A lot of people know Yoga as a fitness routine, but for those who
are truly interested in learning and practicing Yoga, it is beneficial
to take time and really understand to the answer the pressing question
on what yoga truly means.
Understanding The Purpose
Yoga, in
Sanskrit means union. This refers to the union of the mind, spirit and
body. There is a common misconception that Yoga is merely just one of
those exercise methods designed to increase the body's flexibility.
While Yoga does involve physical practice, its benefits are certainly
not limited to the physiological aspects.
Yoga dates more than
5000 years ago. This is an ancient Indian practice designed to promote
the union of one's universal consciousness and an individual's own
consciousness. The ancient Yogis believed that in order to attain
harmony within oneself and the environment, an individual should learn
how to integrate or unit the mind, body and spirit. The Yogis created
Yoga as a way to attain as well as maintain the balance through
breathing, exercise and meditation.
Beyond Physical Exercise
Due
to the increasing awareness and growing importance of physical
exercise, a lot of people today practice Yoga for its physiological
benefits, primarily to maintain fitness and a way to lose weight. This
is of course generally acceptable, but for anyone who plans to practice
Yoga, understanding what is Yoga beyond a mere form of exercise is
important to gain better appreciation.
It is important not to
overlook the connection between the mind, body, spirit and emotion, as
all of these are intricately interlinked. This is because the
development and improvement of one area will also generate an
improvement of other aspects.
As we delve deeper into the question on what yoga is, it is best to look into the different aspects of the limbs of Yoga.
A Preparatory Activity For Meditation
When
the ancient Yogis developed the Asanas or the Yoga poses, the original
intention was to develop postures in order to properly condition and
prepare the body for extended periods of meditation.
The
preparation and conditioning of the body is not merely limited to
stretching the muscles, as it also works to purify and cleanse the body
from toxins as well as develop stamina and strength over time.
The
Yoga meditation is a both a science and an art that involves the
systematic observation, acceptance as well as understanding and training
of every level of one's being. This is with the goal to coördinate and
integrate the different aspects of the self as well as dwell into the
center of the consciousness.
The Six Branches of Yoga
Hatha (Yoga Postures)
This
is the branch of Yoga that involves the physical poses, breathing
techniques as well as meditation - all working to help one achieve
improved health and spiritually. There are a number of different styles
designed along this path, which include: Astanga, Jiva Mukti, Integral
and Iyengar, to name a few.
Bhakti (Yoga of Devotion)
This
is the popularly pursued path of Yoga in India, which pertains to the
heart and devotion. It promotes one's acceptance and love for all
things.
Raja (Yoga of Self-Control)
This path of Yoga
focuses on the development of respect for all creations and for oneself
as a way of developing the self and learning discipline.
Jnana (Yoga of the Mind)
This
is the path of Yoga that deals with the mind and focuses on the
individual's intelligence. This path of Yoga regards the intellect and
wisdom as important and aims to integrate the two in order to surpass
limitations.
Karma (Yoga of Service)
This refers to the path
of service which believes that the present situation of a person is
based on a product of past actions. This Yoga promotes selfless service
performed in the present in order to free the self from selfishness and
negativity.
Tantra (Yoga of Rituals)
Among the different
paths of Yoga, this is by far the most misunderstood. It uses different
rituals in order to experience the sacred. While the sexual act is part
of this, it is not the entirety of it. Tantra Yogis are required to
possess different qualities such as devotion, humility, purity, cosmic
love and dedication to his Guru.
As you can see, Yoga is more than
just a way of keeping fit. While this is partly true, Yoga definitely
goes beyond a mere form of exercise method.
To learn more about Yoga, Yoga Workshops and Yoga
Workshops in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, please visit
http://www.serenityyogaretreats.com
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