Here in the West, when we think of yoga, we often think of
it as a fitness program. Well it can certainly whip you into shape...but it is much more than that. Sometimes the word yoga calls to mind visions of
ancient yogis twisted and contorted into pretzels and sitting in mountain top
caves in the Himalayas. This image of yoga has been slowly, but surely changing
over the years. In recent times, however, because of the global evolution in
consciousness that is happening now, more and more people are awakening to
ancient truths, often thanks to modern technology. With the internet came
instant access to any information one could ever want. In order to understand
yoga one must look deep beyond the words of the definition.
The definition of yoga encompasses all levels of
consciousness and existence. In Sanskrit, it means “to yoke or join together, integration of the entire being”. Another
good word, used by yoga master, Pijya Swamiji, to express this is “union”. This means to unite all aspects
of our being; as well as “union between the limited self and the divine self” (Swamiji, 2011) .
The goal here, though, is not actually to unite us with anything; it is to show
us that we are already united. It helps us to balance all of the systems of the
body, from a cellular level, and energetic level, to an emotional level, and a
mental level by doing this we reveal the truth of our nature, which is spirit.
The earliest archaeological verification of the existence of
yoga is found on stone seals which have been dated back to around 3000 B.C. (Tibetan Life, 2011) .
Many scholars believe that it was in existence far earlier than that; some have
traced its beginnings all the way back to “Stone Age Shamanism” (Tibetan Life, 2011) .
The oldest known Yogic scripture is the Bhagavad Gita (Lord’s song) and was
created in 500 B.C. This text is devoted entirely to yoga, and is told as a
conversation between the prince, Aujuna and the Lord Krishna.
In the Gita, there are three facets to be brought together
within a being to lead a yogic lifestyle: Bhakti, or loving devotion, Jhana
which is contemplation and knowledge, and karma, which has to do with selfless
action (Tibetan Life, 2011) .
The Gita then unifies the three. Another very important yoga text was
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. He wrote this
sometime close to the second century. The intent here was to standardize the
classical definitions of yoga. Raja Yoga is the yoga of self realization
(Kundalini is a form of this) and in his sutras, Patanjali expanded this
underlying principle into Patanjali’s Eightfold path of yoga. These are also
well known as the eight limbs of classical yoga. They are:
1.
Yama, which means social restraints or ethical
values;
2.
Niyama is personal observance of purity,
tolerance, and study;
3.
Asanas or physical exercise and poses;
4.
Pranayama which is breath control or regulation;
5.
Pratyahara or sense withdrawal, usually to
prepare one for deep meditation;
6.
Dharana means concentration of the mind;
7.
Dhyana which is meditation;
8.
Samadhi which means the ecstatic union with
source energy. Some forms of Samadhi involve a complete loss of body awareness.
It is complete immersion with source energy.
Yoga didn’t really come into public awareness here in the West
until 1924 when Paramahansa Yogananda came to the west, from India, with his
teachings of Kriya Yoga, otherwise known as the yoga of self-realization. Kriya
yoga differs by definition from asana practices in that kriyas are dynamic
rituals, movements; whereas asanas are usually static poses held for differing
amounts of time or numbers of breaths. Vinyasa or flow yoga means that every
movement is flowing and your movement is dictated by the flow of the breath.
There are varying definitions of yoga, different
disciplines, and different types. There are different ways to practice and
slight intentional differences also, but the fundamental meaning stays the same
throughout. The ultimate aim or goal of any kind of yoga is (re)union with the
divine self within us all; complete self-realization.
Swamiji, P. (2011). Yoga Definition. Retrieved from: http://www.parmarth.com/yoga_def.html#
Tibetan Life. (2011). Where did yoga oringinate? Retrieved
from http://www.tibetanlife.com/where-did-yoga-originate.html
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