Branches Or Basics of Yoga

Ancient practitioners have likened yoga to a living tree with six branches coming from the trunk, with each branch having its own unique function relating to a particular lifestyle. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is one of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside the Bhagvada Gita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, is a milestone in the history of Yoga. Though brief, the Yoga Sutras are an enormously influential work, just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today, as when written many thousands of years ago.

The six branches of Yoga tend to have some aspects in common and familiarizing oneself with all six will certainly help in the selection of your own yoga programme that incorporates routines that appeal from any of the six branches. Asanas or postures, Pranayama or breath control, these two disciplines along with meditation and a strict moral code are the fundamentals of the practice of yoga.

Hatha Yoga

Introduced in the 15th century by an Indian sage as a preparatory stage of physical purification to enable the body to be fit for the practice of higher meditation as in Raja Yoga, Ha means sun and tha means moon, a reference to the energy channels of the body. Fully opened energy channels allow the body to become supple enough to attain the mental disciplines of Raja Yoga. In practice, both Hatha and Raja Yoga are inter-related and dependent upon each other. Western practitioners associate yoga with the hatha branch to attain mental and physical wellbeing.

Raja Yoga

Raja translates as 'royal' and meditation is central to this branch of yoga, which has eight side branches or limbs in an order that must be strictly followed. We start with Yama meaning ethical standards, Niyama - self discipline, asana - posture, pranayama - breathing control, pratyahara - sensory withdrawal, dharana - meditation, samadhi - ecstasy or final liberation. Those inclined to introspection or meditation are best suited to Raja yoga.

Though members of religious orders and spiritual communities devote themselves to this yoga branch, one does not have to embrace a monastic lifestyle to gain from the benefits of practicing Raja Yoga.

Karma Yoga

The fundamental principle of Karma Yoga is that what we experience now is created by our past actions, whether in this life or a previous one. Once we understand this principal, then we can ensure all our present actions help create a future free of negativity and selfishness. To practice Karma Yoga is to lead a life of selfless service to others.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga is yoga of the heart, a branch of devotion Bhakti is the Sanskrit term for selfless love of God and mankind. Bhakti principles are universal and common to many world religions. By following the path of bhakti we learn to channel our emotions, accept and have tolerance for all those that cross our path.

Jnana Yoga

This is the branch of knowledge, the yoga of the mind and is both the most difficult and the most direct of the six branches. It is yoga of the mind, of wisdom, the path of the sage or scholar. The practitioners of Jnana Yoga develop their intellects by intensive study, particularly but not confined to, the yoga tradition and other spiritual teachings. This is the path that most appeals to the intellectuals pursuing the practice of yoga. Within the context of our Western religious traditions, Kabalistic scholars, Jesuit priests, and Benedictine monks epitomise Jnana Yogis.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra, from the Sanskrit 'to weave' or 'loom', is the branch of yoga that practices ritual as a means of experiencing the divine in all our activities. Probably, the most misunderstood or misinterpreted of all the yogas, tantra, the sixth branch, is the pathway of ritual, an in tantric practice; we experience the Divine in everything we do. A reverential attitude is, therefore cultivated, encouraging a ritualistic approach to life. In essence, tantra is the most esoteric of the six major branches and appeals to those yogis who enjoy ceremony and relate to the feminine principle of the cosmos, which they call Shakti.

In the West, the tantric path of yoga has become associated almost entirely with sexual activity. It is because of this emphasis on only one aspect of this branch that it has become misinterpreted and misunderstood by so many. It is amusing to note that, although tantra has become associated exclusively with sexual ritual, most tantric schools actually recommend a celibate lifestyle. The 'Kama Sutra' an ancient Hindu book of sexual techniques is the best known example of the lack of understanding of the true objectives of tantra yoga.

A discipline that leads to a reverential attitude to even the most every day celebrations of giving and receiving, of birth and death, of achievements and of failure, and of relationships and understanding, this is a path that will appeal to westerners who enjoy being actively involved in celebrations, church going, clubs and associations and other types of ceremonies.

Combining the Paths

You do not have to limit yourself to one expression, but can practice hatha yoga, taking care of your physical body, while simultaneously cultivating the lifestyle of a Bhakti Yogi, expressing compassion for everyone you meet. Whichever, avenue of yogic expression draws your interest; it will probably be the right yoga path for you.

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Top 5 Yoga Myths

It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.

Top 5 Myths About Yoga:

1. Yoga is a Form of Physical Exercise:

This is perhaps the most common view of yoga. That it is a form of physical exercise. This certainly needs to be clarified and I am going to provide some details about true yoga practice in order to do this.

Yoga is actually has 8 parts to it, with the physical aspect being just 1. These 8 parts, include yoga dos, yoga don'ts, physical exercises (asana), breathing exercises, sense control, concentration, meditation and divine union.

So you can see from above that although the physical aspect of yoga, which is called asana, is an important part of yoga, yoga as a whole is certainly more that just a series of postures and movements. Yoga is essentially a spiritual science whose objective is to still the mind of thoughts, so that the truth of Oneness hidden behind the waves of the mind can be clearly seen and embraced.

2. Yoga is a Religion:

The other extreme and incorrect view on yoga is that is it a religion. Commonly yoga is considered part of Hindu religion, but yoga is not a religion. It is a time tested spiritual science with the goal of revealing the true nature of reality. As indicated above, yoga practice is a step by step process with the end goal of calming down the thought waves in our mind and thus prevent them from distorting the truth.

3. To Practice Yoga You Must be Vegetarian:

There is a notion floating around that in order to practice yoga you must not eat meat and be a vegetarian. This is not true. Although there are tremendous benefits to being vegetarian and this is being more and more validated by the mainstream medical community, there is no requirement of vegetarianism in order to practice yoga.

One point I would like to add here is that, vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates and it certainly would be to your benefit to reduce meat intake, nevertheless, you don't have to be vegetarian in order to be a great yogi.

4. You Need to be Initiated by a Guru:

I have also come across this notion that many believe you need to be initiated and have a guru in order to learn and practice yoga. This is not true. According to yoga, the true guru is within and although it would be to your benefit to learn yoga from an accomplished teacher, this is not a requirement.

5. You Have to be Flexible to do Yoga:

Not so. No doubt yoga will improve your flexibility, along with your strength, balance and overall health, but in order to practice yoga you do not have to be flexible. Yoga is designed to be practiced by all.

Different bodies have different degrees of flexibility and in this case one size does not fit all. For most of the complex yoga posture which require great flexibility to do, there are plenty of modifications which allow you to get the same benefits for those who are less flexible. In fact one of the original reasons I took up yoga because I was not flexible and wanted to improve this aspect of my physical dimension.

Summary:

So there you have the top 5 myths about yoga. Essentially, what these myths do is prevent people from taking up this wonderful science. So if you feel you will have to change faiths, find gurus, stop eating meat or are too inflexible to take up yoga practice, you are wrong. Don't pass up the wonderful opportunity to learn and practice this amazing science, which helps you discover your true divine and eternal nature.

Anmol Mehta is modern Yoga & Meditation master. His massive Guided Zen Meditation blog offers the ultimate Meditation Techniques Guide and free Yoga Detox Cleanse techniques.

This article is available for reprint on your website and/or newsletter, provided it is not changed and you include the author's signature.

Yoga Past and Present

Yoga's history has many places of anonymity and ambiguity due to its oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. But the roots of Yoga can be traced back to more than 5000 years.

The Past

The earliest reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations where made in the Indus valley. Where old carvings depict a figure that some archaeologists think represents a yogi sitting in a traditional cross-legged yoga pose with its hands resting on its knees meditating.

Yoga's long rich history can be divided into four main periods of development: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.

Vedic Period

The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is portrayed by rituals and ceremonies that try to go beyond the limitations of the mind.

During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony.

Pre-Classical Yoga

The creation of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas.

Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures.

Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it has been an old practice for some time. Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads.

Classical Period

The Classical Period is marked by another creation - the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the second century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga. These are:

1. Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;

2. Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;

3. Asanas or physical exercises;

4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;

5. Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;

6. Dharana, which is about concentration;

7. Dhyana, which means Meditation; and

8. Samadhi, which means ecstasy.

Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter and spirit; he believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit - a direct contrast to Vedic and Pre-Classical Yoga that imply the union of body and spirit.

Patanjali's concept was prevailing for some centuries, so much so that some Yogis focused exclusively on Meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body was sacred was revived and attention to the importance of the Asana was revitalized.

Post-classical Yoga

A great number of independent yoga schools and forms that where developed during the period after the Yoga sutras. As opposed to Patanjalis's Yoga, the Yoga of this era was, very much like the post-classical and Vedic traditions, characterized by the unification of body and mind.

Yogis of the past had not paid very much attention to the (physical) body, as they focused all their energy on contemplation and meditation. The new generation of Yogis however, developed a system where different exercises - in conjunction with deep breathing and meditation, would help keep the body young and prolong life. This also paved the way for the creation of Hatha Yoga, and other branches and schools of Tantra Yoga.

The Present

Modern Yoga is said to have begun by the young Swami Vivekananda from India made a deep impression on the American he introduced to. Yoga masters began to travel to the west, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920's, Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the life long work of T. Krishnamacharya . Krishnamacharya traveled through India giving demonstrations of yoga poses and opened the first Hatha Yoga School.

During the 1950s one of the foremost Yoga teachers of his time, Selvarajan Yesudian, wrote the book "Sport and Yoga", and it was through this book Yoga entered the world of sports. Today we can observe many athletes and sports teams that has incorporated Yoga in their injury reducing, strengthening and focus oriented training regimens.

In the middle of the 60s, Yoga got a real promotional boost when the Yogi Maharishi Mahesh taught Yoga to the famous pop-stars in the Beatles. Many other artists and musicians where influenced to take up Yoga as well.

Yoga became especially popular in Hollywood when Russian born Indra Devi, opened a Yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. She taught movie starts like Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones and Robert Ryan, as well as educating hundreds of Yoga teachers.

Yoga today

Yoga today has gained tremendously in popularity and has a following over 30 million people from all over the world and is the most rapidly growing health movement of today. From celebrities to the common man everybody is now aware of the health and mental benefits of yoga, in fact many doctors recommend yoga especially for stress and relaxation. New studies have shown a high success rate up to 73 percent for treating depression with sudharshan kriya, a pranayama technique taught in the U.S. as "The Healing Breath Technique."

People's attitude towards health, spirituality, way of life and our place in society have changed quite radically. As we suffer more and more from physical and psychological stress, and fight with new and old diseases, yoga seems if not the answer a friend indeed.

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Pilates, Not Just an Exercise But an Art Form

Pilates are believed to uplift your mental mood, improve your health and add strength and flexibility to your body. People of all ages can participate in this well-rounded exercise program. When doing the exercises, the movements are slow and precise but upper and lower body strength is needed to achieve balance and to maintain a clean line. All you need to perform the exercises are comfortable stretch clothes and a small exercise mat.

This type of exercise program was an old practice that has recently soared in popularity, much like yoga. The unique fitness routine requires a lot of discipline and mental focus. It is best learned by attending a class with a trained instructor. After a few months, it is possible to attain the flexibility and grace of a dancer. It is also used as part of a weight control program.

The exercise program is basically a body-conditioning regimen. The program focuses on creating a strong, flexible body and an overall lean tone. Like any form of exercise, the longer you do it the more endurance you will build. Although the movements are not rigorous like aerobic exercise, these take a lot of strength, balance and muscle coordination. It is one of the many popular exercises that work the core, which is the torso region of the body.

The program has many benefits. People that do this form of exercise tend to develop sculpted, lean bodies. This method elongates the muscles, which adds a dancer or gymnast style elegance to an individuals posture. You become stronger and more coordinated.

The exercise methods were created during WWI. The creator was a sickly and weak child that suffered from asthma. His parents put him in various sports to build his lung strength and to help him become an overall healthy child. When he became a nurse, he first created the fitness program to help injured soldiers. He used his technique to assist men with muscle and coordination recovery from their injuries during the war. He also created a machine that coincided with the exercise program to help build upper body strength.

He studied various forms of yoga and meditation arts from around the world. He also incorporated martial arts into his method making it somewhat of an art form. Besides the physical advantages of the program, it is also said to bring clarity and peace of mind. Therefore, it is considered a holistic form of exercise.

Joseph Pilates believed that our physical and mental natures are one. The constant flow of energy is vital to achieving the best results. Breathing becomes essential to maintaining a healthy mind and body. Deep focus and being in tune with your body add a certain level of inner harmony and control. This is a wonderful exercise program that promotes a healthy body and mind.

This method, for the most part, makes the user aware of breathing and aligning of the spine and helps to strengthen the deep torso muscles to make it possible to alleviate and prevent back pains. With pilates for beginners you will start by learning some simple pilates moves. For all the free information you'll need to get started, please visit our website.

Types of Yoga For Beginner

Today many types of Yoga are in market. Yoga aspirants often get confused with so many different types of Yoga and there names. They don't know which form of Yoga is suitable for them as only introductory information is available online which doesn't give much details on a particular form of Yoga.

Why are there so many types of Yoga?

Actually Yoga is a complete philosophy of health and happiness in life. Yoga includes both physical and mental exercises which are used by a Yogi or Yoga aspirant depending upon the ultimate goal he wants to achieve from Yoga. Yoga gurus have introduced there own style of Yoga and these styles of Yoga are named after them. There are some types of Yoga which are suitable for a specific body condition or person like Pregnancy Yoga.

Which form of Yoga is suitable for me?

Every form of Yoga is good for body and health if learned under the guidance of a learned guru. Yoga is suitable for a wide range of people as anyone can choose Yoga postures which are comfortable for him. Those who have any physical problem can do mental yoga like Raja Yoga. So, start doing yoga for which a learned teacher is available in your vicinity.

Learning Yoga from books?

One can also learn Yoga from a book or video but this is not as effective as learning Yoga under the guidance of a learned teacher. Yoga is not like exercise, which are meant to bring physical wellbeing. Performing a single yoga posture can bring different results in different aspirants depending on there expectation and interest in Yoga.

What are most popular types of Yoga?

Most popular types of Yoga today are :

1. Raja Yoga

2. Hatha Yoga

3. Iyengar Yoga

4. Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga

5. Pregnancy Yoga

6. Laughter Yoga

7. Ashtanga Yoga

These are some of the most popular forms of Yoga today which are currently practised by a number of people all over the world.

Yogesh Bailwal is an online enterpreneur who is also interested in Yoga as an alternative health care system in todays world. He maintains a lens on what is yoga, anyone who is interested in Yoga can frequently visit this lens for more information and frequent updates.

Using Yoga To Help Reduce Your Anxiety

The number of people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks is on the increase. The cause can be due to many factors that can be internal and external. People who have anxiety have found that taking regular exercise has helped them a lot to feel more relaxed, calm and able to cope better with their condition far more effectively.

This is not surprising because keeping fit by taking regular exercise can provide you with many physical and emotional benefits. For example, it can lower your high blood pressure which has links to stress and anxiety. It can also give you more energy, vitality and confidence. Many people who become anxious or experience panic attacks have many perceived fears. With regular exercise you can cope with these fears because it can help to improve your emotions and moods.

There are many exercises that you can do to help your anxiety and panic attacks. One in particular that many people have found beneficial is yoga. Most people have heard of yoga because it has become very popular over the last 20 years or so. However, yoga has been around for over 4000 years and it is believed to have been developed in India by the holy monks. There are many different types of yoga to choose. Certain types focus on the physical while others focus on the meditative side. Basically yoga combines stretching poses with deep breathing techniques.

People use it in either two ways. They either use it in a spiritual sense to become closer to their inner being. Other people use it to derive the physical benefits of it. You can also use both methods to experience the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga.

Yoga has many health benefits. It can help you to become calmer and relaxed in your mind and body. The philosophy of yoga is that the mind and body are connected. This means your mind must be calm and relaxed in order for the body to be calm and relaxed and vice versa.

One particular aspect of yoga that can benefit people with anxiety is the meditative practice of emptying the mind of all your thoughts, worries and fears. Yoga also provides physical benefits that include improved agility, flexibility, balance and strength.

Always seek a doctor's advice if you have a medical condition before doing any form of new exercise.

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Yoga Teacher Training and Certification - What to Expect and How to Get the Most From It

A good yoga teacher training program is one step along that path providing a basic and solid foundation that gives the graduates knowledge, skills, and confidence to begin teaching yoga safely and mindfully. Yoga Alliance maintains a Registry of Yoga Schools that offer yoga teacher training programs of at least 200 or 500 hours. There are also home study yoga teacher training programs available. When looking at these, it's best to make sure that they also offer some type of way of interacting with the teacher/students while you are studying. This is usually done through online discussion groups or forums.

Finding Yoga Teacher Training

If you're uncertain about home study as a method for Yoga Teacher training, read what others have had to say about it and you may be surprised. Most Yoga teacher training camps will teach you what you need to know to become a certified Yoga instructor, but they will not teach you anything about how to operate your own yoga business - you'll have to either learn that on your own or search for a course that offers some business training. The learning environment of many online teacher trainings is filled with demonstration classes, lesson plans and sometimes even ready-to-use teaching tools.

What You Will Learn

In any basic yoga teacher training course you will learn how to practice and teach yoga - not as a basic physical exercise, but as a profound science that unites movement, breath, sound, concentration, meditation and prayer. Along with varying amounts of yoga philosophy, anatomy, and physiology, almost every other style of yoga teacher training today teaches technique; that is, how to teach a particular asana or pose.

Yoga Teacher

It's unfortunate, but true, many excellent Yoga Teachers and Masters do not know how to market their yoga studios. What makes yoga so effective, beyond teaching proficiency, is the presence and vitality that you, the yoga teacher, bring to the class. A teacher trains students in a specific method of yoga. Most teachers divide their day between group classes and individual instruction. Before attending teacher training, most schools require that students have practiced their style of yoga for one or more years.

Length of Yoga Teacher Training

Most teacher training programs take one year and are usually a mix of night classes and weekend seminars. As teachers, it is a necessity to know how to read your students and to know what they need: to know what's essential for them to learn from you. If you are considering becoming a yoga teacher, you may want to talk to your favorite yoga teachers about where they received their training. Your reward will be the certainty that you are meeting your highest goals and dreams about who you are and who you are capable of becoming as a teacher.

Yoga Styles

There are literally hundreds of styles of yoga, and each emphasizes a slightly different approach. Hatha Yoga is one of the most common styles taught in the USA, but there are many variations on this traditional approach. There are so many different yoga styles and approaches that focus on the varying aspects of philosophy and exercise (asana). Any instructor should know how to make use of generally accepted teaching methodology and have a thorough understanding of their own style of yoga along with a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology. These talents, all together make up an effective teacher.

Yoga Teacher Training Certification

White Lotus offered the first yoga teacher training and certification in America in 1968. Teaching certification is awarded on the basis of successful comprehension and mastery of the principles and practice of Yoga and the ability to communicate them to others. There are many yoga schools around the country that will give Teacher Training Certification with only a month of classes, and some give Certification after a single weekend training. There are also online schools offering certification, but it may not be type of certification that will let you begin teaching right away - so do your research first, and then choose the school which matches best with your own desire to complete your certification.

Brett Simpson has practiced yoga for many years. For more useful articles, videos and a free eBook: Easing Your Stress With Yoga, visit his ~Dream Yoga~ website at: http://www.dreampublishers.com/healing/yoga/

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