Yoga, means union and it is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’. It is an ancient wisdom of living a healthy and happy life naturally. It is disciplining yourself to take good care of your body, mind and soul, and bringing a harmonious balance between the three. In this state you will feel united with the creation.
It is said that our ancient scriptures dating back to more than 5000 years, hold the knowledge of Yoga. These scriptures prescribe various paths of Yoga, some of which are:
• Bhakti Yoga: Acknowledgement and service of the god.
• Karma Yoga: Service to humanity with good intentions and selflessness.
• Gnana Yoga: Acquiring knowledge through scriptures and making us of it in daily life.
• Hatha Yoga: Determined efforts made to practice Yoga asanas to keep harmony between the body and mind.
• Raja Yoga: The kind where one reaches a path of living life effortlessly.
• Ashtanga Yoga: The eight-limb approach to attain awareness of the mind.
The eight limbs of Yoga is a multi-dimensional approach to attain purity of soul, mind and body.
The Ashta Angas of Yoga are:
• Yamas: Discipline or ethics concerning the outer world and our communication with that world. They are;
•Ahimsa, the vow towards non-violence in speech or action.
• Satyam: Being truthful in all the ways.
• Asteya: Not wishing or desiring for something that is not our’s.
• Brahmacharya: Using your energy in the right way, control over all pleasures.
• Aparigraha: Not being greedy and hoarding things, which is not necessary in life.
• Niyamas: This is the practice of five personal ethics.
• Shaucha: Cleanliness, not only of the body but also of the mind.
• Santosha: Being happy and content with what one has.
• Tapas: Austerity with self.
• Swadhyaya: Self-reflection, studying oneself.
• Ishwarapranidaha: Surrendering oneself to the divine.
• Asana: Postures of the body or yoga poses.
• Pranayama: Prana, that is the life-force or breath. Using certain techniques to breath which helps keeping our mind alive and free.
• Pratayahara: Withdrawal or drawing in of the senses.
• Dharana: Focused concentration
• Dhayana: Meditating
• Samadhi: A state of enlightenment or bliss