006 2 Introduction to Yoga

8/8/2019 006 2 Introduction to Yoga

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Introduction to Yoga

Eight-fold path &Yoga postures

Presented by:Didi Ananda Krpa

Revised by:Dharmadeva


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What is Yoga?

It comes from root word yunj

(Sanskrit)- which means to unify, to unite.

It is not like the union of sandand sugar; but is like the union of sugar dissolved in water, which,once merged, cannot be

separated.


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Yoga as Science

Yoga is a system of practices thatencourages the harmony and unionof body, mind, & spirit - and gives asense of Oneness.

Yoga is really a spiritual science.


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Shiva the Father of Tantra

Shiva lived as a great spiritualmaster on this planet more than7,000 years ago.

He systematized all the practicesof yoga.He systematized and taught the

science of meditation, which isthe greatest treasure that anyonecan ever give.


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Raja YogaIn the West, yoga has often beenassociated with body contortions,

youth, beauty, and long life. Actually this is only related to onetype of yoga HATHA YOGA.

Broadly, YOGA is an intuitional

science.

Raja Yoga is known as Astaunga Yoga, or 8-fold yoga, a systematicapproach to mastery of ourselves.


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8-limbed System of Yoga

Yama - external moral /ethical discipline.Niyama - internal moral /

ethical strength. Asana - yogic postures.

Pranayama - properbreathing for vital energy.


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8-limbed System of Yoga (cont)

Samadhi - experience of unitive consciousness, so asto feel inwardly one with thefeeling of Infinite Peace /Cosmic Consciousness.


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TantraWhat is Tantra?It is the basis of intuitional science.Root words: Tan - which means darkness; and Tra - which means liberation from.

Origin of all branches of yogapractices.Examples:

mantra yogaastaunga yoga

raja yoga

hatha yogakriya yogadhyana yogakarma yoga jinana yogabhakti yoga


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Important Aspects of Yoga

Bhakti Yoga - discipline of love anddevotion

Jinana Yoga - discipline of cultivatinghighest intellectual understanding

Karma Yoga - discipline of self-transcending action and service


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Hatha YogaPlaces special emphasis on physicalpostures integrated with harmonizedbreathing.

Allows for control over bodilyfunctions which influence the mind.

Hatha yoga is the science of yogathat deals with the practice of asanas (yoga postures).


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How Yoga Postures Began

Yoga poses were developed thousand of

years ago by yogis who observed differentanimals in the jungles how they moved,how they rested, how they instinctivelycured themselves when sick.The yogis experimented with differentanimal postures on their own bodies andfelt the subtle effects of these movementson their own organs and glands.

After centuries of experimentation, thesepostures were refined into a scientificsystem of thousands of exercises called

asanas.


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What are Asanas?The root meaning of the word

asana is a position in which onefeels comfortable.

They are yoga postures which whenpracticed regularly, the body stayshealthy, flexible, strong and hardy.

They also help in preventing and

curing diseases.


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Asanas Stationery Poses

Asanas are practiced as stationaryposes in which the body & mind arerelaxed and composed.They are accompanied by gentle

movements, deep breathing andpointed concentration.They give the same benefits asvigorous exercises, of stimulatingcirculation and increasing thesupply of oxygen to the cells.


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Asanas vs Exercises

However, with vigorous exercisethis extra supply of oxygen is usedup during the exercises.Whereas during the practice of asanas, energy is accumulatedrather than spent.

The main difference betweenasanas and forms of vigorousexercises is that asanas affect the

internal organs and are not just likeskeletal or muscular exercises.


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The Endocrine Glands

Yoga postures, when properly done, affectmainly the glands and internal organs.

The endocrine glands secrete chemicalsubstances called hormones into the bloodstream which affect both body and mind.- For instance, sometimes at ovulationwhen estrogen and progesterone hormonallevels are high, women are optimistic.- Whereas, sometimes women can beunfriendly when estrogen levels are lowestduring the premenstrual time.


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Over or Under-secretion of Glands

Over or under-secretion of theendocrine glands, in people, may causenot only sickness but various mentaland emotional disturbances.Can also cause negative emotions suchas anxiety, fear, anger & hatred, whichdestroy our health and mental peace.The yogic asanas exert a subtlepressure on the different glands,restoring a balanced secretion of hormones, and bring about emotionalequilibrium and mental peace.They also develop spiritual sentiment.


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Importance of Asanas

Balance the endocrineglands & control theemotions.Revitalize the nervoussystem.

Improve bloodcirculation.Relax any tensions inthe muscles.Can correct defectivepostures.Calm the mind.


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Overall Benefits of Asanas

Improves muscletone, flexibility,strength and staminaEasy movement of thebody

Tones the organs Aids in bloodcirculation

Stimulates immunesystemLowers bloodpressure andcholesterolReduces fat

Is cleansingImproves breathingReduces stress andtensionImproves

concentration andcreativityCreates sense of well-being and calmness

Boosts self-esteemElevates the mindCreates spiritual

sentiment


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Postures and Meridians Asanas affect the energyflow of the body.There are 12 major

meridians of chi or energyin the body.Most of these are relatedto a particular internalorgan with which ittransverses.

Yoga asanas directly putpressure on these keypoints, strengthening themeridians, and if

necessary redirecting thecirculation of vital energywithin them.

Yoga postures as selfacupuncturestimulate the meridians of vital energy .


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Chakras Psychic Centers

Chakras are subtleenergy centers along

the spinal column.These psychic centersare also related to the

endocrine glands.They find a psycho-physical manifestationin conjunction with theglands.

Asanas affect thechakras.


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Chakras Main List There are seven conventional chakras:

1st chakra = Muladhara - terranean 2nd chakra = Svadhisthana - fluidal

3rd chakra = Manipura - igneous

4th chakra = Anahata - solar

5th chakra = Visuddha - sidereal

6th chakra = Ajina - lunar

7th chakra = Sahasrara - 1000 petals


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Concentration Points for Chakras

1) Mu'la'dha'ra - base of the spine,

above the perineum;2) Sva'dhis't'ha'na - base of the genital

organ;3) Man'ipura - navel;4) Ana'hata - midpoint of the chest;5) Vishuddha - throat;6) A'jina - between the eyebrows;

7) Sahasra'ra - crown of the head.


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Asana Practice for Maximum Effect

Must be comfortable to the yogi, aseffect on glands and chakras is veryimportant.

Best practiced in the early morningbefore meals and in the late afternoonor early evening before meals.

Do 2 - 3 hours after eating;On finishing, leave 20 - 30 minutesbefore eating.


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Things to Remember

Breathing control.

Conscious stretching:

- no pain should be felt.

Counter positions or balance:- must treat the body equally bystretching each side of body equallyand in opposite directions.


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Asanas the Proper Flow Important aspects:

Moving into the pose

Maintaining the pose

Coming out of the pose

Some basic asanas


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Some basic asanas

- Yoga mudra A good warm-up

S b i


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Some basic asanas

- Cobra

Counter-balancethe firstwarm-up

Some basic asanas


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Some basic asanas

- HareGood for memory

and intellect

Some basic asanas Good for navel


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Some basic asanas

- Boat

which is thecontrolling

point of thebody


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Some basic asanas- Shoulder stand

Helps increaselongevity, invigoratesall the lower chakras,cures many diseases.

High blood pressurepatients should not dothis asana.

Some basic asanas


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Some basic asanas

- FishComplimentary

to shoulderstand


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Fish posture

Some basic asanas Activates allth h k


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Some basic asanas

- Spinal twist (must do both sides)

the chakras,helps in all

diseases, helpsin longevity

A f S i it l D l t


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Asanas for Spiritual Development

Remember: Asanas are not like exercises;

They should be learnt from acompetent acarya (meditation and yoga teacher).

Need to:

Know the asana Know the person

Fit the asana to the person


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Stress at Different Levels

Yoga and Stress


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Yoga and Stress As part of the evolution of mind, thecrude mind is converted into subtlermind.

As the mental scope goes onincreasing, mind undergoes a psychicdilation / expansion.The operative forces of this psychicdilation are 3 in number:

(1) physical force, created out of physicalclash;

(2) psychic force, created as a result of clashes in the psychic sphere;

(3) spiritual force emanated from longingfor the Great.

Multilateral Mind


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Multilateral Mind As a result of mental dilation, ie increase involume and mass of the psychic body, the mindacquires more and more potentiality formultilateral activities.

According to the mental dilation, the physicalbody as well gets metamorphosed, and as thelonging for the Great increases, the physicalbody develops certain complexities for anadjustment with the higher psychic demands.Hence we find that in creatures having

developed sentiments, the physical body is acomposite structure of a large number of glands with their peculiar activities. Thedeveloped glandular complexity is an

essentiality for facing the psychic clashes insubtler spheres .


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Dealing with Life ArenasFor expansion in life and for mental andspiritual development, individual human

beings need to deal with the:physicalphysico-psychicpsychicpsycho-spiritualspiritual

They also need to deal with the socialsphere.


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Yoga and Balance

There needs to be a proper balancebetween:physical

mental / psychicspiritual

This is done for and while the unitbeing moves and experiences spiritual

realisation.

S i it lit th S btl t P it


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Spirituality the Subtlest Pursuit

The realization of the universality of one Infinite Consciousness and theexperience of Bliss.The opportunity to realize and become

conscious of a Supreme Reality.One's spiritual fitness is determinedby the feeling of Oneness, the desireto be with the Divine all the time andthe strength of one's will power.

You've got to live it!

Spirituality and Yoga


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Spirituality and Yoga

Yoga is Self-conquest =merger of unit mind intoCosmic.

Since the Divine isuniversal, there is nodogma in yoga.

Practices are scientific, so asystem should be followed

to gain the benefits.

That system is the 8 foldpath and all the practicalsteps associated with it.


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It feels so much better when you transcend theordinary

- its not hard to do.

Contact [email protected]

006 2 Introduction to Yoga

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