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Yoga is becoming popular in all parts of the world. For the restless mind it gives solace. For the sick, it is a boon. For the common man/woman it is a fashion of the day to keep himself/herself fit.
Yog + Asana = Yogasasn. This word is abbreviated to Yoga. Yog means to connect. Although some people may think it’s a new invention or phenomenon, it’s not. It is over 4000 years old.
According to Patanjali, Yoga is a conscious process of gaining the mastery over mind. Yoga is a methodical effort towards self-perfection by the development of the potentialities latent in the individual. Thus Yoga is a process of developing of all-round personality:
i. deep relaxation at muscular level;
ii. slowing down of breath and maintaining balance at pranic level;
iii. increasing creativity and will power at mental level;
iv. sharpening the intellect and calming down the mind at intellectual level;
v. enhancing the happiness in life at emotional level; and
vi. maintaining the innate divinity in a man in all aspects of life.
According to Patanjali to attain such progression in life one has to follow eight branches (limbs) of Yoga:
i. Yama (social or ethical discipline)
ii. Niyama (individual discipline)
iii. Asana (the posture of the body)
iv. Pranayama (the control of Prana (breathing), the life force)
v. Pratyahara (restrain of senses from their objects of enjoyments)
vi. Dharna (focusing the mind)
vii. Dhyana (meditation)
viii. Samadhi (super consciousness)
To achieve the above goal i.e. to progress from an animal level to super human level, Yoga should be a way of life and not a five day wonder.
Over the past six and half years I have learnt quite a lot not only about yoga but my own self. From my personal experience Yoga has taught me to focus on myself and has encouraged me to seek answers to life’s difficult questions within my own conscience.
For further information e-mail mkalaria@hotmail.com .
For pictures click here .
By Madu Kalaria |
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