8/18/13

What is Yoga - Spiritual Healing Portal

Home | Contact Us | About Us | Sitemap | Glossary | Privacy |

Email |

Enter your email address

How to Lose Weight

loseweight-naturally.com
Lose up to 2 kgs in just 1 week Try our weight-loss program
Forms of Healing
Yoga
Reiki
Meditation
Fengshui
Crystals
Aromatherapy
Acupressure
Astrology
Magnetotherapy
Heal Your Self
Heal Your Body
Heal Your Mind
Chakras
7th Chakra - Sahasrara
6th Chakra - Ajna
5th Chakra - Vishuddha
4th Chakra - Anahata
3rd Chakra - Manipura
2nd Chakra - Swadhishtana
1st Chakra - Muladhara
Get Healed
Request healing
Repeat Request
Feedback
Volunteer
News and Events
Spiritual News
Spiritual Events
Current Newsletter
Archived Newsletters
Experiences
Share your experience
Spiritual Blogs
Yellow Pages
Yoga Centers
Reiki Centers
Fengshui Centers
Meditation Centers
Acupressure Centers
Crystal Stores
Aromatherapy Centers
Astrology Centers
Magnet Stores
Reference Databases
Yoga Asanas
Pranayams
Mudras
Bhandas
Acupressure Points
Crystals
Aromatherapy oils
Astrology Signs
Useful Links
Our Store
Yoga
What is Yoga
Founders and Gurus
Forms of Yoga
Stages of Yoga
Yoga and Healing
www.spiritualhealingportal.com/yoga.html

1/6

8/18/13

What is Yoga - Spiritual Healing Portal

Yoga Centers in USA

Links and Suggested reading
Reiki
What is Reiki
Founders and Gurus
Types of Reiki
Reiki and Healing
Reiki Centers in USA
Reiki healers close to you
Links and Suggested reading
Meditation
What is Meditation
Founders and Gurus
Types of Meditation
Meditation and Healing
Meditation Centers in USA
Links and Suggested reading
Fengshui
What is Feng Shui
Founders and Gurus
Schools of Feng Shui
Feng Shui and Healing
Feng Shui Centers in USA
Links and Suggested reading
Crystals
What are Crystals
History of Crystal
Types of Crystal
Crystal Therapy and Healing
Crystal shops in USA
Links and Suggested reading
Aromatherapy
What is Aromatherapy
History of Aromatherapy
Types of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy and Healing
Aromatherapy Centers in USA
Links and Suggested reading
Acupressure
What is Acupressure
Founders and Gurus
Types of Acupressure
Acupressure and Healing
Acupressure Centers in USA
Links and Suggested reading
Astrology
What is Astrology
History of Astrology
Forms of Astrology
Astrological Healing
Astrology Centers in USA
Links and suggested reading
Magnetotherapy
What is Magnetotherapy
Founders and Gurus
Types of Magnets
Magnetotherapy and healing
Magnet stores in US
Links and suggested reading
What is Yoga
Founders and Gurus
Forms of Yoga
Stages of Yoga
Yoga and Healing
Yoga Centers in USA
Links and Suggested reading
Subscribe & Share

www.spiritualhealingportal.com/yoga.html

Search

2/6

8/18/13

What is Yoga - Spiritual Healing Portal

2

Surya
Namaskar
speakingtree.in

What is Yoga
Basically, Yoga means Union. It is the Sanskrit ancestor of the English word yoke. Hence, it comes to mean a method of
spiritual union or communion (the true union of our will with the will of God). Yoga is a method any one of the many by
which an individual may become united with the God, the reality which underlies this apparent ephemeral universe. Achieving
such union is a perfect yoga. One who practices yoga is called a yogi (male) or yogini (female).

Learn The Ten

Steps To Good
Health! Detailed
Explanation With
Images.

Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. It was collated, coordinated and systematized by Patanjali, in
his classical work Yoga Sutras, which consists of 185 aphorisms.

According to Patanjali, the mind (chitta) is made up of three components -Manas, Buddhi and Ahamkara. Manas is the recoding
faculty, which receives impressions gathered by the senses from the outside world. Buddhi is the discriminative faculty, which
classifies these impressions and reacts to them. Ahamkara is the ego-sense, which claims these impressions for its own and stores
them up as individual knowledge. For example, manas reports: A large animate object is quickly approaching. Buddhi decides
Thats a bull. It is angry. It wants to attack someone. Ahamkara screams: It wants to attack me, Patanjali. It is "I" who am about
to get frightened. It is I who am about to run away.

In the second aphorism of the first chapter of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes Yoga as chitta vritti nirodhah. This may be
translated as the restrain (nirodhah) of mental (chitta) modifications (vritti) or as suppression (nirodhah) of the fluctuations (vritti) of
consciousness (chitta). The word chitta denotes the mind in its total or collective sense as being composed of mind (manas),
intelligence (Buddhi) and ego (Ahamkara)...... (Prabhavananda)
What is commonly referred to as "yoga" can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice
of physical postures or poses. Asana is only one of the eight "limbs" of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental
and spiritual well-being than physical activity. In the West, however, the words asana and yoga are often used interchangeably.

Light on the Yoga Sutras

of Patanjal...
B K S Iyengar
Best Price $1.08
or Buy New

Privacy Information

Yoga provides one of the best means of self-improvement and attaining one's full potential. In the advanced stages of yoga,
superconscious states are attained, which result in a feeling of bliss, deep peace and the emergence of psychic powers.

Yoga was developed and perfected over the centuries by philosophers and mystics in India. It is basically a method by which we
increase the body's supply of energy and remove any interference to the transmission of energy throughout the body. Yoga has
specialized in this subject for thousands of years, and streamlined the methods to attain this aim.
The Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali
Sri S. Satchidanan...
Best Price $6.00
or Buy New

Stages of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga)

Patanjali enumerates the right means as the eight limbs or stages of Yoga for the quest of the soul.
They are---- (Iyengar)

Privacy Information

1. Yama The universal moral commandments. (The five "abstentions"):

2. Niyama- Self-purification by discipline. (The five "observances"): purity, contentment, austerity, study, and surrender to God.
3. Asana- Posture or pose. Literally means "seat", and in Patanjalis Sutras, it refers to the seated position used for meditation.
Asana brings steadiness, health and lightness of limbs.

4. Pranayama- Rhythmic control of the breath. Prana, breath, "ayama", to restrain or stop. Also interpreted as control of the
5.
6.
7.
8.

life force.
Pratyahara- Withdrawal and emancipation of the mind from the domination of the senses and exterior objects.
Dharana- Concentration. Fixing the attention on a single object.
Dhyana- Meditation. Intense contemplation of the nature of the object of meditation.
Samadhi- A state of super-consciousness brought about by profound meditation, in which the individual aspirant (yogi or yogini) becomes one
with the object of his meditation Paramatma or the universal spirit.

Dos and Donts of Yoga: The requisites

Practice of Yoga Poses without the backing of Yama and Niyama is mere acrobatics
The qualities demanded from and aspirant are discipline, faith, tenacity and perseverance to practice regularly without interruptions.

Cleanliness
Before practice of Yoga Poses, the bladder should be emptied and the bowels evacuated. Topsy-turvy poses help bowel movements. Never practice
advanced Yoga Poses before first evacuating the bowels.
Taking a bath before and after practicingYoga Poses refreshes the body and mind.

Food
Yoga Poses should preferably be done on an empty stomach. If this is difficult, a cup of tea or coffee, cocoa or milk may be taken before doing them.
Allow at least four hours to elapse after a heavy meal before starting the practice. Food may be taken half an hour after completion of the Yoga Poses.

Time
www.spiritualhealingportal.com/yoga.html

3/6

8/18/13

What is Yoga - Spiritual Healing Portal

The best time to practice is either early in the morning or late in the evening. In the morning Yoga Poses do not come easily as the body is stiff. The mind
however, is still fresh but its alertness and determination diminish as time goes by. The stiffness of the body is conquered by regular practice and one will
be able to do the Yoga Poses well as the time goes by.

Place
Yoga should be practiced in a clean and airy place, and a place which is free from insects and noise.
Do not practice on the bare hardwood or ceramic floor or an uneven place. Practice using a Yoga mat or a folded blanket to provide adequate cushioning.

Caution
No undue strain should be felt in facial muscles, ears and eyes or in breathing during the practice.

Closing of the Eyes

In the beginning, keep the eyes open, then you will know what you are doing and where you go wrong. You can keep your eyes closed only when you are
perfect in a particular asana for only then will you be able to adjust the bodily movements and feel the correct stretches.

Mirror
If you are doing the Yoga Poses in front of a mirror, keep it perpendicular to the floor and let it come down to the floor, for otherwise the poses will look
slanting due to the angle of the mirror. Use a mirror without a frame, if possible.

The Brain
During the practice of Yoga Poses, it is the body alone which should be active while the brain should remain passive, watchful and alert. If the Yoga
Poses are done using the brain, then you will not be able to see your own mistakes.

Breathing
Breathing is the key to Yogic practice and stabilization of breath before you begin working helps you to match the various poses to your breathing. As
you breathe during various poses, you will notice that the breath helps you to relax or tighten the muscles and gives you greater flexibility. Breathing
should be done through the nostrils only and not through the mouth.
Do not restrain the breath while in the process of the asana or while staying in it. Follow the instructions regarding breath given in the respective
descriptions of the various Yoga Poses.

Savasana or Corpse pose

After completing the practice of Yoga Poses always lie down in Savasana for at least 10 to 15 minutes, this will remove fatigue and energize the body to
cope up with daily life.

No Yoga poses should be practiced during the first month after delivery. Thereafter, they may be practiced mildly, gradually increase the course and after
3 months all Yoga poses can be practiced with comfort.
Works Cited:
Iyengar, B. (n.d.). The Illustrated Light on Yoga. Harper Collins.
Prabhavananda, S. (n.d.). Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Chennai: Ramakrishna Matt.
Iyengar, B. (n.d.). The Illustrated Light on Yoga. Harper Collins.
Prabhavananda, S. (n.d.). Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Chennai: Ramakrishna Matt

What is Yoga | Founders and Gurus | Forms of Yoga | Stages of Yoga | Yoga and Healing | Yoga Centers in USA | Links and
Suggested reading

www.spiritualhealingportal.com/yoga.html

4/6

8/18/13

www.spiritualhealingportal.com/yoga.html

What is Yoga - Spiritual Healing Portal

5/6

8/18/13

What is Yoga - Spiritual Healing Portal

Copyright 2013, SpiritualHealingPortal.com All Rights Reserved.

www.spiritualhealingportal.com/yoga.html

6/6