Principles of Yoga

Original Editor - Ashmita Patrao Top Contributors - Ashmita Patrao, Kim Jackson, Rucha Gadgil and Vidya Acharya

Yoga is as generic term for physical, mental and spiritual disciplines, originated from ancient India. Spiritual and aesthetic discipline including breath control, simple meditation and adoption of specific body postures, practiced for health and relaxation.

The term 'Yug' means to Unite/Integrate a persons own consciousness with the universal consciousness. It is a harmonious blend between the body, mind and the spirit, wherein the body controls the actions, the mind controls intelligence and the spirit controls emotion.

Body	Controls action	Involves exercising
Mind	Controls intelligence	Imcludes breathing techniques
Spirit	Controls emotion	Includes meditation

Thus, yoga teaches that the jeevathma (human spirit) can be united with paramathma (God) to secure moksha (liberation)

´According to modern scientists, everything in the universe is just a manifestation of the same quantum firmament. One who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be in yoga

History of Yoga

Traced back to over 5,000 years ago, but some researchers think that yoga may be up to 10,000. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile palm leaves that were easily damaged, destroyed or lost. There were four main periods

Pre-Classical Yoga: Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India over 5,000 years ago.  Scriptures present in Rig veda. Mantras and rituals used by Brahmas

Classical Yoga: Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutras, the first systematic presentation of yoga. the practice of yoga into an "eight limbed path. Steps to achieve mosksha

Post-Classical Yoga: rejected the teachings of the ancient Vedas and embraced the physical body as the means to achieve enlightenment. primarily think of yoga in the West: Hatha Yoga.

Modern Period: Swamy Vivekananda presented hatha yoga to the world.

The branches of Yoga include:

Hatha yoga: ´This branch uses physical poses or asanas, breathing techniques of pranayamas and meditation to achieve better health as well as spirituality. Different styles in this path include Iyengar style, integral style, the astanga style etc.

Bhakti yoga: This is the yoga of devotion and paves the path of the heart to devotion.  Enables one to see “the divine” in everyone and everything.

Raja yoga: This is the yoga of the mind. This is considered the king of yoga. It focusses on a mans intelligence.

Karma yoga: This is the yoga of service. It is the path of selfless service that one treads.

Janka yoga: It is the yoga of rituals . These rituals are a scared experience.

Ashtanga yoga:

There are 8 limbs of yoga here including Yama (universal moral codes), niyama (self purification by discipline), asana (postures), pranayama (rhythmic control of breath), prathahara (withdrawing of mind from senses), dharana (Concentration), dhayana (deep meditation) and samadhi (union with the object of meditation).

This form of yoga emphasizes on vinyasa (alignment of the environment and breath, method witch turns static asanas into a dynamic flow), ujjayi (breathing patterns with relaxed diaphragmatic breathing characterized by an oceans sound which resonates in the practitioners throat and bandha (muscle contraction) which all helps calming the mind by the process of internal heat generation, increased sweating and circulation and purification of the body.

Principles of Yoga:

These are commandments or rules of morality. If not obeyed they bring chaos, violence, untruth, stealing, dissipation and covetousness. These principles include ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, saucha, santosa, tapas, svadhyaya, isvara pranidhana.

Ahimsa: Ahimsa is nonviolence, has a wider positive meaning of love. All creatures have the same creator. Violence is the state of the mind. Man takes to violence to protect self. But, man should realize he relies on God and not himself. User is at fault not the instrument, Yoga opposes wrong not wrong does. Generally man demands justice, when wrong is done by others and begs forgiveness when wrong is done to self. A yogi however believes that while wrong done by others must be forgiven and for the wrong done by self justice is demanded.

The prerequisites for ahimsa include abhaya (being free from fear) and akrodha (being free from anger)

Sathya: Sathya means truthfulness in thought, word and deed. Just how Mahatma Gandhi stated "Truth is God and God is truth” ,the mined must think the trust, tongue must speak the truth and the actions must reflect the truth. ´Speech becomes untruthful if there is obscenity & abuse, dealing in falsehood, telling tales, ridiculing others. There must be control of speech, which facilitates charity to others and roots out malice, and this helps them gain respect from all.

Asteya: A desire to possess what the others have creates a need to steak, which results in a breach of trust, misappropriation and misuse. The word steya means stealing , hence asteya indicates not stealing.

Brachmacharya: This indicates a life of celibacy, religious study and self restrain. In modern times, it is the art of consistency, sustaining energy and not depleting vitality. It measures divinity in all. In case of a bachelor, a married man and a householder as each of them are called to carry out their noble cause in life, brahmacharya can be practiced in all. Brahmacharya is fund of energy and vitality. It can fight injustice, use forces wisely, battery that sparks the sparks of wisdom and attain peace beyond this world filled with misery.

Saucha: Purification of self is saucha. Impurities of body and mind may exist. Impurities of the mind such as hatred, passion, anger, greed, delusion and pride. This consists of Asanas, pranayamas, bhakti, food and place of practice.

Asanas help in toning the body, removing toxins. Pranayama cleanses and aerates lung, promotes better oxygenation in blood and purifies nerves. Bhakti or adoration washes these impurities away. Cleansing brings radiance and joy. Banishes  pain and sorrow. By this they see virtues in others.

Healthy food helps in purification. Each morsel eaten giving praise to god. Vegetarian food is considered good good for this. Must avoid food that is sour, bitter, pungent, burning, stale, tasteless, heavy and unclean. Na dinally one must eat to live and not live to eat.

The place where food is easily procurable, free from insects, pleasing surroundings. For eg: Banks of the river, corner in ones room.

Santosa: Santosa is contentment, it means that there is bliss surpassed. When man is complete he feels his duty to god is performed and he loves god. Individuals will be contend when the spirit does not waver in the wind of desire.

Tapas: A burning effort under all circumstances to achieve a definite goal in life. Leading a disciplined life is the key with 3 aims including for the body, for the mind and through speech.

Savdhyaya: Education or daily reading draws out the best in a person. Changes ones outlook to life by which he realizes all creation is for adoration and not enjoyment. By this the speaker and listener are of one mind. By education or daily reading it draws out the best in a person, changes his outlook to life and he realizes all creation is for adoration and not enjoyment. There is no sermonizing as one heart speaks to another. The knowledge from this is taken into the blood stream and is incorporated as part of ones life.

Isvara pranidhana: Dedication of ones actions and will to God. All creation belongs to God. A yogi must give up all pride, power, selfish purposes, greed and attachment. By this he shows strength in character and adoration towards goals. This also means giving up the feeling of "I".

Modern principles

There are 4 basic principles including

1st principle: Human body is a holistic entity comprised of various interrelated dimensions inseparable from one another and the health or illness of any one dimension affects the other dimensions.

2nd Principle: Individuals and their needs are unique and therefore must be approached in a way that acknowledges this individuality and their practice must be tailored accordingly.

3rd Principle: Self-empowering; the student is his or her own healer. Yoga engages the student in the healing process; by playing an active role in their journey toward health, the healing comes from within, instead of from an outside source and a greater sense of autonomy is achieved.

4th Principle: The quality and state of an individuals mind is crucial to healing. When the individual has a positive mind-state healing happens more quickly, whereas if the mind-state is negative, healing may be prolonged.