“Health is wealth. Peace of mind is happiness. Yoga shows the way”

 

The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Yoga is ‘Yoke’. Accordingly yoga can be defined as a means for uniting the individual spirit with the universal spirit of God.

Accordingly to Maharishi Patanjali’s ‘Yoga is a conscious process of gaining mastery over the mind’.

Yoga is a discipline to improve or develop one’s inherent power in a balanced manner. It offers the means to reach complete self-realization.

It has been found by the scientific studies the yogic intervention is effective in managing the psychosomatic and life style based disorders.

One of the major contributions of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the eight-limbed yoga, popularly known ‘Astanga Yoga’ which gives a comprehensive and systematic approach for developing the mind.

 

Eight limbs of Astanga Yoga are:

 

1. Yama (Principles or moral code)
Ahinsa - A principle of non-violence
Satya - A principle of Truthfulness
Asteya - A principle of non stealing
Brahmacharya - Continence / celibacy
Aparigah - A principle of non-hoarding or non possessiveness

 

2. Niyama (Personal Disciplines)
Shoucha - Purity
Santosh - Contentment
Tapa - Endurance
Swadhyaya- Self study
Eshwar Pranidhan- Dedication          

 

3. Asana - (Yoga Postures / positions) A stable and comfortable posture which helps attain mental equilibrium.

4. Pranayama - (Yoga Breathing) Extension and control of breath.

 

5. Pratyahara - (Withdrawal of Senses) A mental preparation to increase the power of mind.

 

6. Dharana - (Concentration on Object) Concentration of mind on one object and its field.

 

7. Dhyan - (Meditation) With drawing mind from all external objects and Focusing it on one point and meditating on it.

8. Samadhi - (Salvation) State of Super bliss, joy and merging individual consciousness in to universal consciousness. Union between Jivatman and Paramatman. Union of Shiva and Shakti in Sahasrar Chakra (the top of the head). Realizing the Bramhan (pure consciousness) or Realization of God is the ultimate.

 

Most of the other methods of yoga- Laya Yoga, Japa Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga etc; are permutations and combinations of these basic methods of yoga.

 

“Yoga is the Art and Science of Human Life”