YOGA Introduction to yoga • Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control and still the mind. • There is a wide variety of schools of yoga, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and traditional and modern yoga is practiced worldwide. • The Katha Upanishad defines yoga as follows “When the five senses, along with he mind, remain still and the intellect is not active, that is known as the highest state.• Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. • It is an art and scince of healthy living. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. • As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body.• One who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be in yoga, and is termed as a yogi, having attained to a state of freedom referred to as mukti, nirvana or moksha. • Thus, the aim of Yoga is Selfrealization, to overcome all kinds of sufferings leading to ‘the state of liberation’ (Moksha) or ‘freedom’ (Kaivalya). • Yoga” also refers to an inner science comprising of a variety of methods through which human beings can realize this union and achieve mastery over their destiny.The 4 paths of yoga • Yoga works on the level of one’s body, mind, emotion and energy. • This has given rise to four broad paths of Yoga as karma yoga, where we utilize the body; bhakti yoga, where we utilize the emotions; gyana yoga, where we utilize the mind and intelect; and raja yoga, where we try to gain self-autonomy.Karma yoga • Karma means “action,” and Karma Yoga is performing action without attachment to the outcome. It is the path of selfless service (Seva). All action is seen as an offering to the Divine. • The heart is purified so egoism, hatred, jealousy, selfishness, and similar negative qualities vanish, creating space for humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance, and compassion.• Karma Yoga is “doing the right thing,”—the process of achieving perfection in action. • It means following one’s dharma (true purpose) and accepting whatever comes, without expectation of payment, thanks, or recognition.Bhakti Yoga • Bhakti is the yoga of devotion, ultimately to the Divine, but it can initially be a guru, your family, a friend, or anything that creates strong emotional ties. • In today’s world with so much chaos and confusion, it is said that Bhakti is the easiest of the paths. It can be practiced by anyone regardless of mental or physical abilities and doesn’t involve extensive yogic practices. • Bhakti is the path of love which removes jealousy, hatred, lust, anger, egoism, pride, and arrogance. It replaces those feelings with feelings of joy, divine ecstasy, bliss, peace, and wisdom. Gyana (Jnana) Yoga • Gyana Yoga is the path of knowledge or, more correctly, wisdom. • It is the means to Enlightenment through the process of reason— particularly the process of discrimination between what is real and what is not real, what is true and untrue through study and self inquiry. • It is said to be the most difficult path because it uses the mind and intellect to go beyond themselves to finally realize you are one with the Divine. • . It requires great strength of character, will power, and intellect.Raja Yoga • Raja Yoga means the “Royal Path.” Just as a king maintains control over his kingdom, you must maintain control over your own “kingdom”—the vast territory of your mind. • It’s the path of meditation, mantras, and techniques. • If the body and mind can be made still and pure, the Self will instantaneously shine forth. • Raja Yoga is the path most favored by Westerners because it can be practiced by almost everyone requiring no belief or particular faith. • Raja Yoga says to believe only what you find out for yourself through direct experience.Yoga and personality • Personality is the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. • . It is believed that personality arises from within the individual and remains fairly consistent throughout life. • The word “personality” stems from the Latin word persona, which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers in order to either project different roles or disguise their identities. • There are various dimensions of personality namely physical, emotional, intellectual, Social and spiritual dimensions. Yogic practices are found effective for development of all dimensions of personality.1. Yoga and physical dimension of personality • Physical dimension is related to our body. • It means that all organs and systems of our body should be properly developed and functioning for a healthy body without any disease. • Yogic practices like asana, pranayama, and bandha play a beneficial role in physical development of children. • There is a series of asanas and pranayamas which help to improve the functioning of the body.2. Yoga and emotional dimension of personality • Yogic practices are effective for development of emotional dimension related to our feelings, attitudes and emotions. • There are two kinds of emotions: positive and negative. For example, love, kindness are positive emotions, while anger and fear (exam phobia) are negative emotions. • Similarly, our feelings and attitudes may be positive and negative. • For emotional development, positive feelings, attitudes and emotions should be developed and negative ones should be controlled, as the negative attitudes and emotions work as a mental block for the development of personality. • Yoga plays a critical role in development of positive emotions • . It brings emotional stability. It helps to control negative emotions. • Yogic practices such as yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara and meditation help in emotional management. For example, the principle of non-violence will protect us from negative emotions and develop positive feelings of love and kindness. • Similarly, other principles of yama and niyama will help to develop positive emotions and attitudes in our personal and social life and therefore help in the management of emotions. 3. Yoga and intellectual dimension of personality • Intellectual Development is related to the development of our mental abilities and processes such as critical thinking, memory, perception, Decision making, imagination, creativity, etc. • Development of This dimension is very important as it enables us to learn new Things and acquire knowledge and skills. • Yogic practices such as asana, pranayama, dharana, dhyana (meditation) help to Develop concentration, memory and thereby help in intellectual Development.4. Yoga and social dimension of personality • Socialisation, probably the most important aspect of the Personality development takes place during infancy, usually Within the family. • By responding to the approval and disapproval of parents and grandparents and imitating their examples, the Child learns the language and many of the basic behavior Patterns of her/his society. • The process of socialisation is not Limited to childhood, but continues throughout life. • Some key elements of this process include respect for others, listening carefully to other persons, being interested in them, and voicing your thoughts and feelings politely, honestly and clearly so that you can be easily heard and understood. • Principles of yama include these Key elements and are very important as these help us in the betterment of our relationships with our friends, parents, Teachers and others5. Yoga and spiritual dimension of personality • This dimension Is related to the development of values. • It is also concerned with self-actualization which is related to recognizing one’s Potential and developing them to the maximum. • Proper development of this dimension helps the person to realise one’s true identity. • For spiritual development, yama, niyama, pratyahara and dhyana (meditation) are helpful. • Yama and niyama help to develop our moral values while pranayama, and meditation help us to realise our true self. Introspection is very effective for the development of ‘self’.Schools of yoga • Being an ancient philosophy prevalent in India since time immemorial, Yoga has been the topic of concern for various stages and philosophers of the land. • This has in turn given way to various schools of Yoga philosophy to develop and cast their own distinct views about this harmonious way of life. • These schools of Yoga though adhere to diverse applications of internal regulation, yet the ultimate aim of all these is to develop a unique understanding of the Divine thus leading the practitioner to a path of liberation. • Based upon the objective of self-transformation these schools get their names on the basis of various instruments chosen by the yogi to anticipate such change1. Hatha yoga – yoga of postures • Hatha yoga is a fundamental base for other yogas. Hatha yoga techniques act on body energy to keep it in good health. • Hatha yoga by definition is the union of the sun and the moon, the physical and mental energies. • The basic principle of hatha yoga is harmonization of this dual energy which governs the functioning of the physical body and its organs, and our mental activities, reactions and moods. • Hatha yoga comprises of Asanas or postures, pranayama or breathing practices. Main benefits of continued Hatha yoga doing are restores and maintain good health , avoids the illness factors, create a positive impact on mental health.2. Raja Yoga – yoga of Self control • Raja yoga can be defined as the royal path of union. • Raja yoga deals with the mind and is also known as ashtanga yoga ,the eight fold path or the eight limbs of yoga. • The main objective of raja yoga is to control the mental energies which are generally dissipated and fluctuating. • Raja yoga practices acknowledge, accept and redirect the mental activities, without generating self judgment and conflicts in the personality. • Raja yoga is the supreme yoga. Raja yoga was outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras.3. Kundalini yoga – yoga of energy • Kundalini yoga derives from kundalini, defined as energy that lies within the body, frequently at the navel or the base of the spine. • The practice of kriyas and meditations in Kundalini Yoga are designed to raise complete body awareness to prepare the body, nervous system, and mind to handle the energy of Kundalini rising. • The majority of the physical postures focus on navel activity, activity of the spine, and selective pressurization of body points and meridians. • It also promotes spiritual enlightenment.4. Karma yoga – Yoga of mind • It is a path to reach moksha (spiritual liberation) through work. • It is rightful action without being attached to fruits or being manipulated by what the results might be, a dedication to one’s duty, and trying one’s best while being neutral to rewards or outcomes such as success or failure. • Karma yoga is said to purify the mind and cleanse the heart. It promotes positive feelings like humility, kindness, compassion, honor, gratefulness, generosity, love, and joy. • Karma yoga reduces and removes negative emotions like envy, hatred, fear, greed, selfishness, and jealousy5. Jnana Yoga – yoga of wisdom • Jnana is the Sanskrit for “knowledge or wisdom”. • Jnana Yoga is the path of attaining knowledge of the true nature of reality through the practice of meditation, self-inquiry, and contemplation. • The Jnana yogi seeks to uncover his true Self, the atman, in its state separate from body or mind. • The Path of Jnana Yoga involves receiving knowledge, analyzing it, understanding it, and detaching the ego from the Self6. Bhakthi yoga – yoga of devotion • Bhakti yoga, also called Bhakti marga . • It is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards any personal deity. • It is one of the three classical paths in Hinduism which lead to Moksha, the other paths being Jnana yoga and Karma yoga. • The benefits of bhakthi yoga include, it wards off you from negative feelings like an annoyance, a sense of self, and presumption. • It gives you knowledge and peace. You feel blissful and joyous with the help of bhakti Yoga
