The Meaning of Yoga

Most people know that the Practice of Yoga makes the body strong and flexible. It is also well known that Yoga improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and hormonal systems. Yoga also brings emotional stability and clarity of mind, but that is only the beginning of the journey to Samadhi, or self-realization, which is the ultimate Aim of Yoga.

The ancient sages, who meditated on the human condition 2,000 years ago, outlined four ways to self- realization:

Jnana Marg, or the path to knowledge, when the seeker learns to discriminate between the real and the unreal;

Karma Marg, the path of selfless service without thought of reward;

Bhakti Marg, the path of love and devotion;

Yoga Marg, the path by which the mind and its actions are brought under control.

All these paths lead to the same goal: Samadhi.

The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root “Yuj” which means “to join” or “to yoke”; the related meaning is “to focus attention on” or “to use.” In philosophical terms, the union of the individual self, Jivatma, with the universal self, Paramatma, is Yoga. The union results in a pure and perfect state of consciousness in which the feeling of “I” simply does not exist. Prior to this union is the union of the body with the mind, and the mind with the self. Yoga is thus a dynamic, internal experience which integrates the body, the senses, the mind, and the intelligence, with the self. The sage Patanjali was a Master of Yoga and a fully evolved soul. But this great thinker had the ability to empathize with the joys and sorrows of ordinary people. His reflections and those of other ancient sages on the ways through which every person could realize his full potential were outlined in the 196 Yoga Sutras.

Yoga Philosophy

Asanas are one of the major “tools” of Yoga. Their benefits range from the physical level to the spiritual. That is why Yoga is called Sarvanga Sadhana or holistic practice. “Asana” is the positioning of the body in various postures, with the total involvement of the mind and self, in order to establish communication between our external and internal selves. Yogic Philosophy looks at the body as being made up of three layers and five sheaths. The three layers are: the causal body, or Karana Sharira, the subtle body, or Suksma Sharira, and the gross body, or Karya Sharira. Every individual functions in mind, matter, energy, and pure consciousness through five sheaths. These are: the anatomical sheath, or Annamaya Kosha, which is dealt with by Asanas; the life-force sheath or Pranamaya Kosha, which is treated by Pranayama; the psychological sheath, or Manomaya Kosha, is worked on by meditation; and the intellectual sheath, or Vijnanamaya Kosha, is transformed by studying the scriptures with sincerity and discrimination. Once these goals are addressed, you reach the Anandamaya Kosha, or the sheath of bliss. Yoga integrates the three layers of the body with the five sheaths, enabling the individual to develop as a total being. The separation between the body and the mind, and the mind and the soul, then vanishes, as all planes fuse into one. In this way, Asanas help to transform an individual by bringing him or her away from the awareness of the body toward the consciousness of the soul.

The Journey of Yoga

The Hathayoga Pradipika is a practical treatise on Yoga, thought to have been compiled in the 15th century. The author, the sage Svatmarama, gives practical guidelines to beginners on the journey they must make from the culture of the body toward the vision of the soul. Unlike Patanjali, who discusses the sighting of the soul through the restraint of consciousness or Chitta, Svatmarama begins his treatise with the restraint of energy, or Prana. Sighting the soul through the restraint of energy is called Hatha yoga, whereas sighting the soul through the restraint of consciousness is known as Raja Yoga.

Aims of Yoga

The practice of Yoga aims at overcoming the limitations of the body. Yoga teaches us that the goal of every individual’s life is to take the inner journey to the soul. Yoga offers both the goal and the means to reach it.

Asana & Pranayama

When there is perfect harmony between body and mind, we achieve self-realization. Yoga teaches us that obstacles in the path of our self-realization indicate themselves in physical or mental indisposition. When our physical state is not perfect, this causes an imbalance in our mental state, which is known in Sanskrit as chittavritti. The practice of Yoga helps us to overcome that imbalance. Yogic Asanas, or poses, can cure vyadhi or physical ailments, and redress angamejayatva or unsteadiness in the body. Shvasa-prashvasa, which translates as “uneven respiration” — an indication of stress — is alleviated by the practice of yoga. Asanas tone the whole body.

Practicing Asanas cleanses the body. Just as a goldsmith heats gold in fire to burn out its impurities, similarly, Asanas, by increasing the circulation of fresh blood through the body, purge it of the diseases and toxins which are the consequences of an irregular lifestyle, unhealthy habits, and poor posture. Regular practice of the stretches, twists, bends, and inversions — the basic movements of Asanas — restores strength and stamina.

What is Asana?

An Asana is not a posture that you assume mechanically. It involves a thoughtful process at the end of which a balance is achieved between movement and resistance. Your weight has to be evenly distributed over muscles, bones, and joints, just as your intelligence must be engaged.

Sitting Asanas
All sitting Asanas bring elasticity to the hips, knees, ankles, and muscles of the groin. These poses remove tension and hardness in the diaphragm and throat, making breathing smoother and easier. They keep the spine steady, pacifying the mind and stretching the muscles of the heart. Blood circulation increases to all parts of the body.

Standing Asanas
Standing Asanas strengthen the leg muscles and joints, and increase the suppleness and strength of the spine. Because of their rotational and flexing movements, the spinal muscles and intervertebral joints are kept mobile and well-aligned. The arteries of the legs are stretched, increasing the blood supply to the lower limbs, and preventing thrombosis in the calf muscles. These Asanas also tone the cardiovascular system. The lateral wall of the heart is fully stretched, increasing the supply of fresh blood to the heart.

Forward bends
In forward bends, the abdominal organs are compressed. This has a unique effect on the nervous system: as these organs relax, the frontal brain is cooled, and the flow of blood to the entire brain is regulated. The sympathetic nervous system Relieving tension and stress.
The torso is stretched in Bharadvajasana is rested, bringing down the pulse rate and blood pressure. Stress is removed from the organs of perception and the senses relax. The adrenal glands are also soothed and function more efficiently. Since the body is in a horizontal position in forward bends, the heart is relieved of the strain of pumping blood against gravity, and blood circulates through all parts of the body easily.
Forward bends also strengthen the paraspinal muscles, intervertebral joints, and ligaments.

Twists
These Asanas teach us the importance of a healthy spine and inner body. In twists, the pelvic and abdominal organs are squeezed and flushed with blood. They improve the suppleness of the diaphragm and relieve spinal, hip and groin disorders. The spine also becomes more supple, and this improves the flow of blood to the spinal nerves and increases energy levels.

Inversions
Some people fear that if they practice inverted poses, their blood pressure will rise, or their blood vessels will burst. These are complete misconceptions. After all, standing for long periods can lead to thrombosis and varicose veins, but no one is going to stop standing up! Standing upright is a result of evolution. Just as the human body has adjusted to an upright position, it can also learn to perform inversions without any risk or harm. In contrast to the twisting Asanas, inverted Asanas have a drying effect on the pelvic and abdominal organs, while vital organs like the brain, heart, and lungs are flushed with blood. According to the third chapter of the sage Svatmarama’s.

Recommended List of Yoga Books

B.K.S. IYENGAR — Light on Yoga

B.K.S. IYENGAR — YOGA - The Path to Holistic Health

ECKHART TOLLE — The Power of Now

MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI — Flow

SWAMI RAMA — Conscious Living

SWAMI RAMA — Lectures on Yoga

SWAMI RAMA — Living with the Himalayan Masters