personally, i treat it as good exercise to keep my flexibility up. I also use it to improve my self discipline
however, many people in my yoga class use it as a form of meditation, and relaxing. whilst i concentrate on the physical side, other may concentrate on the mental side
i know that my mother does yoga to forget about the current day, and it wafts her into a sense of security and well being
some people also find it helps them aquire self awareness, and the person inside you. others do it to help breathing
sorry about the multiple answers.. good question! xthis is from wikipedia
Wikipedia is sustained by people like you. Please donate today.
Yoga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses such as Yoga postures, see Yoga (disambiguation)
Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditationYoga (Sanskrit: योग Yog, IPA: [joːgə]) is a group of ancient spiritual practices designed for the purpose of cultivating a steady mind. It originated in India[1] possibly as early as 3300 BCE. A practitioner of Yoga is called a Yogi or Yogini.
Yoga has been defined as "technologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experiences and a profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence."[2] Outside India, yoga is mostly associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga or as a form of exercise.
Many Hindu texts discuss aspects of yoga, including the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and the Shiva Samhita.[1][3]
Major branches of yoga include: Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga.[4] [5] [6] Raja Yoga, established by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and known simply as yoga in the context of Hindu philosophy, is one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of thought.
The Sanskrit term yoga has many meanings.[7] It is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, "to control", "to yoke", or "to unite".[8] Common meanings include "joining" or "uniting", and related ideas such as "union" and "conjunction".[9] Another conceptual definition is that of "mode, manner, means"[10] or "expedient, means in general".[11]
Contents [hide]
1 History of Yoga
1.1 Indus Valley seals
1.2 Literary sources
1.2.1 Bhagavad Gita
1.2.2 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
1.2.3 Hatha Yoga Pradipika
2 Yoga in other traditions
2.1 Yoga and Buddhism
2.1.1 Yogacara Buddhism
2.1.2 Ch`an (Zen) Buddhism
2.1.3 Tibetan Buddhism
2.2 Yoga and Tantra
3 Goal of Yoga
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links
[edit] History of Yoga
[edit] Indus Valley seals
A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization, showing a figure in meditation posture.Several seals discovered at Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1700 BC) sites depict figures in a yoga- or meditation-like posture, "a form of ritual discipline, suggesting a precursor of yoga." [12] Archaeologist Gregory Possehl points to 16 specific "yogi glyptics"[13] in the corpus of Mature Harappan artifacts as pointing to Harappan devotion to "ritual discipline and concentration." These images show that the yoga pose "may have been used by deities and humans alike."[14]
The most widely known of these images was named the "Pashupati seal"[15] by its discoverer, John Marshall, who believed that it represented a "proto-Shiva" figure.[16] Many modern authorities discount the idea that this "Pashupati" (Lord of Animals, Sanskrit paśupati)[17] represents a Shiva or Rudra figure.[18][19] Gavin Flood characterizes the Shiva or Rudra view as "speculative", and goes on to say that it is not clear from the 'Pashupati' seal that the figure is seated in a yoga posture, or that the shape is intended to represent a human figure.[20][21] Authorities who support the idea that the 'Pashupati' figure shows a figure in a yoga or meditation posture include Archaeologist Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, current Co-director of the Harappa Archaeological Research Project in Pakistan[22][23] and Indologist Heinrich Zimmer.[24]
[edit] Literary sources
See also: History of Yoga
Ascetic practices (tapas) are referenced in the Brāhmaṇas (900 BCE and 500 BCE),[25] early commentaries on the vedas. In the Upanishads, an early reference to meditation is made in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad,[26] one of the earliest Upanishads (approx. 900 BCE). The main textual sources for the evolving concept of Yoga are the middle Upanishads, (ca. 400 BCE), the Mahabharata (5th c. BCE) including the Bhagavad Gita (ca. 200 BCE), the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (200 BCE-300 CE) and Narada Bhakti Sutra[27].
[edit] Bhagavad Gita
Main article: Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita ('Song of the Lord'), uses the term yoga extensively in a variety of senses. Of many possible meanings given to the term in the Gita, most emphasis is given to these three:[28]
Karma yoga: The yoga of action
Bhakti yoga: The yoga of devotion[27]
Jnana yoga: The yoga of knowledge
The influential commentator Madhusudana Sarasvati (b. circa 1490) divided the Gita's eighteen chapters into three sections, each of six chapters. According to his method of division the first six chapters deal with Karma yoga, the middle six deal with Bhakti yoga, and the last six deal with Jnana (knowledge).[29] This interpretation has been adopted by some later commentators and rejected by others.
[edit] Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Main articles: Raja Yoga and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
In Indian philosophy, Yoga is the name of one of the six orthodox philosophical schools.[30][31] The Yoga philosophical system is closely allied with the Samkhya school.[32] The Yoga school as expounded by Patanjali accepts the Samkhya psychology and metaphysics, but is more theistic than the Samkhya, as evidenced by the addition of a divine entity to the Samkhya's twenty-five elements of reality.[33][34] The parallels between Yoga and Samkhya were so close that Max Müller says that "the two philosophies were in popular parlance distinguished from each other as Samkhya with and Samkhya without a Lord...."[35] The intimate relationship between Samkhya and Yoga is explained by Heinrich Zimmer:
These two are regarded in India as twins, the two aspects of a single discipline. Sāṅkhya provides a basic theoretical exposition of human nature, enumerating and defining its elements, analyzing their manner of co-operation in a state of bondage (bandha), and describing their state of disentanglement or separation in release (mokṣa), while Yoga treats specifically of the dynamics of the process for the disentanglement, and outlines practical techniques for the gaining of release, or 'isolation-integration' (kaivalya).[36]
The sage Patanjali is regarded as the founder of the formal Yoga philosophy.[37] The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are ascribed to Patanjali, who, as Max Müller explains, may have been "the author or representative of the Yoga-philosophy without being necessarily the author of the Sutras."[38] Indologist Axel Michaels is dismissive of claims that the work was written by Patanjali, characterizing it instead as a collection of fragments and traditions of texts stemming from the second or third century.[39] Gavin Flood cites a wider period of uncertainty for the composition, between 100 BCE and 500 CE.[40]
Patanjali's yoga is known as Raja yoga, which is a system for control of the mind.[41] Patanjali defines the word "yoga" in his second sutra, which is the definitional sutra for his entire work:
योग: चित्त-वृत्ति निरोध:
( yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ )
- Yoga Sutras 1.2
This terse definition hinges on the meaning of three Sanskrit terms. I. K. Taimni translates it as "Yoga is the inhibition (nirodhaḥ) of the modifications (vṛtti) of the mind (citta)".[42] Swami Vivekananda translates the sutra as "Yoga is restraining the mind-stuff (Citta) from taking various forms (Vrittis)."[43] Gavin Flood translates the sutra as "yoga is the cessation of mental fluctuations".[44]
A sculpture of a Hindu yogi in the Birla Mandir, DelhiPatanjali's writing also became the basis for a system referred to it as "Ashtanga Yoga" ("Eight-Limbed Yoga"). This eight-limbed concept derived from the 29th Sutra of the 2nd book became a feature of Raja yoga, and is a core characteristic of practically every Raja yoga variation taught today.[1]The Eight Limbs of yoga practice are:
(1) Yama (The five "abstentions"): nonviolence, truth, non-covetousness, chastity, and abstain from attachment to possessions.
(2) Niyama (The five "observances"): purity, contentment, austerities, study, and surrender to god
(3) Asana: Literally means "seat", and in Patanjali's Sutras refers to seated positions used for meditation. Later, with the rise of Hatha yoga, asana came to refer to all the "postures"
(4) Pranayama ("Lengthening Prāna"): Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, "āyāma", to lengthen or extend
(5) Pratyahara ("Abstraction"): Withdrawal of the sense organs from external objects.
(6) Dharana ("Concentration"): Fixing the attention on a single object
(7) Dhyana ("Meditation"): Intense contemplation of the nature of the object of meditation
(8) Samadhi ("Liberation"): merging consciousness with the object of meditation
They are sometimes divided into the lower and the upper four limbs, the lower ones being parallel to the lower limbs of Hatha Yoga, while the upper ones being specific for the Raja yoga. The upper three limbs practiced simultaneously constitute the Samyama.
It details every aspect of the meditative process, and the preparation for it. The book is available in as many as 40 English translations, both in-print and on-line.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] [9]
[edit] Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Main article: Hatha yoga
Hatha Yoga is a particular system of Yoga described by Yogi Swatmarama, a yogic sage of the 15th century in India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Hatha Yoga is a development of — but also differs substantially from — the Raja Yoga of Patanjayoga is a ancient system that united wisdom, exercise, breathing and philosophy. It is something that you practice to aquire self-awareness and then eventually inner peace.It is not an exercise regimen.
You Do Yoga September 2011 Newsletter
Article by Matt Eshleman, ERYT500, You Do Yoga LLC RYS200
Hello Yogis, and happy September! It seems like we always start our newsletter this way, but really - there is such amazing stuff going on with You Do Yoga!! It's easy to get carried away with so much happening, so we'll hit the highlights here and then refer you to the website for the details.
You Do Yoga Anderson Township hit the ground running on August 1st, and we can't thank everyone enough for helping put it all together. We were surprised to see our new space filling up so fast with so many great people. If you haven't yet had the chance, swing by our new studio at 7218 Beechmont Avenue 45230 and see what You Do Yoga is doing on the Eastside of Cincinnati! Our September schedule has a few small changes, so double-check the website and then head on over for a class!
A bit more on our rapidly evolving Anderson Township location:
The first of many Family Yoga events will take place at our Anderson Township studio on September 17th at 7pm, opening with an all-ages (kids and adults too!) yoga practice followed by a child-friendly movie. Feel free to bring beverages and snacks for the movie, and be prepared for fun! Donations will be gratefully accepted but this event is open to all! And as long as we are on the subject of families, we want to get the word out early for this special offering: starting October 2nd we will begin an 8 week session of Pre-Natal Yoga, taking place every Sunday at 10AM in Anderson Township. More information will be available online.
We are going to be hosting the Seiki Aikido group at our Anderson Township Studio twice a week. Seiki Aikido offers a unique approach to realistic martial arts training. Participation is by instructor approval only, but we invite you to come observe a class.
Our newest and most popular class offering, an uplifting combination of Yin Yoga and review of essential yogic scriptures we call "Yoga and Philosophy" (weekly, Mondays at 7pm) will now be complemented by a monthly workshop focusing on the philosophical texts of Eastern mystical traditions. On the first Saturday of every month starting Oct 1st, we will gather to review and discuss the themes of the previous month. Availability will be limited, Drop-ins may find space but online Pre-registration is encouraged: http://www.YouDoYoga.com
Yoga Nidra will now be offered once a month at each You Do Yoga location. This month, sessions will be on September 10th at 3:30pm in Anderson, and September 18th at 6pm Downtown. See the website for more information: http://www.youdoyoga.com/Events_Workshops.html
So Speaking of Downtown... some folks have asked us if we are "moving" or "relocating" You Do Yoga, and the answer is NO WAY! - we are "growing" and "expanding"! We love our downtown community and we plan to keep the You Do Yoga home base right in the Heart of Over-the-Rhine at 1319 Main Street Cincinnati Ohio 45202. So you can continue to expect the same fabulous classes and inspiring teachers, but now in two places. As an added bonus, anyone purchasing an unlimited class pass will have full access to all regular classes at both studios!
A couple of changes to mention about the You Do Yoga Downtown Studio Schedule: Starting in September, our Donation-based Community Yoga class moves forward 15 minutes to 8:45AM. This will allow Liz a full 90 minutes to wring you out and get you ready for the weekend! We are glad to open our studio for donation-based classes that make yoga even more accessible to our beautiful community. In fact, our "Meditation by Donation" is now going to be offered twice weekly, at Noon on both Sundays and Wednesdays. This is an open meditation practice that will include some light stretching and guidance in basic breathing and meditation techniques, along with time and space for personal practice. All levels of experience are welcome, the intention is to encourage the practice of meditation for the benefit of all! For more information about how Donation-Based classes work, please visit the website.
Final Fridays are now even more fun! Some of you may have been following the developing combination of Acrobatics, Yoga, and Thai Massage that has been creeping into the limelight at You Do Yoga's more casual events. By popular demand, donation-based open Acro-Jams will now take place every Final Friday 7:30-9:30pm at our Downtown Studio, following our "Don't Worry, Be Happy-Hour", 5:30-7pm Laughter Yoga with Hasya Yogi phenomenon Patrick Welage.
You Do Yoga is a Registered Yoga School. Our next Yin Yoga and Taoist Yoga Teacher Training Starts in January 2012. For more information visit http://www.youdoyoga.com/Teacher_Training.html
One last new addition to mention: In addition to our renowned Thai Yoga Massage and Reiki services, we are now offering Therapeutic and Medical massage sessions with a Licensed Massage Therapist, by appointment. Call to book a session with our LMT by dialing 513-258-2002.
That's enough for now... but look for more to come, and remember: Find us on Facebook (You Do Yoga), follow us on Twitter @YouDoYoga or to keep your fingers on the pulse of Yoga in Cincinnati Ohio visit our website at http://www.YouDoYoga.com
Namaste!
Orignal From: Can someone explain to me what yoga really is?
No comments:
Post a Comment