Are you searching for much more from your Yoga class than just a workout? What deeper concepts should you learn in your Yoga practice? How can philosophy, taught by a Yoga teacher, change the quality of your life today?

There are so many Yoga philosophy concepts, but here are three that will help you shed many burdens in life. Yoga teachers vary on how much Yogic philosophy they will teach within a typical class. The cause of this may be the type of Yoga class, the perceived popularity, or the Yoga teacher’s choice.

In my Restorative Yoga classes, I teach much more Yogic philosophy than I do in a Vinyasa Yoga class. The same can be said for the amount of meditation time within my North Providence Restorative Yoga classes.

If you are wondering why - here is the answer: My Vinyasa Yoga students are usually younger and could really care less about Yogic philosophy or any other philosophy. They just want to work hard, so we work on mind and body only.

Am I selling out? You can be the judge, but these Yoga students will change with time, and will eventually want to see more of what Yoga has to offer. They are not in a big rush to learn any other form of Yoga, beyond the physically challenging styles - which is fine, because I need to get my exercise, too.

The following are three basic Yogic philosophy principles that will change your life, for the best, today. Try them, and you will make your life happy, simple, and less stressful. Make the change today, or tomorrow morning, for your overall health.

Loving kindness toward yourself, and others, starts from the moment you wake up. Stop criticizing yourself and others. Take positive action and you will see big changes. This is very hard to do, but try not to make negative comments about those who do not live up to your standards. If you can help by being a good example, that’s fine, but do not make it an issue, or a point of contention.

Never beat yourself up with criticism. If you have done wrong, make an effort to change and find solutions, but do not dwell on past mistakes. It will not be to your benefit to meditate on guilt.

Forgiveness is important for your survival and the quality of your own life. You have to let go and forgive others, for your own good. A grudge is a “prison sentence.” Let it go and you become free to do more important things. If you do not let it go, your overall health will suffer, as a result.

Being content with what you have is also known as Santosha. This will stop you from driving yourself crazy - when you are constantly competing with everyone around you. If a friend just bought a new house, feel good for him or her. Do not worry about what you do not have. Be happy about what you do have.

This applies to the physical aspect of Yoga, as well. If you see another student easily perform difficult asanas, be happy for him or her, but be proud of your own accomplishments. For example: You may have improved balance, learned a Pranayama technique to reduce stress, be eating a better diet, or feel the many benefits of meditation.

Make these three Yogic concepts a part of your daily life, and you will enjoy life’s many treasures.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

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The Sanskrit word ‘Yoga’ has two meaning, because it is derived from two roots - one is ‘yujir yoge’ and other is ‘yuj samadhou’. The root ‘yujir yoge’ means to join or to unite. Religious leaders accept this meaning because their philosophy is based on dualism. They always try to project an external God and become Gog’s representitives. By this they rule over their followers.

However the other root ‘yuj samadhou’ means to concentrate. Patanjali tried to preach that Yoga where mind is concentrated in order to realise the true self(svarup). Mind is concentrated when thoughts arising in mind is controlled through yogic practice. Total concentration(samadhi) is that state where mind is free from all worldly thoughts and a seer rests in his true self.

Patanjali’s Yoga is called ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ for it is divided into eight parts or limbs. These are - Yama(abstention), Niyama(discipline), Asana(posture), Pranayama(breath control), Pratyahar(withdrawal), Dharana(to hold), Dhyana(meditation) and Samadhi(concentration)(II.29). Yama and Niyama are the external limbs which are to be observed in social life, while others are the internal limbs which are to be practiced in order to concentrate mind.

YAMA(abstention)

There are five kinds of Yama; these are - Ahimsa(nonviolence), Satya(truth), Asteya(not to steal), Brahmancharya(to think about Brahman) and Aparigraha(not to accept)(II.30).

Ahimsa - A Yogi should give up violence and cruelty against men and animals. When one gives up violence completely in thought as well as in action and remains firm in nonviolence, animosity disappears(II.35). Then one realises the unity of all.

Satya - While leading social life, one should be truthful. He who follows truthfulness none of his actions goes in vain(II.36).

Asteya - We should not steal or plunder other’s wealth. Then we learn how to lead a modest life within our income or we learn how to increase our income. For this by remaining firm on Asteya, a Yogi receives all kinds of wealth(II.37).

Brahmancharya - A Yogi who has given up violence, is truthful always and depends upon his own wealth feels greatness. He thinks about his true self or soul(atman) and its great potential. The Upanishads describe this Atman as Brahman, the ultimate reality and truth. The task of a Yogi is to bear this highest knowledge in mind and proceed further in the practice of Yoga. By bearing knowledge of Brahman firmly one achieves vigour(II.38). This vigour makes his body and mind powerful. Brahmanchrya is not abstention from sex as believed by most people. The great saints of ancient India were married and at the same time practiced Yoga and realised the ultimate truth.

Aparigraha - Aparigraha is not to accept donations, alms or bribe. When one observes Aparigraha one comes to know how to lead life in this birth(II.39). When one does not depend upon others for a livelihood, one learns how to work and earn. Those who depend upon the earnings of others fail to realise their own potential or the potential of true self.

NIYAMA(discipline)

Niyama includes - Shaucha(ablution), Shantosh(contentment), Tapa(to heat), Svadhyay(self-study) and Ishvara Pranidhan(to bear God)(II.32).

Shaucha - It is to keep the body clean. By practicing Shaucha, body is protected and is made free from foreign matter(II.40). We should take bath regularly so that foreign matter sticking to the body are washed away. Also we should keep our environment clean so that practice of Yoga becomes fruitful.

Santosh - It is to remain content and happy. A content man achieves best happiness(II.42).

Tapa - The meaning of Tapa is to heat or to rule. By practicing Tapa, impurities in the body are destroyed and the body and senses are brought under control(II.43). Yogic exercises help remove impurities deposited in various parts of the body. While Shaucha is external purification, Tapa is internal purification. Heat generated during yogic exercise causes sweating and impurities are removed through sweating. By this body becomes fresh, active, powerful, beautiful and diseasefree. One rules over such a body and its senses and proceeds further in realising true self.

Different Yoga Masters teach different yogic exercises(yogasana). My late Master Munishvar Shiv kumar Shastri has developed an unique exercise called Chakrabhedan(circle interception) which is very useful for keeping body and mind under control. This may be practised by people of all ages.

Svadhyay - It is the reading of the self. One is nothing but a mind. So one should read his mind carefully. Through self-study one may understand one’s own self. So how one may meet one’s beloved God through self-study. This is because God is not different from one’s true self.

Ishvara Pranidhan - In order to meet one’s beloved God one should make oneself worthy of it. One should bear God or Godliness qualities in oneself. This is Ishvara Pranidhan. Through Ishvara Pranidhan one achieves Samadhi(II.45). Samadhi is the state of total concentration of mind on true self. Through Ishvara Pranidhan one achieves Samadhi, means one attains total concentration of mind on true self and meets one’s beloved God.

Other limbs of Yoga shall be described in the next article.

Author is a desciple of Late Munishvar Shiv kumar Shastri who established Muni Samaj. The desire of Author is to spread true spiritualism and yoga worldwide. He has published a book ‘Quest for truth: the spiritual and yogic way’ recently.

Premansu_chand@rediffmail.com

http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php

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Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga has eight limbs(parts). In my earlier article, Yama and Niyama have been described briefly. Yama and Niyama are external limbs of Yoga; these are to be practised while leading social life. The rest six limbs - Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are internal limbs of Yoga. While practicing these six limbs one concentrates one’s mind on true self and realises the divine truth. In this article Asana and Pranayama have been described.

Asana(posture)

Asana is a posture of the body by which the body rests on a plane surface. For different actions man chooses different postures. For Yoga one should choose a comfortable posture by which one may concentrate mind on true self. For choosing a posture Patanjali describes - posture should be motionless and comfortable(II.46). So in Yogasana one rests one’s body in a comfortable and static posture so that all other succeeding limbs are practiced easily and one reaches upto the last limb i.e. Samadhi.

Different Schools of Yoga teach different Yogic exercises in the name of Yogasana. These Yogasana should be included in Tapa, a type of Niyama. In Tapa a practitioner imparts warmness or heat to the body through the practice of Yogic exercises and thereby the body becomes strong and diseaseless. Tapa and its exercises is external limb of Yoga; however the third limb of Yoga i.e. Asana is internal limb. Through Yogasana which involves exercise of the body, one cannot be motionless or feel comfortable. So in these postures one cannot enter into Samadhi. In true Asana rests one’s body comfortably and rises up above the gross mind, body and senses and realises the true self.

So for a motionless and comfortable Asana one should lie on a plane surface on one’s back with hands and legs streched. This is called Sukhasana. In this posture all the six internal limbs of Yoga may be practiced well. A human being may be partitioned into four - body, Prana(breath), mind, and bliss(soul). If any one of these is brought under control, others will come under control automatically. In Asana, body is kept motionless and as a result Prana(breath) and mind are brought under control. When everything is brought under control and becomes motionless, one feels the bliss of soul or true self.

Pranayama(breath control)

For common understanding Prana(life) is breath or breathing air. But in reality it is more than the air we breathe. It is the life force that moves out and moves in and these movements are expressed through the exhalation and inhalation of air. When this life force goes outside it mingles with the universal life force of all living beings and when it moves in, it touches every living cell in the body. The body functions because of this life force. The energy of this life force is unending. Through our numerous births this Prana works from birth till death. Body does not depend upon food solely, but it depends upon Prana solely. There are people who do not take food for months and years; but still they are able to work and live.

In reality body, Prana and mind are one. When any one of these three becomes motionless, the other two become motionless. In Sukhasana when the body is kept motionless for half an hour, Prana and mind become motionless. When Prana is motionless there is no inhalation or exhalation or breathing takes place in a very subtle manner. This is Pranayama. Patanjali teaches - after one rests in Asana, there is cut off in the movements of inhalation and exhalation and this cut off is Pranayama(II.49). This can be scientifically explained also. When the body is in motion, the rate of metabolism in the body is higher and so one breathes in quick succession. Conversely whe one is in rest the rate of metabolism is less and one breathes after a long pause. Again, when mind is restless, one breathes quickly and when mind is calm, one breathes normally.

Different Schools of Yoga, which teach to control breathing forcibly, only follow unscientific and impure Pranayama. By forcibly withhelding breath, one keeps carbon dioxide inside for a longer period and this may be fatal to the body cells. In pure and true Pranayama one has to do nothing. One should lie in Sukhasana and keep mind on the movement of breath across the nostrills. In this way body, mind and Prana become motionless naturally and become one. In Pranayama one concentrates mind and gives rest to this overworked Prana.

Author is a desciple of Late Munishvar Shiv kumar Shastri and practices Yoga as taught by him. His aim is to spread true spiritualism and yoga. Those who want to read more about spiritualism based on the Upanishads and Yoga based on Patanjali’s Yogasutra should go through his book ‘Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way’.
http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php
premansu_chand@rediffmail.com

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