YOGA HISTORY
Visited 382 times, 5 so far today
|
|
Loading ...If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
The word Yoga originates from Sanskrit word Yuj which means to bind, to merge, to yoke, to unite or to integrate.In simple words, it’s an union of human consciousness with universal consciousness.
It’s not a religion but an ancient art based on harmonizing mind, body and spirit through:
1. asanas (poses/postures)
2. pranayama (breathing techniques)
3. meditation
Asanas
Asanas means practice of physical yoga postures.Ancient Yogis developed as many as 8.4 million asanas.However, in modern times, only about 84 of the most important ones are practiced.
Yogis in India developed some of the poses from observing animals, hence the name as they do;
cobra posture, lion posture, fish posture and etc
Asanas range from simple relaxing poses which can be held by people at all levels to complex poses which push the limit of one’s body.A typical yoga session involves running through a series of asanas synchronized with breath and held for a period of time.Focusing on breath during yoga asanas helps to calm the consciousness.As a general rule, inhale when you come up out of a pose and exhale when moving downward or bending forward.Never force breath but keep it even.
Practicing yoga postures is like giving yourself a massage, not just to the muscles but to the deeper tissues and internal organs too.Yoga asanas have been devised to bring a rich supply of blood to the brain and various parts of the body.
Regular practice of asanas will stabilize body and sense organs, thus helps you to control your mind and emotion to lead a more satisfying life.
Asanas are based on three basic human posture of standing, sitting and lying down.
Pranayama
In Sanskrit, Prana means life force and Yama means control or more specifically translated as breath control.Breathing has direct contact with mind.It is essential to master one’s breathing patterns.When mind is disturbed, it will affect all the systems of the body.But, if one can master breath, then mastery of mind is within reach.
Pranayama teaches us the correct way to breathe.Deep conscious breathing and full expansion of the lungs is a powerful energizing tool.As more oxygen is distributed to the tissues, all cellular processes are enhanced to repair, digest, detoxify and combat disease.Optimally nourished cells make up a fully healthy body.
Besides this, pranayama is a spiritual practice of cleansing the mind and body and helps to open inner life force to breathe deeply and systematically and ultimately to prepare the body for meditation to achieve self-realization.
Ancient Yogis developed many breathing techniques to maximize the benefits of pranayama.For the effects to be seen, pranayama has to be practiced daily.
The beauty of pranayama is that absolutely everyone can do it, anywhere at anytime as long as you are comfortably seated.
Meditation
Meditation is a discipline in which one attempt to go beyond the conditioned thinking mind into a deeper state of awareness.For thousand of years, people have used meditation in their quest for inner harmony.All major religions used meditation in their teaching to attain spiritual enlightenment.
During meditation, the mind is alert and aware in a slow, effortless way.It is fixed solely on one point, to contemplate and become absorbed in the formless Self.
As the Self integrates into the universal spirit, meditation happens.It is listening instead of doing, acting or imposing.Meditation improve physical, mental and emotional well being and this value has been recognized by most people.
Studies have shown impressive physiological effects of meditation.It slows down aging process, lower blood pressure, decrease heart disease,relieve osteoporosis and generally relax the stresses of daily life.
Stilling of the mind is not an easy task.At the beginning stage, many thoughts will arise and hinder our effort to meditate.However, with regular practice of meditation, being focused and watching our thoughts as they arise will allow the mind to settle and rest.
You don’t have to be a religious person or need huge amount of time to start meditation.Ideally, it should be done in the morning but these days it can be done anywhere at anytime.Simply being aware as you breathe is a first step towards meditation.When the mind is calm and focused in the present, it is neither reacting to memories from the past nor being preoccupied with plans for the future.During meditation, you are aligning yourself with a positive, universal energy.