Yoga

For other uses, see Yogi (disambiguation).

Statue of Shiva doing Yogic meditation. The statue is in Bangalore, India.

Yoga is an old discipline of Hindu philosophy. It is both spiritual and physical. Yoga uses breathing techniques, exercise and meditation. It helps to improve health and happiness. Yoga is the Sanskrit word for union. Patanjali was a pioneer of classical yoga. He defined yoga as "the cessation of the modification of the mind" (stopping changing the mind).

A person doing yoga will move from one posture (called asana) to another, but there are also other aspects which are important in yoga, such as breath-work, mantras, mudras (postures of the hands and fingers), meditation and much more (for more information, check out the Yoga Sutras). For example, the "sun-solution" contains 12 poses of asanas, one after the other, and is said to help balance body and soul. There is a specific mantra for each asana. The "sun-salutation" is popularly known as "Suryanamaska".

History

Yoga was introduced by an Ascetic. Ascetic practices (tapas) are referenced in the Brāhmaṇas (900 to 500 BC), early commentaries on the Vedas. Several seals discovered at Indus Valley Civilization (~3300–1700 B.C.) depict figures in positions resembling a common yoga or meditation pose. The pose shows "a form of ritual discipline, suggesting a precursor of yoga", according to archaeologist Gregory Possehl. Scholars think there must be some type of connection between the Indus Valley seals and later yoga and meditation practices, though there is no conclusive evidence.

• Jonathan Mark Kenoyer describes one figure as "seated in yogic position".
• Karel Werner writes that " Archeological discoveries allow us therefore to speculate with some justification that a wide range of Yoga activities was already known to the people of pre-Aryan India".

Important yoga words

• Yama: Positive Rules of meditations.
• Niyama: Prohibitory Rules of meditations.
• Asanas: Physical postures and movements.
• Pranayama: Breathing techniques
• Pratyahara: Controlling the mind.
• Dharana: Gazing inward.
• Dhyana: Meditation with object.
• Samadhi: Meditation without object.

Types of yoga

• Classification based on mind and body.
  • Rajayoga: Raja yoga focuses on meditation and contemplation in order to fully realize the self.
  • Hathayoga: Hatha yoga is the practice of yoga postures, or asana, using the body as a vehicle for self-transformation.
• Classification based on way of spiritual life.
  • Gyanyoga: It is a way of knowledge.
  • Karmayoga: It is a way of work.
  • Bhaktiyoga: It is a way of worship.
• Classification based on a way of other things.
  • Swaryoga: Emphasizes the most on breathing.
  • Kriyayoga: Emphasizes the most on blending Karmayoga (Tapa), Gyanyoga (Swadhyay) and Bhaktiyoga (Ishwar Pranidhan).

Some popular Yogasanas

Pawanmuktasana (gas release pose) used generally to release the gases in the stomach

Ushtrasana

A yogasana is a pose in which a person can sit. The intention of yogasana is to exercise the body and make it free of pains and problems.

Yogi is a person who has mastered yoga or has achieved great success in yoga. Yogasanas are also called Asana or Asanas (plural). A Yogi can sit in any asana for a given time.

Pawanmuktasana

This yogasana helps to release gas in the stomach.

Ushtrasana

This yogasana makes the spine more relaxed.