| Yoga |
| The word Yoga means to join or yoke together. Yoga is supposed to bring the body and mind together into one harmonious experience. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health and long life, and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise which has since spread throughout the world. The whole system of Yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, thereby increasing its efficiency and total health. The body is looked upon as the primary instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world. Breathing techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body. The Yoga student gently increases breath control to improve the health and function of both body and mind. These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation, and it's an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress Types of Yoga Hatha Yoga: The physical movements and postures, plus breathing techniques. This is what most people associate with Yoga practice. Raja Yoga: Called the "royal road" because it incorporates exercise and breathing practice with meditation and study, producing a well-rounded individual. Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom; considered the most difficult path. Bhakti Yoga: The practice of extreme devotion in one-pointed concentration upon one?s concept of God. Karma Yoga: All movement, all work of any kind is done with the mind centered on a personal concept of God. Tantra Yoga: A way of showing the unseen consciousness in form through specific words, diagrams, and movements. Kashmir Shaivism: This Yoga system states that everything in the universe has both male and female qualities. In Kashmir Shaivism, these male and female principles form an equal partnership, so interdependent that they cannot be separated. Kashmir Shaivism is based in emotion rather than intellect. Surya Yoga An integral approach to spirituality for those whose spiritual nature is ruled by the Sun. On this path, none of the particularized aspects of personality dominate; what dominates is the integrating factor in the personality. Kriya Yoga is a complete holistic health management system that translate into a path of action, a path of knowledge, and a path of devotion. These lifestyle strategies are designed to initiate a process in physiological, psychological/spiritual development that unfolds in three phases: prepersonal or unconscious awareness, personal or self-conscious awareness and transpersonal or super-conscious awareness. Total Consciousness is the goal of Yoga The Eight Essential Stages of Kriya Yoga Yama - Abstentions Niyama - Observances Asana - Posture Pranayama - Control of Prana Pratyahara - Sense Withdrawal Dharana - Concentration Dhyana - Meditation Samadhi - Illumination |
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