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GodFrees Guide to Yoga
The word Yoga comes from Sanskrit , meaning "Yoking," or "Union." It's one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. A seriously ancient phenomenon, Yoga's basic text is the Yoga-sutras which was written by Indian thinker Patañjali in the 2nd century BC.
The practical aspects of Yoga play a more important part than does its intellectual content, which is largely based on the philosophy of Samkhya, another ancient Indian wise man. Yoga assumes the existence of God, who's the model for those looking for spiritual release. Spiritual liberation comes when one is freed from the bondages of material things that have bound us thanks to ignorance and illusion. Samkhya's view of the evolution of the world through identifiable stages leads Yoga to try and reverse this order, so far that a person can rid themselves of the unnecessary material priorities and return to the human's original state of purity and consciousness. Yoga students are taught to control the mind so that it blots out the unimportant things and ends any attachment to material objects. The person can then enter "samadhi", a state of deep concentration that results in a blissful, ecstatic union with the inner self and the important things in life.
Yoga, its practitioners say, produces balance and harmony between the body and the mind. It produces healthy functioning in both body and mind and then brings about a balance between the two. A practising friend described it to this writer as, "A way of life which leads towards harmony within oneself and also harmony between oneself and the wider world. It's a merging of the individual consciousness and the cosmic consciousness. It broadens one's sense of awareness and deepens the depths of consciousness that one can attain".
Yoga is more though. It's a bit of an all-rounder, a tuner of the physical as well as the mental body. Yoga helps muscles, internal organs, the endocrine system and the circulatory system, producing a healthier body. Advocates say it improves physical systems within the body including the nerves and internal organs, bringing more energy, sharper concentration, a stronger immune system and better disease prevention. Says my friend; "It's an excellent way of dealing with today's stresses by producing deep states of relaxation and releasing tension from both the body and the mind."
Yoga is a process. The process for each person is different, depending on one's state of health in both body and mind. And Yoga isn't just for thought-out intellectual types. One can join a Yoga class at any stage and see what develops for you. Maybe you'll enjoy the relaxation, or like taking a rest from your busy life, or enjoy working hard on physical fitness, or simply like the gentle toning and stretches that come with the practice.
Yoga isn't a religion but it's compatible with the various religions, explaining perhaps one of the reasons for its popularity among all peoples. Yoga does not force you to believe in any particular belief. You simply follow the Yoga practices and allow yourself to appreciate whatever benefits you experience.
The types of Yoga we see today in the West have generally originated from India and have been brought to the Western world over the past hundred years. The various types of Yoga available today have evolved from teacher to student, so that each student or "Yogi" has added their own flavour to the ancient practices. Some classes begin quite intensively while others begin very gently and gradually get stronger with the pace and ability of the person learning.
Yoga can be both strenuous and relaxing at the same time. It can also be gentle and more meditative, or dynamic and energy inducing. There are many forms of Yoga and you should be aware that each class could be quite different.
There's Asthanga, which gets you fit and energised. Satyananda is on the other hand a gentle process. You can progress at your own ability and tune inwards with an awareness of your breathing patterns. The benefits of this type of Yoga include stress reduction, deeper relaxation, improved sleep patterns and reduced anxiety. You'll thus obviously be able to concentrate better.
Anyone can begin to learn Yoga. One word of caution - some forms of Yoga are quite energetic right from the start. These types of Yoga should really only be started by those who are already fit and supple or have practised other forms of Yoga previously. These are namely Asthanga or Power Yoga.
But most forms of Yoga, especially Satyananda Yoga, can be started by everyone, young or old, fit or unfit, large or small. These classes start very gently and the postures progress at your own pace. Emphasis is placed on inner awareness and most of the postures are practised with the eyes closed, bringing inner peace and calmness, in addition to working on the person's physical level.
Different yoga classes teach different things. In general, Yoga includes the following;
Physical postures which tone the body, direct the awareness inwards and coordinate movements of the body with the breathing system.
Breathing work, which can include ways of breathing calmly and letting go of tension; deep relaxation techniques are aimed to let go of tension in both body and mind.
Meditation or preparation techniques designed to increase inner awareness and concentration.
Do note that each Yoga type and each level of class may deal with one or more of the above. It's possible to practise yoga for years and still only deal with two or three of the above areas of Yoga.
Take a Yoga class is better than buying a book and practising by yourself. The reason for this is that one cannot easily follow the postures and process correctly. You should consider what type of Yoga you would like to practise and then look for a teacher. If it's fitness and endurance and toning up your body, then it's possibly Asthanga yoga you need. But, if it's lying down and relaxing, mental tuning or breathing slowly and mindfully you may be better with the Satyananda system. If it's more toning you're into - strong and energising - it may be Iyengar for you. But having said all that, all of the above types of Yoga have something to offer in each of the areas of fitness, awareness, improved health and well-being, breath work and relaxation.
Before you get down to the toning and the mind techniques, check the qualifications of your Yoga teacher and ask them how long they trained in order to receive those qualifications. Any training that is under two years in length should be questioned. Unfortunately, the popularity of yoga has meant some less than expert individuals are getting in on the act.
Now, go to the Nightcourses.com search engine to find the course nearest to you. This writer has participated in a few Yoga classes but the one he will return to is the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre in Co Clare. Located in beautiful countryside, this centre offers evening classes in the Burren and in Galway city and also live-in weekend Yoga courses throughout the year at its Burren base.
- Aerobics & Circuit Training
- Fitness
- Free massage for mini-marathoners
- Gym
- In-Office Exercise
- Keep fit
- Pilates
- Tai Chi
- Yoga
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