‘Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga’. The first two limbs are divided into yamas (social restraints) and niyamas (personal observances). The yamas consist of ethics to be followed, such as: non-violence, non-harming, honesty, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation in all things, and non-coveting. The niyamas consist of: purity, cleanliness (internal and external), contentment, selflessness, austerity, dedication, keeping company with learned/wise people, self-study, study of the scriptures and devotion to a Higher Being/the Divine.

Yoga became immensely popular in the West in the second half of the twentieth century and has since spread into many variations and hybrids.

Yoga is so ideal on many levels as it integrates the mind, body and soul into one complete and harmonious unit. It addresses functionality on the physical level and promotes flexibility and strength. It helps to cleanse and invigorate internal organs and to relieve emotional blockages that may be causing illnesses, or dis-ease in the body. Yoga helps us to enter our inner consciousness and allows us to be in tune with our own pure, natural state of being. Yoga encourages an awareness to attain a healthier way of life.

Yoga is divided into four main paths to moksha (liberation). They are: Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga:

Bhakti Yoga:
Bhakti yoga is the spiritual practice of a loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are nine forms of Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti Yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to moksha, especially in the current age of Kali Yoga according to the Hindu cycle of time. In scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana, Bhakti is described as a perfectionist stage that surpasses even moksha as a level of spiritual realisation. Hindu movements in which Bhakti Yoga is the main practice are called Bhakti movements.

Karma Yoga:
Karma yoga is also known as Buddhi Yoga or the ‘discipline of action’ and is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita -the sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. Karma Yoga focuses on obeying duties (dharma) while remaining detached from reward. It states that one can attain love of God (bhakti) or moksha (liberation) by performing their duties in an unselfish manner for the pleasure of the Supreme.

Jnana Yoga:
Jnana Yoga means ‘knowledge’ or ‘path of knowledge’ and as used in the Bhagavad Gita, the monist philosopher Adi Shankara gave primary importance to Jnana Yoga as ‘knowledge of the absolute’ (Brahman).

Bhagavad Gita, chapter 13.35: “Those who see with eyes of knowledge the difference between the body and the knower of the body, and can also understand the process of liberation from bondage in material nature, attain to the supreme goal”.

Raja Yoga:
Raja Yoga is also known a ‘Royal Yoga’ and ‘Royal Union’, as well as Classical Yoga or Simply Yoga. It is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu philosophy outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. It is also sometimes referred to as Astanga (eight-limbed) Yoga, because there are eight aspects to the path to which one must follow. Raja yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using dhyana (meditation) to further one's acquaintance with reality and ultimately achieve liberation.

The term Raja Yoga is a retronym, which was introduced in the 15th century as Hatha Yoga Pradipika to distinguish the school based on the Yoga Sutras from the new current form of Hatha Yoga.

(For more information on the above, vist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

There are many styles of yoga that have evolved from the Hinduism paths. Here is a brief description of some of the most popular styles:

Hatha Yoga:
With ‘ha’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘tha’ meaning ‘moon’, Hatha Yoga is commonly known as the ‘union of the pairs of opposites’. Sometimes Hatha Yoga is also translated as the ‘forceful yoga’ because it consists of some of the most physical exercises of all yoga types. Hatha Yoga is very well known in the West, which is probably why so many definitions exist. Hatha Yoga is a system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama (a sage in the 15th century in India) who compiled the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In this treatise Swatmarama introduces Hatha Yoga as 'a stairway to the heights of Raja Yoga', which was a preparation stage of physical purification that renders the body fit for the practice of higher meditation. The Hindu Yogis used to train their bodies through Asanas and Pranayama in Raja Yoga so that they could endure long periods of meditation. This practice is called shatkarma. Hatha Yoga follows the same principles as the Raja Yoga of Patanjali including the ‘Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga’.

Ashtanga Yoga:
a fast-flowing and fast-paced style of yoga with a set sequence of asanas (poses) that has derived from Hatha Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga’s series of sequential asanas begin with Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation). Students move from one asana to another in a continual flow, linking their movements to breath. This style of yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois to build strength, flexibility, and stamina.

Power Yoga:
this style is based on Ashtanga Yoga and was made popular by Beryl Bender Birch.

Iyengar Yoga:
B.K.S. Iyengar developed this strong, precise style of yoga as a means of understanding the body and how it works. Students focus on symmetry and alignment through the use of props, such as straps, blankets and wooden blocks, to achieve certain postures. Each pose is held for a longer duration of time than in most other yoga styles.

Viniyoga:
This gentle form of flow yoga places great emphasis on coordinating breath with movement. Viniyoga’s flowing movement or vinyasa is similar to Ashtanga’s dynamic series of asanas, but is performed at a much slower pace. Viniyoga places less stress on joints and knees as a result of postures done with slightly bent knees. This style of yoga is considered excellent for beginners and is increasingly being used in therapeutic environments.

Satyananda Yoga:
a gentle style of traditional Hatha Yoga, suitable for all ages and body types.

Kundalini Yoga:
Kundalini Yoga was once a carefully guarded secret in India that arrived in the West in 1969, when Sikh Yogi Bhajan challenged tradition by teaching it publicly. This practice is designed to awaken kundalini energy, which is stored at the base of the spine and often depicted as a coiled snake. Kundalini mixes chanting, breathing practices, and yoga poses.

Bikram Yoga:
Bikram Choudhury developed this yoga practice, which is performed in a heated room of 40 degrees centigrade. This is a vigorous workout and the 26 asanas are always performed in the same sequence. In this hot and sweaty environment students are able to cleanse the body from the inside out and can find depth in their poses which otherwise may have taken a lot longer.
IndiYoga:
Connecting you with your Independent Spirit!

This style of yoga offers the opportunity to work through your body to understand your internal dialogue. It works on your defaults and habit patterns of your mind toward freedom.

It offers experience to observe, work with and persevere through the physical to understand mental or emotional blockages in a non-violent, compassionate way.

Each class takes on the philosophy of yoga and turns it into a practical experience for you to understand a little more about yourself. Each class plants seeds of understanding (jnana yoga), offers opportunities to work with your minds' busy-ness (raja yoga), in a devotional self-honoring way (bhakti yoga). IndiYoga is a path to freedom.

Q: What is the meaning of Namaste?
A: Namaste has the most beautiful meaning: The divine in me, blesses and honours the divine in you.

Q: What is the meaning of vinyasa?
A: A vinyasa is a flow or sequence of yoga postures

Q: What is pranayama?
A: Pranayama is often translated as the control of the life force (prana), or in yoga terms it is known better as ‘breath control’. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and ayama means ‘control’, therefore Pranayama is ‘control of breath’. One can control the rhythms of pranic energy with pranayama and achieve healthy body and mind.

Patanjali described pranayama in his yoga sutras as means of attaining a higher state of awareness and he mentions the holding of breath as important practice of reaching samadhi – a state of bliss(Buddhism: right concentration). Hatha Yoga also includes many types of pranayama to achieve healthy body and mind.

Five types of prana are responsible for various pranic activities in the body; they are Prana, Apana, Vyan, Udana & Samana. The most important of these are Prana (upward flowing) and Apana (downward flowing). Practice of Pranayama achieves the balance in the activities of these pranas, which results in healthy body and mind.

Q: What is the meaning of Samkhya?
A: Samkhya is the oldest system of Indian philosophy that accepts two ultimate principles under which the whole universe of reality (spiritual and non-spiritual) is understood. These two principles are purusha and prakriti. Samkhya believes in the doctrine of karma and the transmigration of souls.

Q: What are the meanings of purusha and prakrti?
A: Purusha refers to the world of souls. Prakriti refers to the material world. Souls are above any kind of earthly experience, such as pain, pleasure or desire. They cannot remain in their natural state, however, as they are in contact with the material world.

Q: What is the law of karma?
A: The law of karma (deed or work) is the idea that our thoughts, words and actions have consequences for our future, which means that the body into which our souls are reborn depends on our actions in a previous life. So if we have performed good deeds we will be reborn into a better life and if we have performed bad deeds we will reborn into a poorer life.

Q: What is the meaning of atman?
A: The word atman originally meant ‘breath’ or ‘wind’ and later came to mean the ‘Self’ or the ‘essential nature of the individual’. The German word ‘atem’ and the Afrikaans word ‘asem’ also mean breath and are related to the Sanksrit word atman. (Reference: ‘The Human Search for Meaning: A Multireligious Introduction to the Religions of Humankind’. J.S.Kruger, G.J.A.Lubbe, H.C.Steyn)

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