The potential of the human body, mind and spirit is phenomenal. What is Yoga? (also referred to as Union to connect the mind, body and spirit) is used as a powerful tool to help reach your full human potential. It stimulates and increases your mental peace and physical strength. There is a seed being planted in every human being, it is already within you, and yoga can be described as the water, the sunlight, the nutrients and the love each seed needs in order to make your life vibrant, beautiful and full of energy. And as a seed planted earlier, yoga global recognition has germinated, sprouted, and then develop into a amazing bloom enhance its traditions, varieties, and variations. It is far from religion, it is really a science with which to connect and develop your body, mind and spirit.
So WHAT IS YOGA? This ancient science of yoga has been practiced in the East for thousands of years, bringing health, happiness and peace of mind to those who have studied it. The benefits of yoga have been recognized by the West only a few decades ago, and in recent years have been widely developed as a fitness regime. What is Yoga? The benefits are not merely physical only; Yoga practitioners know that their quality of life improves on all levels physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It means not to be affected by success or failure. Yoga means a poise of the soul which enables one to look at life in all its aspects evenly.
Yoga may be a realization that there is Oneness guiding all of creation and that Oneness is who we really are. Yoga does not require you to give up your religion. Rather, Yoga combines philosophical theory with physical and mental practice. What is Yoga ? Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means union or yoking. Yoga strives for a union between the individual and universal soul.
The ultimate goal of Yoga is to reunite you with the Universal Source. (Which literally means, Union) You may call this Universal Source by any name you wish. What is Yoga? Yoga is a way or a pathway to bring you to the realization that you and this Universal Source are One and inseparable.
Yoga has a few “branches” but comes to the same destination. There is Jnana Yoga, Laya Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga. These all have the same goal, which is unification with the Universal Source, but each follow a different path to get there. Depending on your personality one or the other path may suit you better.
A short description of some of the major branches of Yoga is:
Karma Yoga: Emphasizes right action and selfless service as the path to moksha (liberation).
Jnana Yoga: Emphasizes the intellectual and philosophical approach to penetrate the illusion of dualistic reality.
Kundalini Yoga: Emphasizes the activation of Kundalini Shakti for enlightenment.
Raja Yoga: Is considered the Scientific approach, it emphasizes Sage Pantanjali’s (an eight step path = {ashtanga}
Bhakti Yoga: Emphasizes love as the pathway to liberation and Union.
Self-Realization using the Raja Yoga method.
Raja Yoga is perhaps the most popular Yoga system in use today as it is so prevalent around the world.
As indicated above Raja Yoga employs Sage Pantanjali’s eight step path to achieve Union with the Supreme Universal Source. The complete eight step system compromises of the following parts. Yamas, Niyamas, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and then eventually Samadhi. What is Yoga ? This eight step path is designed to bring about physical, emotion and mental harmony. During the advanced practices of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi it actually leads to the cessation of thoughts allowing the mind to realize that Reality is indeed Whole, Singular, Inseparable and Indivisible.
The eight limbs of Raja Yoga:
The study of RAJA-YOGA requires constant practice of concentration of mind and this leads to the point where no law of nature will influence and the person will be able to go beyond laws of nature and will be the master of the whole nature internally as well as externally.
1.YAMA = non-killing, nonviolence, control of sexual energy, non-stealing, and non-covetousness and truthfulness.
2.Niyama = cleanliness, contentment, purity, contentment, non egoistic, study and self surrender to God
3.Asana = posture in which one sits (posture is that which is firm & pleasant) poses.
4.Pranayama = Prana means breathe and Ayam means control(control on breathing or control of Prana)
5.Pratyahara = restrain of senses and Proper breathing
6.Dharana = fixing the mind on a spot or holding of mind on to some particular object
7.Dhayana = it means to Meditate
8.Samadhi = Super-Consciousness
