A Temporary Timeline of Yoga
As we understand, yoga is enjoying an immense renaissance across the world - we apprehend about Bikram's Hot Yoga, Lotus Pose, general physical pretzelling and oh thus abundant about where to buy yoga clothes, yoga mats, even yoga gear for our pets! But, the history of yoga is made and long standing and deserves some mention. Therefore without more ado, allow us to begin near the beginning.
Between 200BC and 300AD an Indian philosopher called Patanjali gave the planet the Yoga Sutras - a series of aphorisms that taken off the follow of the eight limbs of classical yoga. Though we grasp very little about the sage himself, Patanjali's nice work is taken into account the cornerstone of the knowledge of yoga apply, from asana apply to the deeper internal journey of meditation and self- realization. The work is set out into four chapters referred to as The Samadhi Pada, the Sadhana Pada, the Vibhuti Pada and therefore the Kaivayla Pada. Yoga means union, sutra is that the Sanskrit word for thread, and pada is the Sanksrit word for book. These 196 short phrases stay the foremost body of labor on the philosophy of yoga. From the commentary and analysis of yogis, sages, translators and philosophers over waves upon waves of your time we have a tendency to have accumulated the knowledge of yoga as it's practiced today - a mixture of asanas, meditation and body/spirit care that has proven to be of timeless profit to all who interact in this practice.
Hatha Yoga
This is the design most acquainted to most of us. Hatha Yoga is additionally referred to as the forceful yoga; the name Hatha comes from a mixture of 2 Sanskrit words Ha (sun) and Tha (moon). The western apply of Hatha Yoga focuses largely on the asana practice, which is designed to stay the body flexible and to cool down the mind in preparation for meditation. This type of yoga conjointly aids in creating a harmony between our twin natures (masculine/feminine, hot/cold, can/surrender) and brings us closer to a deeper apply of yoga.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion and chanting. Predating Hatha yoga, Bhakti yoga is approx. 4000 years previous making it one amongst the oldest kinds of yoga in the world! North Americans most typically come back to yoga as a form of exercise, whereas Indian culture approaches asana practice as a means to calm the mind before meditation and worship. Kirtan is that the observe of singing the name of God in all his/her divine aspects; translated from Sanskrit it suggests that 'I surrender to the Lord'. Traditionally, kirtan is performed in a call and response style. The kirtan leader sings a line or verse of a mantra or prayer, and therefore the kirtan group responds as accurately as possible. Kirtan is a community, a dialogue between the decision leader, the kirtan cluster and the energy of the Divine. Within the eight limb system of classical yoga, kirtan is taken into account to be pratyahara (focusing the mind inward) and is a bridge between our inner and outer selves. Bhakti yoga is that the divine melody and rhythm of the human spirit, expressed in chanting and song.
Karma Yoga
Karma yoga is selfless service to others. This yoga asks that the yogi create his/her actions in this world expressions of devotion and offerings to God, while not considering personal gain. If you do community work, volunteer work, or just do something terribly nice for somebody for no reason in the least, you're performing acts of karma yoga. Ghandi's years of selfless service to South Africa and India are famous examples of the work of Karma yoga.
Dream Yoga
Dream yoga is about listening attentively to what your dreams are telling you. This knowledge is employed to higher your waking life by helping you pay additional attention to your daily realities, dreamed or shared.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is the study of the philosophy of yoga; Jnana is that the Sanskrit word for information . The apply of this yoga involves deep meditation practice, study of the self, the True Self and therefore the Transcendental Self. The yogi is challenged to examine the real and also the illusory. So as to try to to therefore the yogi should use his/her mind to retrain the mind to separate the $64000 from the unreal and therefore discover and liberate the True Self. Jnana yoga uses meditation, introspection and contemplation techniques to attain wisdom and enlightenment.
Mantra Yoga
This can be primarily the yoga of sound. The word mantra comes from a mix of the Sanskrit words man 'to think' and tra 'instrumentality' . Mantra is intention expressed as sound, not like Bhakti yoga , that is strictly the yoga of song and chanting; as an example when you chant 'OM' you are combining mantra yoga and bhakti yoga. Mantras are chanted for thousands of years (some continuously for thousands of years!) to guide the mind into meditation and to establish an intention to create states of consciousness or ask for divine guidance.
Raja Yoga
Raj is the Sanskrit word for king and Raja yoga is known as the Royal Yoga as a result of it brings out the king/queen in all of us; the noble inner self that is thus infrequently acknowledged in our every day lives. Raja yoga provides an opportunity to concentrate on the standard of our daily thoughts and deeds, being careful to reveal the goodness that the workings of the mind often conceal or disregard. Most closely associated with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it's most commonly expressed in the eight limbs of Classical Yoga.