“Yoga is the stilling of mental activity”
Patanjali Maharishi, Yoga Sutra 1, 2
Babaji, the immortal Yogi (revealed by Yogananda)
The term Yoga comes from the root Sanskrit word yuj, which means to unite, to join, to harness.
From the perspective of the Hindu religion, Yoga is a powerful tool through which the individual being (Jivatma) may unite with the supernatural force (Paramatma), intrinsically present in every human being.
It’s about an integrated educational system for body, mind and spirit, based on universal truths, and is therefore still today capable of giving us invaluable teachings.
Yoga is synonym of a lifestyle based on self-discipline and simplicity, elevating one’s own mind and consciousness.
It is not about religion, it’s about a practical help, based on ancient techniques that may become part of our daily lives.
Through yoga one has the possibility of harmonizing the physical body, its energetic counterpart, the etheric body, with its energy channels and centers called nadis, meridians and chakras. This allows one’s being to have an attitude of harmonizing receptivity towards the Self. The personality aligning and uniting with its own Self realizes the true meaning of life, true healing and true liberation.
Throughout the ages four yogic paths have developed to reach the liberation (Moksha) of the individual soul from suffering (Samsara). They are often compared to the four branches of the tree of knowledge, they are:
•Karma Yoga: it’s an experiential and direct approach based on the search for transcendence in the action itself. Combining action and meditation, this yoga consists with the progressive purification of the mind through one’s own actions. The karma yogi tries to transcend his/her own ego through unconditional service towards others, without expecting anything in return.
•Jnana Yoga: it’s about a philosophical-intellectual approach toward spiritual evolution and requires a particularly acute intellect. Thanks to some powerful intellectual techniques, the Jnana yogi sees through the veils of Maya, i.e. the illusion that causes suffering. In doing so he/she overcomes his/her own tool and merges in a state of love and wisdom.
•Bhakti Yoga: it teaches techniques to transform emotions. Through chanting, prayer and mantra repetition, the energy originating from the emotional field is channeled in devotion. Lower emotions such as anger, pride, jealousy and hatred get sublimated, finally flowing into communion with the object of one’s own devotion.
It represents the most simple and direct approach. This practice is aimed at the majority of human beings because of its ease and simplicity.
•Raja Yoga: it’s a systematic approach through which the nature of the mind is constantly analyzed. Various techniques are applied to control the flow of thoughts and reach higher states of consciousness.
In the two branches of Raja Yoga, Kundalini and Hatha, various practices are applied with the goal of controlling the breath (Pranayama). When the breath is stable and regular, the mind is calm, and vice versa.
RAJA E HATHA YOGA
“The Lord of the Universe builds in the human being a house as big as a sesame seed, and there the Lord resides.”
Kashmir Shaivism
Raja Yoga is the royal path, whereby through systematic analysis, leads to the control of the mind.
Its fundamental principles were laid down over 2000 years ago by Patanjali Maharishi, author of the Yoga Sutras (Aphorism on Yoga). This great sage summarized with crystal clear lucidity teachings that until then were only orally handed over to the following generations. He was the first to put the teachings in writing and for this reason is designated with the epithet of father and founder of the Raja Yoga School.
The teaching of Patanjali is wrapped like a precious pearl in 196 aphorisms that guides the spiritual aspirant along the tortuous path of the inner search. The ultimate goal of existence is the realization of Samadhi, i.e. the dissolution of the meditator with the object of meditation.
Raja Yoga compares the potential mental power to a strong luminous ray: when recollected in concentration it acts as a lens and allows the light to burn cotton. When the mind is stable and focalized beyond duality, the treasure of our deepest and most transcendental knowledge is opened up to us.
The purpose of Yoga is therefore to reveal a method that allows the individual to address his/her attention within, and find the everlasting source of joy, far from the suffering and pain that most human beings experience alternating with brief moments of ephemeral happiness.
In conformity with the school of Patanjali, Raja Yoga is divided into eight branches, known as Ashtanga Yoga. These are:
1. YAMAS – restrictions, rules of behavior. They allow us to live in harmony in the social context that we find ourselves in.
Ahimsa Non violence
Sathya Truth
Brahmachary Abstinence
Asteya Abstention from stealing
Aparigraha Abstention from greediness
2. NIYAMAS – observances that regulate self-discipline and that help to live in harmony with ourselves.
Sauca Exterior cleanliness and inner purity
Santosha Ability of being content
Tapas Austeriy
Swadyaya Continuous study and inner search
Ishwara-Pranidhana Ability of letting go
3. ASANA – stable posture of the physical body and metaphor for a positive mental alignment in daily life.
4. PRANAYAMA – control of the vital force through the breath
5. PRATYAHARA – detachment of the senses from their objects; in the form of Yoga Nidra, a method of relaxation in order to detach from the thinking activity that conditions the mind.
6. DHARANA – concentration
7. DHYANA – meditation as integration of body, breath, mind and spirit.
8. SAMADHI – experience of Oneness, the merging of the meditator with the object of meditation.
ASANA (POSTURES)
“Being the first accessory of Hatha Yoga, asana is described first.
It should be practiced for gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body.”
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 1-19
According to Yoga philosophy good health is a state in which our organs function in a harmonious way under the intelligent control of the mind.
Yoga exercises, called Asanas (stable positions), are practiced slowly. They release tensions in the muscles, tendons, ligaments and help improve the circulatory system.
Each posture is maintained for a certain period of time, gradually increasing the body’s elasticity.
The age of the body is strictly related to its flexibility: for this reason Yoga puts great attention on the health of the spinal column and on its strength. In fact the spine contains the spinal cord, main conductor of nervous stimuli. By maintaining a flexible spine through exercise, one increases circulation and one guarantees the nerves an appropriate intake of oxygen and nutrients.
Asanas involve every part of the body: the inner organs are massaged through the most diverse movements, while the endocrine system gets stimulated, supporting emotional balance and a positive attitude toward life.
If practiced in the correct way and on a regular basis, these exercises not only are limited to the physical body’s development, they also help develop concentration and mental faculties.
The majority of sports emphasize quick and violent muscle movements that cause a great quantity of lactic acid in the muscle fibers. Lactic acid accumulates and causes pain and tiredness.
In Yoga, the lactic acid that is produced gets neutralized from the greater intake of oxygen that flows to the body through slow deep breathing that goes together with the various movements.
PRANAYAMA (BREATH CONTROL)
“Respiration being disturbed, the mind becomes disturbed. By restraining respiration, the Yogi gets steadiness of mind.
It is, therefore, necessary to restrain the breath”.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 2-2
Breath is nothing other than the manifestation of the vital force called Prana. It is present in the air and everything that possesses vitality, from living beings to food and spring water.
According to Yoga, the densest and most solid part of the food we eat nourishes our body, allowing us to be active and maintaining good health, while the subtler and most etheric part nourishes our mind and our thoughts.
In the Yoga culture, breath is often compared to a bridge that unites body to spirit. This analogy allows us to realize the deep importance of correct breathing.
All of us have surely already experienced the direct connection between breath and mind: a person absorbed in meditation or concentrated will breathe slowly and regularly; on the contrary, someone who’s mind is anxious, stressed or upset by negative emotions will breathe heavily and irregularly.
This consideration proves the strong link between mind and Prana.
Through conscious breathing one increases the intake of Prana and oxygen in the body, eliminating a greater quantity of carbon dioxide and easily managing fatigue. One feels more alive and less tired.
Correct breathing ensures the body an oxygen intake that allows the efficient functioning of the brain and of all the cells of the body.
Only in this way does the ingested food get adequately metabolized and the nutrients, included vitamins and minerals, are not wasted.
Besides, deep breathing allows the elimination of harmful gases produced by the metabolic process, particularly carbon dioxide.
The control of the breath, called Pranayama, covers a fundamental position in Yoga. Yogic breathing is divided into three stages:
Abdonminal: initially the diaphragm dilates the abdomen, allowing air to fill up the lower part of the lungs
Intercostal: secondly, the intercostal muscles expand the ribcage, allowing air to fill up the central part of the abdomen
Clavicular: the collar bones raise allowing air in the upper part of the body
The majority of people only breathe with this last portion, utilizing just one part of the lung capacity. Breathing is shallow, shoulders are bent and the ribcage expands just slightly. Scarce oxygenation increases tension in the upper part of the body and in the neck, and the person is fatigued at the minimum effort without knowing why.
Yoga teaches us to breathe correctly, greatly increasing our wellbeing, our quality of life and our mental positivism.
Conclusions
Therefore, I suggest homeopathic patients, besides having a healthy diet, to integrate in their own lives the practice of pranayama, that allows an increase of vital energy; second, to integrate the practice of asanas, which allows prana to be distributed in every cell of the organism.
As seen in the homeopathy chapter, all healing is based on two factors, information and energy. As homeopathy corrects the false information that has sedimented in the organism, asanas and pranayama allow the energy system to get recharged, and also helping the elimination of toxins. This approach is also particularly suggested to oncological patients, as very often their energy level is low.
My collaborator Anna Marenic has followed an excellent Yoga training in India, at the famous school of Master Sivananda. She holds weekly courses, for beginners and advanced students.
It is also possible to get private lessons, particularly pranayama, to help in a quick and simple way whoever needs to recharge his/her energy system.
I invite you to visit her website, where part of the above text has been taken from:
www.shanti-mandir.com
Yoga Courses 2011
Yoga Courses 2011
Pranayama Courses
HATHA YOGA
Yoga is a very ancient technique through which we can acquire greater awareness of our body: stretching helps the release of stored tensions, relaxes the nervous system and tones the muscle apparatus.
Asanas, or postures, improve our posture, coordination, body alignment and mobility.
Muscles, tendons and ligaments are being slightly extended, guaranteeing a better flexibility, and reducing back, neck and joint pain.
Moreover, through this practice we can deepen our awareness of our breathing, learning to take deeper and longer breaths. Gradually the lung capacity increases, and blood circulation is improved, bringing the body greater oxygenation.
The introspective aspect of this discipline allows us to create a deeper connection with our true selves, helping us to better deal with stress.
THE TEACHER
My name is Anna Marenic, I was born in Locarno, Switzerland. After several trips to Asia and the Indian subcontinent, in 2003 I left Switzerland and spent a long period in India, where I thoroughly studied Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga.
I was a student of Dr. Sundar Raman, who besides teaching me the principles of Ayurvedic Medicine and its treatments, has opened me to a new and unique perspective on the world and on existence.
My big love for India and for its philosophic and spiritual dimension has then led me to the Yoga path. I studied at Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanvanthari Ashram in Neyyar Dam, Kerala, India, and at Ayurveda Yoga Retreat in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, India, acquiring the title of Yoga Acharya in the beginning of 2008.
