The many forms of Yoga.

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The word Yoga can conjure up many different images in a persons mind. Yoga, as the majority of people know it in the West is a series of postures that lead to enhanced flexibility and peace of mind. Yoga is much more than this. Yoga is an all encompassing science which trains the mind, the body and the spirit. The word Yoga itself literally translates as 'union'. It comes from the root word 'yug', which means 'to unite'. With these definitions in mind, it gives us an idea of what the purpose of yoga is, and that is to join with something. What is that something though, and more importantly, how is that achieved? Well, yoga is a personal journey and many people begin the practice for myriad reasons.

Some begin a yoga practice to simply increase their flexibility so they can make their bodies a little more supple for the demands of everyday life and increase their health. Whilst others have a more lofty reason for practicing yoga, and that is to attain a certain peace of mind which leads to union with a higher consciousness. Yes, I said a higher consciousness, Some might call this higher consciousness God, some might call it Source, or for others Yoga is a journey of self-discovery where the ultimate aim is to understand ourselves and our human frailty. Regardless of any terms which are used, or methods which are employed, yoga is a journey of self-discovery, which in itself leads to a form of enlightenment.

Within the science of yoga, there are eight limbs, and these 'limbs' are the different branches of yoga. Each limb on the tree of yoga is a different practice that ultimately leads to knowledge of self and an increased awareness of our place in the universe. The first limb is that of Yama, and this refers to the ethical standards by which we lead our life, our integrity, and our everyday behaviours. The second limb is Niyama which is our self-discipline and spiritual observances. There are also practices for Asanas or the physical postures, Dharana or concentration practices, Pranayama, which are certain breathing practices, Dhyana which is the meditation practices, Pratyahara, which is the withdrawal of our senses which can lead to a kind of transcendence, and finally Samadhi, which is the state of ecstasy that is reached when enlightenment is attained.

One, some, or all of these practices can be adhered to, as they are all beneficial in their own way, although when all of these are practiced, they follow on from the previous practice to lend to the next and therefore increase the practitioners overall self-awareness.
The importance and beauty of yoga is that it is an overall science, and it is considered to be such as it benefits the practitioners life in myriad ways. It was Patanjali (circa 400 BCE -200AD) who compiled the yoga sutras (the sutras were books containing these ancient practices), and he did so systematically, so when the yoga system is followed as a whole system, it will eventually lead to a form of enlightenment- whether that be an enlightenment of self, or a merging with the universal consciousness,

Yoga leads to overall health which is inclusive of the mind, body and the spirit. There is nothing which the science of yoga cannot give you.

Yours in health,

Ben.









References:

http://www.yogajournal.com/article/beginners/the-roots-of-yoga/
http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-patanjali.htm
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/beginners/the-eight-limbs/