THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA
There are many forms of practice available today and many yoga techniques for reining in and unifying con sciousness. Many though nor all, have roots in the philoso-phylaid forth so succinctly in the Yoga Sutra, which is thought to have been written around 200 BCE.The book is a short one, contain-ing only IQ5 terse verses, or sutras. But in it, Patanjali has created a logical road map for using the tcchniqucs otyoga to achieve the state. of yoga. He offers a clear path, eight stepsorlimbs,as they are more accurately called-to liberation.
Asana: Creating Ease in the Body
The starting place for most Westerners today is the physical practice, the limb that Patanjalicalled asana (posture). Patanjali says that our posture,implying specifically the posture for meditation, should be “stable and done with ease.” He does not mcntion any of the poses usually practiced in a yoga class (these are described in other texts, such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika). For Patanjali, the key concept is that the yoga practitioner should live and move in such a way that the body becomes an able instru- ment for further study and rneditation.
But there is, more to asana than simply creating and maintaining a still and upright Sitting posture. An asanais a concrete “thing,” and as such it of Fcrs a straightforvvard way oflearning how to focus the mind. The dirccting of attention to the breath and to different parts oFchc body- like bones, museles, and organs teachcs us to focus our awareness. ror example, when doing a forward bend, the strong stretch in the ham- String museles brings focus to the backs ofthe thighs.This process of consistcntly bring- ing attention to one point over and over trains the mind much as one would train an unruly puppy
The yamas: Yoga’s Ethical Restraints
Today you’re likely to learn a sana first, but it’s interesting to note that Patanjali’s path doesn’t begin with the physical pracrice but with the yamas, the ethical principles that underlie all yoga prac- tiee: abimsa (nonharmings satya (truthfulness), asteya (nonstealing),brabmaebarya (sexual moderation). The word yama means “to restrain,” and this idea often surprises some students
is yoga a religion?
‘yoga is not a religion. But it is theistic, meaning that it does posit the existence of a divine being. in fact, the niyama of lshvara pranid hana is about devoting or surrendering the fruits of one’s practice of yoga to the Oivine. Having a spacifrc “god” or “goddess” to work with isless abstract and easier for many people than giving up the desires of ego to an amorphous principle of divine consciousness+Since yoga is not an orgnized religion with doctrines and worship
cultures and religious backgrounds can practice yoga as part of their faith. if you’re a Christian, you might focus the devotional aspect of your practice on Jesus or Mary for example According to master teachers in the tradition .ofPatanjall, the practices of yoga are efficacious even if one does not believe in a manifestation of the Divine
BUt no matter what you belive, yoga, at its best. is a spiritual practice that helps you to get in touch with higher values.
Filed in: Aerobic Exercise » Creating Ease in the Body