THE DEVINE CULTURE.....


Yoga (Sanskrit: योग About this sound pronunciation (help·info)) is the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace. The term yoga can be derived from either of two roots, yujir yoga (to yoke) or yuj samādhau (to concentrate). The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali defines yoga as "the stilling of the changing states of the mind" (Sanskrit: योग: चित्त-वृत्ति निरोध:). Yoga has also been popularly defined as "union with the divine" in other contexts and traditions.

Yoga

Indian yoga codified from esoteric practices that are thousands of years old. It has developed several branches to accommodate different personality styles. The major yogas are Bhakti ( a devotional approach that opens the heart, it is best for those who are primarily emotionally-oriented ), Jnana ( an intellectual approach that leads to wisdom, it is best for those who are primarily mentally-oriented ), Karma ( an active, service-oriented approach, it is best for those who are more extroverted and who find meaning mostly through relationship ), and Raja ( a meditational approach, it is best for those who are primarily oriented to the practical aspects of a situation ).

Raja Yoga

For those who are capable, Raja Yoga employs the most powerful and direct techniques for spiritual advancement. In addition, it provides a clear outline of the stages of progress along the path. These teachings were first systematised in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali ( written around 300-500 AD ). The eight traditional stages are:

1. Yama ( social ethics of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, continence, and non-coveting )
2. Niyama ( personal ethics of purity, contentment, ardour, study, devotion )
3. Asana ( discipline of the body through posture to provide a sound base for taming the mind )
4. Pranayama ( discipline of the breath to refine the base developed through asana )
5. Pratyahara ( beginning mental concentration, holding to a single object for about 10-20 seconds ) This is the start of meditation, in proper. Achievement to this level brings mental control over the sense gates, so that one can withdraw from sense experience. This is useful because it allows one to further purify the mind and heart without the normal distractions of the mind and senses.
6. Dharana ( intermediate mental concentration, holding to a single object for 2-4 minutes )
7. Dhyana ( advanced mental concentration, holding to a single object for 30-40 minutes )
8. Samadhi ( very advanced mental concentration, holding to a single object for 6 hours or more ) The most advanced practitioners can remain in samadhi indefinitely.

The final practice of this meditational path is to connect the samadhi state with ordinary day-to-day consciousness so that a practitioner is in samadhi regardless of whether he or she is meditating in total isolation or performing daily chores in the normal bustle of people, places, and events. In this way, the accomplished meditator has quite literally passed beyond life's sufferings but yet remains in the world. A spiritual master of this stature experiences every moment as pleasant and peaceful regardless of what may be happening to her or his body and mind. For instance, such a person would be aware of the body's torment when suffering from some terrible disease, such as cancer, but naturally remain in a serene state anyway.

Asanas

Some prototypical examples of asanas (and their psychological effects) would be:

Types of Asanas and Their Psychological Effect

Forward Bends (calming, inward focussing, surrendering, integrating) Back Bends (energising, asserting, individuating) Twists (purging, cleansing, flexing) Standing Postures (strengthening, mobilising, grounding) Arm Balances (empowering, steadying, assuring) Inversions (healing, forgiving, nourishing, envisioning) Seated Postures (receiving, praying, supporting)

STEP BY STEP YOGASANA GUIDE
Below we have a list of some asanas (for daily practice).Click on the name of the asana and see the instructions related to it.

Sl. No	Sanskrit Name	English Name	Difficulty
1	Surya – Namaskar	Sun Salutation	3
2	Akarna – Dhanur - asana	Shooting Bow Posture	6
3	Anjaneya – asana	Salutation Pose	7
4	Ardha Chandra asana	Half Moon Posture	2
5	Ardha – Matsyendra - asana	Half Spinal Twist Posture	4
6	Baddha Kona Asana	Restrained angle Posture	4
7	Bala Asana	Child Posture	1
8	Chakra Asana	Wheel Posture	8
9	Dhanur - asana	Bow Posture	5
10	Ekapada - asana	One Legged Posture	5
11	Garuda – asana	Half Spinal Twist Posture	3
12	Gomukha – asana	Cow Face Posture	4
13	Hala - sana	Plough Posture	5
14	Hasta – Pada – angusth asana	Hand – foot big toe Pose	3
15	Matsya	Fish Posture	3
16	Naga	Cobra Posture	4
17	Nataraja asana	King of the Dance Posture	3
18	Padma	Lotus Posture	6
19	Parivritta parshvakona	Turned Side angle Posture	7
20	Pavana mukta asana	Wind – releasing posture	1
21	Sarvanga – asana	Shoulder stand posture	5
22	Shalabha – asana	Locust Posture	5
23	Shava – asana	Corpse Posture	1
24	Siddha - asana	Accomplished Posture	2
25	Simha – asana	Lion Posture	2
26	Sirsha – asana	Headstand Posture	7
27	Tada – asana	Mountain Pose	1
28	Ugra – asana	Triangle Pose	2
29	Ugra – asana	Powerful Posture	4
30	Ushtra – asana	Camel Posture	5
31	Vajra – asana	Diamond Posture	2
32	Vira – asana	Hero Posture	2
33	Vriksha – asana	Tree Pose	4
34	Vrischika – asana	Scorpion Pose	9

Pranayama

Meditation

 

 

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Created & maintained By....

RamAshish Tomar (RAT)