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What is Yoga ?
Yoga is an ancient
Indian science which is useful even today for people of any age,
religion, country or in any profession. It is a science related to the body,
mind and soul. It is not merely a set of physical exercises (asanas) as
some people in the world believe.
Yoga has
been divided into two parts. One is called “Ha” “Tha” Yoga and the other
is called “Raja Yoga”. The former is mainly related to the physical body
and the latter to the mind.
“Ha”
“Tha” is a technical word and not a Hindi word. These two letters mean
two types of different energies within a body. “Ha” “Tha” yoga science
believes that ailments or disorders are the result of imbalances of
these two energies and the imbalances can be removed by Yogic Shatkarma,
Asana, Pranayama, Mudra and Bandha.
Yogic
shatkarma are highly effective cleansing processes for the physical and
subtle bodies. At the same time, they are also simple and can be easily
learnt. There are many methods described in the yoga scripture but today
one needs to learn merely a few of them to stay healthy and young.
Asanas or yogasanas are a group of many
simple and difficult physical exercises. One needs to learn a few of
them to stay healthy and young according to one’s need, age, flexibility
and strength. Difficult exercises are helpful to sportsmen, dancers,
soldiers etc.
Mudras
are also a group of asana but their method of doing is different. They
are generally taught to only healthy persons.
Bandhas are also a group of a few simple
physical exercises. They are highly effective in keeping body slim and
healthy.
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Jal Neti (Shatkarma) |
Nauli (Shatkarma) |
Difficult
Asana |
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Pranayama is a science of
regulation of the flow of pran. Pran is a technical word meaning
an energy which keeps body and mind active, healthy, young and
energetic. Pran has tremendous property to heal as well as to
improve the quality of the functioning of both body and mind.
Healing by pran is called Pran Upchaar in Hindi (also known as
Pran Therapy or Aura Healing). This healing method has done
wonders in removing various ailments and problems. (see
feedbacks of the patients). Pranayama plays a vital role in
transforming the mind and helps in opening doors for the
realization of the soul or Samadhi also. Kirlian
photography has greatly helped in understanding the role of Pran
in the functions of body and mind. |
Since
time immemorial asana, shatkarma, mudra, bandha, pranayama have
benefitted innumerable patients by removing their physiological,
psychosomatic and mental problems.
Raja Yoga
aims at the attainment of the highest state of mind or Samadhi. Maharishi Patanjali has written a beautiful book for this
purpose “Yoga Darshan”. He says that one needs to practise eight steps
in all for the attainment of Samadhi (merely knowing cannot help) and
that is why his method is called Ashtang Yoga. Ashtang is a Hindi word
meaning eight. These eight steps are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama,
Pratyahar, Dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi.
Yoga is,
in fact, a science for purifying and sanctifying the mind. Maharishi
Patanjali also says that it is a science to discipline and calm the
mind. He defines eight parts of yoga as under :-
Yama
aims at making the mind non-violent
to inculcate love and compassion; truthful to develop courage and remove
fear; honest in money matters to avoid greed; conserving all sorts of
physical and mental energies to avoid their waste and to strengthen will
power; and avoiding accumulation of money to make life simple.
Niyama
aims at cleaning the physical,
subtle, mental body to keep ailments away; contentment to keep mind calm
and happy; perseverance to avoid depression; study of scriptures related
to mind, soul and God; surrender to God to avoid egoism.
Yama and Niyama
together aim at teaching the right way of living to help you develop
spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and socially. They help in the
development of a balanced personality and a good human being.
Asanas
aim
at enabling the body to sit ‘comfortably and steadily’ for hours at
a stretch for the practice of meditation.
Pranayama means
natural regulation of pran.
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Pratyahar
develops control over all the
senses to control the mind.
Dharna
develops focussing ability of the mind.
Dhyan
(Meditation) further enhances the focussing ability of mind. Practice of
meditation gives immense peace and mental strength.
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Samadhi
is the culmination of
practice of meditation into
realization of soul or
samadhi or ultimate truth......
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