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Basic Concepts
Ashtanga
Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Streams
of Yoga
Principles of Therapeutic Yoga
Meditation
Yoga
is equally comprehensive health science developed in Indian
tradition with Ayurveda for preservation of physical and
mental health and for extension of intellectual possibilities.
Drawing its philosophy from the ancient traditions of Ashtanga
and Hatha Yoga, the spiritual tradition at the Ayurveda
Clinic aims to celebrate the joys of living, to explore
the deeper meditative realms and discover true happiness.
Basic
concepts of Yoga:-
The tradition of Yoga was born in India several thousand
years ago. The great Yogis gave rational interpretation
of their experiences about Yoga and brought a practically
sound and scientifically prepared method within every one's
reach. Yoga philosophy is an Art and Science of living in
tune with Brahmand - The Universe.
Yoga has its origins in the Vedas, the oldest record of
Indian culture. It was systematized by the great Indian
sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra as a special Darshana.
Although, this work was followed by many other important
texts on Yoga, but Patanjali's Yoga Sutra is certainly the
most significant wherein no change is possible. It is the
only book which has touched almost all the aspects of human
life.
Unlike earlier, Yoga today is no longer restricted to a
privileged minority of hermits; it has taken its place in
our every day lives and have undergone a world wide awakening
and acceptance in the last few decades. The Science of Yoga
and its techniques have now been re-oriented to suit modern
sociological needs and lifestyle. Experts of various branches
of medicine including modern medical science are realizing
the role of these techniques in the prevention of disease
and promotion of health.
Swami Vivekananda defines Yoga as
"It's a means of compressing one's evolution into a single
life or a few months or even a few hours of one's bodily
existence". By Yoga, Sri Aurobindo, meant a methodological
effort towards self perfection by the development of potentialities
latent in the individual.
Yoga is not a religion; It's a philosophy of life based
on certain psychological facts and it aims at the development
of a perfect balance between the body and the mind that
permits union with the divine i.e. perfect harmony between
the individual and the cosmos.
Many different interpretations of the word Yoga have been
handed down over the centuries. One of the classic definition
of Yoga is "to be one with divine".
It does not matter what name we use for the divine-God,
Jesus Christ, Allah, Ishvara, or whatever-anything that
brings us closer to understanding that there is a power
higher and greater than ourselves is Yoga. When we feel
in harmony with that higher power, that too is Yoga.
Ashtanga
Yoga:-
Yoga is one among the six systems of Indian orthodox philosophy.
Maharishi Patanjali, rightly called as the "Father
of Yoga" compiled and refined various aspects of
Yoga systematically in his "Yoga
Sutras" (aphorisms). He advocated the eight fold
path of Yoga, popularly known as "Ashtanga
Yoga" for all-round development of human personality.
They are:
Yama
Niyama
Asana
Pranayama
Pratyahara
Dharana
Dhyana
Samadhi.
These eight limbs are so perfectly designed that there is
absolutely no scope for any addition or alteration since these
are formulated on the basis of multifarious psychological
understanding of human personality. The practice of Yamas
- Niyamas i.e. harmlessness towards all living beings,
truthfulness, honesty, celibacy, non-hoarding of wordly objects,
cleanliness, contentment, austerity, control of lust, anger
and infatuation, study of holy books and practice of Japa
and selfless action - all these pave way for increasing the
power of concentration, mental purity and steadiness.
Hatha Yoga:-
Svatmarama, who wrote a treatise on this subject after
experiencing the nectar of Samadhi
(absorption of the soul) as Hatha Yoga
Vidya or Hatha Yoga Pradeepika.
It gives guidelines from the practical point of view for a
beginner to begin Yoga, which leads the students gradually
from the culture of the body towards the sight of the soul
and God realization. Hatha Yoga Pradeepika
is divided into four chapters or Prakaranas.
The first chapter expounds Asanas,
the second is on pranayama,
the third is on Mudras and Bandhas
and the fourth is on Pratyahara, Dharana,
Dhyana and Samadhi. In between these, the author introduces
satkriyaas or the six cleansing
processes. As the text begins with asanas,
Satmarama's Yoga is called Sadanga
Yoga or the six aspects of Yoga beginning with asanas
and ending in Samadhi.
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