What is Yoga by Sharon Fisher
YOGA
Yoga is a practical system of self culture to attain harmonious development of mind, body and soul.
The word Yoga means “to unite” or “to join”. To reunite the individual self or soul with the Absolute or Infinite Self.
The underlying purpose of all the different aspects of yoga is to bring about this union.
The origins of Yoga go back about 4,000-5000 years or more in India.
This ancient science was devised, developed and perfected by the great sages and seers of the land of India, whose Universal spiritual culture is intended for men and women of all nationalities and religions.
Yoga practice can be followed by anyone at any age. Nor is a well-developed and flexible body a prerequisite. All that is necessary is an open mind, a little will power and the desire for holistic self-development.
Yoga has known for many years what now medical science understands the enormous influence the mind has on physical health. Therefore practicing yoga brings balance and harmony to the mind and body.
There are different yoga systems yet the fundamental teachings of these systems are the same.
The system of yoga that I follow is the Sivananda Yoga System.
Swami Sivananda the founder was a modern sage who brought Yoga practice to the masses of people.
He did this through the 300 odd books that he wrote on all aspects of yoga. Plus the genius of making abstruse yoga teachings simple and clear.
He also had many disciples who brought his teachings to the west and established may yoga centres all over the world.
He described his method as Integral Yoga which assists in the holistic development of man
Integral yoga assist’s bringing into balance all the aspects of the personality. Swami Sivananda emphasised the importance of practicing all the different aspects of Yoga:
Postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, diet, positive thinking, study, selfless service and meditation.
He founded an Ashram (spiritual centre) in Rishikesh India where people from all over the world can come and study and practice in depth the teachings of Yoga.
I spent the better part of four years in this Ashram learning from Swami Sivananda disciples Swami Chidananda, Swami Krishnananda, Swami Brahmananda and many others.
This experience has deepened my knowledge of Yoga and assisted my practice.
The system of Yoga that I follow involves 5 basic principles
1) Proper exercise-Asanas
2) Proper breathing –Pranayama
3) Relaxation
4) Proper diet
5) Positive thinking and Meditation
1) Proper Exercise
Yoga regards the body as a vehicle for the soul in its journey towards perfection. To keep the body healthy a system of asana-postures were developed.
The asanas are not like other forms of physical exercises in their affects, although they do produce many of the benefits derived from other popular physical culture systems. Yoga postures exert a profound influence upon the internal vital organs of the body, the nervous system, the glandular system and the spine. Right here the genius of yoga becomes apparent.
Almost all yoga postures are woven around the backbone to ensure its flexibility and strength. The spine houses the all-important nervous system by maintaining the flexibility of the spine circulation is increased and the nervous are supplied with oxygen and nutrients.
Hand in hand with the physical practice we practice deep breathing and concentration of mind. When performed slowly and conscientiously the asanas become a moving meditation.
2) Proper Breathing - Pranayama (restraint of prana, life-force, or vital energy). Prana is the energy by which we live, move, think, feel, will and talk.
Learning to breathe correctly contributes to health and vitality. You would be surprised how many illnesses derive from incorrect breathing. Proper breathing means breathing fully and rhythmically.
Yogic breathing exercises are called –Pranayama. The physiological effects of Pranayama practice are legion. They include a cleansing of the blood and lungs, beneficial massage to the internal organs, and therapeutic affects in combating various maladies. It energizes the entire body and particularly the central and autonomic nervous systems, producing mental stability and emotional balance.
3) Relaxation
Living with the mind and body relaxed is our natural state; it is our pace of lives that has made us forget it.
When mind and body are constantly over worked their efficiency to perform well diminishes. It is estimated that between 60-90 percent of all visits to the doctors office are for stress related disorders. Stress is a major ailment in modern life wasting a lot of our energy.
By learning the Yogic relaxation system to relax the muscles systematically then calm the mind we learn to utilise our energy and to live a natural stress fee life.
4) Proper diet
The body is made of the food that we eat therefore health depends to a large extent on the food we consume. Yoga goes a step further and says that the subtlest portion the food builds the mind. Hence yoga suggests eating pure simple natural foods, following a vegetarian diet, with is an ethical diet for the planet and for ones own being.
5) Positive thinking and Meditation
Yoga psychology teaches that “thought is the architect of destiny.” They control our lives, mould our character and shape our future. Therefore if the person seeks to be holistically healthy and balanced, he must attempt to develop increased mental control.
As we think so we become. It is a simple as that.
Positive thinking and learning to control our minds is an important aspect of Yoga.
Our destiny is to be free, joyful, and live in harmony with the entire creation.
Meditation.
Meditation is the basis of all Yoga practices. Meditation is a mental hygiene, which helps in reducing anxiety and tension and offers relief from an over-active mind.
All happiness achieved through the mind is temporary and fleeting; it is limited by nature. To achieve that state of lasting happiness and absolute peace, we must first know how to calm the mind, to concentrate and go beyond the mind. By turning the mind's concentration inward, upon the self, we can deepen that experience of perfect concentration. This is the state of Meditation".
Medical researchers have been studying the effects of meditation for more than 35 years, meditation has been shown to aid in the treatment of conditions as varied as cancer, sleep disorders, headaches, high blood pressure, chronic pain, depression aging ect.
Yet the greatest benefit of meditation is the transcendental experience of the Absolute, our Inner Self.
Yoga is a practical system of self culture to attain harmonious development of mind, body and soul.
The word Yoga means “to unite” or “to join”. To reunite the individual self or soul with the Absolute or Infinite Self.
The underlying purpose of all the different aspects of yoga is to bring about this union.
The origins of Yoga go back about 4,000-5000 years or more in India.
This ancient science was devised, developed and perfected by the great sages and seers of the land of India, whose Universal spiritual culture is intended for men and women of all nationalities and religions.
Yoga practice can be followed by anyone at any age. Nor is a well-developed and flexible body a prerequisite. All that is necessary is an open mind, a little will power and the desire for holistic self-development.
Yoga has known for many years what now medical science understands the enormous influence the mind has on physical health. Therefore practicing yoga brings balance and harmony to the mind and body.
There are different yoga systems yet the fundamental teachings of these systems are the same.
The system of yoga that I follow is the Sivananda Yoga System.
Swami Sivananda the founder was a modern sage who brought Yoga practice to the masses of people.
He did this through the 300 odd books that he wrote on all aspects of yoga. Plus the genius of making abstruse yoga teachings simple and clear.
He also had many disciples who brought his teachings to the west and established may yoga centres all over the world.
He described his method as Integral Yoga which assists in the holistic development of man
Integral yoga assist’s bringing into balance all the aspects of the personality. Swami Sivananda emphasised the importance of practicing all the different aspects of Yoga:
Postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, diet, positive thinking, study, selfless service and meditation.
He founded an Ashram (spiritual centre) in Rishikesh India where people from all over the world can come and study and practice in depth the teachings of Yoga.
I spent the better part of four years in this Ashram learning from Swami Sivananda disciples Swami Chidananda, Swami Krishnananda, Swami Brahmananda and many others.
This experience has deepened my knowledge of Yoga and assisted my practice.
The system of Yoga that I follow involves 5 basic principles
1) Proper exercise-Asanas
2) Proper breathing –Pranayama
3) Relaxation
4) Proper diet
5) Positive thinking and Meditation
1) Proper Exercise
Yoga regards the body as a vehicle for the soul in its journey towards perfection. To keep the body healthy a system of asana-postures were developed.
The asanas are not like other forms of physical exercises in their affects, although they do produce many of the benefits derived from other popular physical culture systems. Yoga postures exert a profound influence upon the internal vital organs of the body, the nervous system, the glandular system and the spine. Right here the genius of yoga becomes apparent.
Almost all yoga postures are woven around the backbone to ensure its flexibility and strength. The spine houses the all-important nervous system by maintaining the flexibility of the spine circulation is increased and the nervous are supplied with oxygen and nutrients.
Hand in hand with the physical practice we practice deep breathing and concentration of mind. When performed slowly and conscientiously the asanas become a moving meditation.
2) Proper Breathing - Pranayama (restraint of prana, life-force, or vital energy). Prana is the energy by which we live, move, think, feel, will and talk.
Learning to breathe correctly contributes to health and vitality. You would be surprised how many illnesses derive from incorrect breathing. Proper breathing means breathing fully and rhythmically.
Yogic breathing exercises are called –Pranayama. The physiological effects of Pranayama practice are legion. They include a cleansing of the blood and lungs, beneficial massage to the internal organs, and therapeutic affects in combating various maladies. It energizes the entire body and particularly the central and autonomic nervous systems, producing mental stability and emotional balance.
3) Relaxation
Living with the mind and body relaxed is our natural state; it is our pace of lives that has made us forget it.
When mind and body are constantly over worked their efficiency to perform well diminishes. It is estimated that between 60-90 percent of all visits to the doctors office are for stress related disorders. Stress is a major ailment in modern life wasting a lot of our energy.
By learning the Yogic relaxation system to relax the muscles systematically then calm the mind we learn to utilise our energy and to live a natural stress fee life.
4) Proper diet
The body is made of the food that we eat therefore health depends to a large extent on the food we consume. Yoga goes a step further and says that the subtlest portion the food builds the mind. Hence yoga suggests eating pure simple natural foods, following a vegetarian diet, with is an ethical diet for the planet and for ones own being.
5) Positive thinking and Meditation
Yoga psychology teaches that “thought is the architect of destiny.” They control our lives, mould our character and shape our future. Therefore if the person seeks to be holistically healthy and balanced, he must attempt to develop increased mental control.
As we think so we become. It is a simple as that.
Positive thinking and learning to control our minds is an important aspect of Yoga.
Our destiny is to be free, joyful, and live in harmony with the entire creation.
Meditation.
Meditation is the basis of all Yoga practices. Meditation is a mental hygiene, which helps in reducing anxiety and tension and offers relief from an over-active mind.
All happiness achieved through the mind is temporary and fleeting; it is limited by nature. To achieve that state of lasting happiness and absolute peace, we must first know how to calm the mind, to concentrate and go beyond the mind. By turning the mind's concentration inward, upon the self, we can deepen that experience of perfect concentration. This is the state of Meditation".
Medical researchers have been studying the effects of meditation for more than 35 years, meditation has been shown to aid in the treatment of conditions as varied as cancer, sleep disorders, headaches, high blood pressure, chronic pain, depression aging ect.
Yet the greatest benefit of meditation is the transcendental experience of the Absolute, our Inner Self.