What is Yoga?
Yoga is a science which has been developed in India about 6000 years ago. Oral tradition has transferred this from Guru to student for centuries. Around 2500 years ago, Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutra's, who, until this date are considered one of the most important basic documents of the Yoga.
Yoga in our Western Society
In the West there are some misunderstandings about Yoga. Some of them are due to the fact that there are elements of Yoga that are hard to visualize and document (such as the philosophy and the breathing techniques).
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In our Western world Yoga is often referred to as physical exercise for which the practitioner has to take acrobatic poses. The poses are an important part of yoga, but you can always start with the easy poses and gradually build up your flexibility. Always practice within the limits of what your body can handle. |
Western people often see only the physical aspects of the Yoga, but there is a lot more to yoga than the poses you find in books.
Yoga is a way of life, a philosophy, the physical aspect of it is only a small part of the bigger whole. Apart from the physical aspect there are the breathing techniques (Pranayama), the meditations (Dhyana & Dharana), learning to purify the mind (Pratyahara) and the rules of behaviour and self discipline (Yamas and Niyamas).
A lot of people seem to think that yoga is difficult and that you have to be extremely flexible to practise Yoga. It is not necessary to be flexible in order to practice Yoga. What is important is to take it easy in the beginning and practise within the limits of what your body can handle. After a while you will start realizing that your body is slowly gaining flexibility. After gaining more flexibility you can take your poses (asanas) a small step further and thus make progress. For those who want to develop themselves in this science they will have to study the other aspects - apart from the asanas - as well.
Practising Yoga
There are different ways of practising Yoga. The basic level is practising the asanas, as it happens often in the Western world. Apart from that there is a spiritual and more advanced level to practising Yoga. Both ways of practising Yoga are correct, but there is more to Yoga than just asanas.
Yoga is the highway to happiness and prosperity. As a beginning yogi it is important that you practise Yoga with a correct state of mind, with the right attitude. While you are doing asanas be happy and enjoy the pose. Be aware of the fact that Yoga can bring you prosperity and happiness and that practising Yoga can help you with the development of your personality. Yoga needs time, patience and practice, but as of the beginning your goal should be to reach the state of Enlightment.
Yoga and happiness
Material pleasure cannot bring us happiness and joy. The
happiness obtained by material pleasure is only temporary. Real happiness
can last long and depends on the state of your mind and not from external
influences.
We can lose our happiness by the expectations we have. We often make our happiness
or sorrow depend on somebody else or on material pleasures.
Yoga suggests that you should not expect anything: do your duty and do not
expect anything in return. Such an attitude in life is Karma Yoga. Karma is
not to expect anything in return. Base your expectations on your duties and
enjoy the results, this attitude will lead you to permanent happiness.
| Such an impartial attitude towards life = YOGA |
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| PranaYoga - Yoga & Relaxation | Last Update: 6-11-2007 |