About Yoga

Noun Vs Verb?

Yoga is classified as a noun in the dictionary. Surely it should be a verb! We practise Yoga. Whether we are actively uniting our mind and bodies, actively meditating, actively making ethical choices, actively using our Yoga knowledge and understanding to skilfully move through life - you can clearly see it is a "doing" word.

Background

Yoga is a Philosophy (sometimes considered a science) that originated in India. There is current discussion on how old yoga is, but it is safe to say it goes back at least 2500 years ago, and most likely more.

The Foundation text on Yoga is the Yoga Sutra's of Patanjali. In this text, Patanjali (we don't know if Patanjali is one person or many), informs the aspirant (that's you and me!) about the Eight Limbs of Yoga as listed out as below:

· Yamas - A group of 5 ethical standards or morals to live by. Basically being nice to people!

· Niyamas - A group of 5 self disciplines or observances. This could be summed up as being nice to yourself, nurturing the body, mind and soul.

· Asana - Posture work. The physical aspect of yoga moving the body.

· Pranayama - Like breathing exercises but more. Prana can be described as the "Chi" from Tai-Chi, or the "Force" from Star Wars!

· Pratyahara - Sense withdrawal.  Where, in places  it is not required, we don't react to sense stimulation. I guess taking leave of your senses but in a good way e.g. if you are not hungry you don't react to the smell of freshly baked bread. 

· Dharana - Beginning to work with a single point of concentration. You are directing all your energy, actively focusing on one point, such as an object.

· Dhyana - Meditation/Contemplation. I have also heard it describe as where the object of concentration sends its focus and energy back to you. Cosmic!

· Samadhi - Enlightenment , stepping off the Wheel, aka Bingo!
 

A lot of information - and we just thought we were throwing shapes!