Yoga

The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word that means yoke or union. Traditionally, yoga is a method that joins the individual self with the Divine, Universal Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called self-transcendence or enlightenment.

On the physical level, yoga postures, called asanas, are designed to tone, strengthen, and align the body. These postures are performed to make the spine supple and healthy and to promote blood flow to all the organs, glands, and tissues, keeping all the body systems healthy. On a mental level, yoga uses breathing techniques and meditation to quiet, clarify, and discipline the mind

A Brief History of Yoga

Yoga has a long history, it is very ancient. Yoga evolved on the Indian continent over a period of 5000 years. It has its roots in the Hinduism and Brahmanism, yet our contemporary western approach to yoga has little to do with any particular belief or religion. However, it can be said that our contemporary western approach to yoga is only a very small portion of what yoga is all about. Yoga is a deep well of knowledge which helps quell our thirst for the truth. Yoga contains several branches of learning which includes, Hatha Yoga, the physical branch of yoga everyone in the west is most familiar with. Yoga, was developed by ascetics living primarily in the southern portions of India. These ascetics led very disciplined lives, they were vegetarians and they adhered to a nonviolent philosophy. They lived close to the earth, they observed nature, the animals and themselves. The first photo to the right is of Sri Yukteswar, Yogananda's teacher, he was an enlightened master ascetic.

These ascetics would imitate many of the animals they observed, their postures and habits, in order to emulate their strength, grace and wisdom. The ascetics lived in harmony with nature, exhibiting extraordinary health and endurance. Throughout ages, these ascetics or monks would continue to add to their growing body of knowledge about exercise and health as they tried to master their own bodies in an effort to produce the energy for the realization of truth.

The word yoga is derived from Sanskrit, and in it's simplicity means 'to bind together' and 'to reunite'. Over time there has been a steady effort by many great Indian seers to develop and perfect specific techniques with which they could unite the lower mind with the higher mind or with what they called Universal Consciousness. Yoga is India's greatest gifts to the world, and we here in the west have only recently come to know and appreciate its many wonders.

Hinduism developed in India in the same historical period that yoga did and these two rich and profound philosophies have had great influence on each other, so much so, that until the beginning of the twentieth century all yogis were devout Hindu priests.

Then in the early part of the twentieth century, Hindu yoga masters or swamis, traveled to the west in order to share their religious beliefs and practices. Yoga at this point was to undergo another profound change as it's light was about to be filtered through the prism of western existentialism and rational scientific materialism. These teachers brought a new spiritual awareness to the west. To the right is a photo of Yogananda one of the most influencial spiritual masters to come to America . Our modern approaches to yoga have created a clear delineations between the Hindu religion and the practice of yoga. Yoga as it has been developed in the west is largely concerned with the physical exercises and health promoting breathing exercises of yoga, it has moved away from it's original religiosity. Yoga as practiced in the west is largely non-religious because the needs of America's large culture of health and exercise which used it for its own purposes.

How to Get Started..

Yoga postures affect every part of the body, stretching and toning muscles, joints, the spine, and the entire skeletal system. All the vital organs and glands are affected by the postures which stimulate and massage them. The whole body is benefited by yoga postures and the deep breathing which is done with them. Hatha Yoga unifies mind, body and spirit , bringing you to new heights of physical and mental well being.

To begin practicing hatha yoga, all you need is a quiet, warm and ventilated room with soft or natural light. Practice on a comfortable surface such as a carpet or a Sticky Mat, if you need help with your flexibility you may also want to purchase some Yoga blocks or a Yoga Belt which are available through the Yoga Boutique. You can wear anything as long as it does not impede your movements or bind too tight.

In Hatha Yoga your breathing is deepened and synchronized with the postures. The synchronized deep breathing allows you to relax into the poses. The poses themselves will only evolve into their intended form as your breathing deepens and your muscles begin to naturally relax, this breathing effect is what makes Hatha Yoga distinctive from other forms of exercise. Tension is released while in pose or during the exercise, therefore the postures will not leave you feeling fatigued or over exerted after your workout.

A Hatha yoga posture is called an Asana. There are three stages to each Asana, coming into the pose, holding the pose, and coming out of the pose. Come into the pose slowly and continuously, do not strain for the pose, instead deepen your breathing as an aid. Hold the pose for as long as is comfortable for you, the real work of an Asana is done while you hold the pose. Once you are relaxed in the pose adjust yourself for maximum stretch. Then stay quiet and motionless in the pose. When exiting the pose release very slowly, exhale deeply as you release.