1. Yoga is to prevent, by control, that the substance that constitutes the Mind (chitta) take various forms (vrittis).
Book I - SAMADHI PADA. Yoga Sutras by Maharishi Patanjali
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Have you thought about practicing Yoga? Do not you know how to start? By means of this I do not pretend to tell you rigidly how to do a Yoga practice, just tell you some things. I am not an advanced Yogi, no, I just want to share knowledge to do the practice.
Yoga, in my area of study is a Body Technique that allows the modification and reactivation of the Body in its totality: mind-body-spirit.
From the way you want to see it, whether as a mere practice of Asanas (postures), yoga, is a personal process. Each body reacts differently, thinks differently, breathes, hurts ... but has the same possibilities
I have practiced Yoga Asanas for severalyears with intermittence and little awareness. I did not understand what my body was telling me, demanding more, not listening and twisting it in unimaginable ways. I did not know what was a yoga practice thought from its beginnings.
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Om, sound of the universe
What is Yoga?
We know that it originates in India, which is a traditional physical and mental discipline and is associated with meditation practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Master Sri Swami Satchidananda in his Manual for the Professional Preparation of Yoga Teachers says: "The main note of Yoga is Dedication, it is the master key to happiness and peace. the basic teaching of Yoga and of all religions: giving, giving, giving Let every minute of your life be useful to humanity Give peace and happiness to all and do no harm to anyone This is the only way to true happiness, there is no other means. "
Satchidananda himself says that: "The goal of yoga is to realize the spiritual unity that exists behind all diversity in etema creation and live in harmony as a member of a universal family."
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Fuente
Yoga I consider it in a few words: take care of the body, the mind and worry about breathing to have a good life. It is self-control, it leads us to personal growth, achieving a harmony with nature and with oneself
Fuente
For Satchidananda the way to get to this is:
- Having. the strong and very healthy body;
- The senses totally dominated;
- The well-disciplined, transparent and calm mind;
- The intellect sharpened like a razor;
- A will as strong and flexible as steel;
- Heart full of compassion and unconditional love;
- The ego as pure as crystal;
- A life full of Peace and Supreme Joy.
Does it sound difficult? It is such a personal process and it becomes difficult for us (in Venezuela) that we live on a tightrope, it is not easy, "keep a calm mind" when sometimes, one finds oneself aimless or rude.
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The 8 steps of yoga.
The sage Maharishi Patanjali, called -also- founder of Yoga in his writing Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, leaves us a series of stages or disciplines, where practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya ) are the means to stop or control consciousness. The practice involves yama, niyama, asana and pranayama. The path of detachment implies pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
The Yamas: They are the no. They are ethical and moral principles. Their practice should be in word, thought and action.
- Ahimsa: no violence.
- Satya: truthfulness. Be honest and honest. Not lie.
- Asteya: do not steal.
- Brahmacarya: moderation in everything (control of all the senses). Also in the sexual, but it is not celibacy. It's not wasting sexual energy,
- Aparigraha: No greed.
The Niyamas: They are the yes. It is the behavior and attitudes towards us. These complement the Yamas principles.
Shanti, inner peace
- Sauca: It is cleaning, both external and internal. From a balanced diet to good thoughts.
- Santosa: It's contentment. It is to maintain or develop this independently of our actions.
- Tapas: It is self-discipline or austerity. Impurities are removed from the body and mind. The practice of Asanas and Pranayamas are a form of tapas.
- Svadhyaya: It's self-knowledge. It is reflection and self-observation that leads to spiritual development.
- Isvarapranidhara: It is surrender and renunciation. It is detachment.
Shanti, inner peace
Asana or Body Postures: These postures fill the energy channels, balance the flow of energy in the body and help improve the functioning of these. Achieving stability in physical, mental and emotional health.
During the practice of Asanas you must be aware of the body, be calm and feel comfortable. The breathing must be firm and constant. The good result is obtained when there is no effort in performing the Asanas.
Pranayama or Breathing Techniques: This is a word that comes from "Prana" or "vital energy" and is present in all things, it is said that everything is Prana because everything moves, everything vibrates
And "Ayama" which is extension, expansion or stretching. Therefore Pranayama is the expansion of prana or vital energy.
Pranayama techniques, it is breathing work. Breathing consists of four parts: Puraka (inhalation), Rechaka (exhalation), AntaranaKumbhaka: (Retention of inhalation) and BahyaKumbhaka (Retention of exhalation)
Pratyahara or control of sensory activity. It is to remove for a certain time the senses, the mind and the consciousness from any contact with the external to internalize them. Are exercises of control of the senses increase the ability to discern between exterior and interior.
Dharana or Concentration. It is to fix the consciousness at a point, without any distraction and to stay there for a certain time. It is said to be a static state of the mind, where there is no flow of thought, no ideas. It is unidirectional, that is, it is still, the senses are controlled and are not disturbed by the external
We know that the mind is dynamic, therefore here the effort is great, it requires a lot of practice to achieve aquietar the mind. It helps us with the tension and the agitation of the mind, and to improve the memory.
Dhyana or Meditation. By keeping the concentration firmly or Dharana becomes Dhyana. It is a state of reflection, observation and self-study. The flow of attention is continuous, it regulates thought, reasoning and consciousness in the being and being. It is even possible to say that chronological and psychological time stops.
Photograph of one of my practices in Padmasana or Lotus Flower Posture
When meditating, thoughts are organized, abilities of discernment are obtained, of maintaining a thought and at the same time it allows knowledge about what is being meditated.
Finally, Samadhi or absorption. It is the state of union between the meditator and the object of meditation, the meditator has understood the object and identifies with it. You lose consciousness of yourself. There are no fluctuations of the mind and there is a calm flow of consciousness.
Photograph of one of my practices in Padmasana or Lotus Flower Posture
Namasté
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Sources:
Sri Swami Satchidanada. _ Manual for the professional preparation of Yoga Teachers_. 2002. Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville version.
Maharishi Patanjali. Yoga Sutras by Patanjjallii Version, translation and interpretation of: Yogacharya Dr. Fernando Estévez Griego (Dharmachari Swami Maitreyananda)