"Yog" - not Yoga

What is Yoga?

The word yoga, in Hindi pronounced as Yog, is derived from Sanskrit word yuj which means to join or unite. Yoga is an ancient Indian science and art. The practice of yoga integrates the body, mind and soul. Yoga can be practiced by all irrespective of religion, colour, caste, creed, sex and race. A practitioner of Yoga is called a Yogi (unisex term) or Yogini (for female).

According to Wikipedia – Major branches of a yoga include Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. Raja Yoga, compiled in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and known simply as yoga in the context of Hindu philosophy, is part of the Samkhya tradition. Many other Hindu texts discuss aspects of yoga, including the Vedas, Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva Samhita and various Tantras

What we know as yoga are the Asana-s or body postures. They are only a part of the yogic science. Yoga is the science of managing our mind. Managing our mind means that we can do the task of our choice, for the time we want, without mental or physical strain. Maintaining a happy disposition despite the world around us and the difficulties we face.

Asanas balance the energies of body and mind helping us to regain and maintain health and wellbeing. The body postures are very gentle and will not cause exhaustion or fatigue, but they will help to release the stiffness and exertion of hours of office work sitting in front of the computer etc. they will make the body flexible and strong. After the practice one should feel refreshed, energetic and peaceful.

Pranayama or breathing techniques have a profound effect on body and mind. Correct breathing nourishes every cell with oxygen. Breathing is directly linked to the mind, the pattern of breath changes with different states of mind, emotions and stress-levels. Using this we can calm the mind with breathing techniques. Only a relaxed mind can be attentive and creative.

Some good resources on Yoga can be found on the about.com site. A more westernized view of Yoga can be found at the Yoga Journal.

But the best resource that I found on Yoga is this site ABC of Yoga.com! Although it too has a somewhat westernized outlook on Yoga, the compilation of information in one place along with the real world benefits for humdrum mortals like us instead of the wisdom of ancients is what attracted me.

Speaking of ancients - the ancient seers laid down four ways by which the practitioner can attain Samadhi or spiritual salvation, the goal of yoga. These are:

Jnana Marg: The path of knowledge.

Karma Marg: The path of action.

Bhakti Marg: The path of selfless devotion.

Dhyan Marg: The path of introspection whereby pupil learns to cleanse the body, control the senses and restrains fluctuations of the mind. Dhyan Marg is clearly explained by Sage Patanjali.

History of Yoga

While the most ancient mystic practices are vaguely hinted at in the Vedas, the ascetic practices (tapas) are referenced in the Brāhmaṇas (900 BCE and 500 BCE), early commentaries on the Vedas. The Rig Veda, earliest of the Hindu scripture mentions the practice. Robert Schneider and Jeremy Fields write, "Yoga asanas were first prescribed by the ancient Vedic texts thousands of years ago and are said to directly enliven the body's inner intelligence." Certainly breath control and curbing the mind was practiced since the Vedic times. It is believed that yoga was fundamental to Vedic ritual, especially to chanting the sacred hymns.

In the Upanishads, an early reference to meditation is made in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the earliest Upanishads (approx. 900 BCE). The main textual sources for the evolving concept of Yoga are the middle Upanishads, (ca. 400 BCE), the Mahabharata (5th c. BCE) including the Bhagavad Gita (ca. 200 BCE), and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (200 BCE-300 CE).

Several seals discovered at Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1700 BC) sites depict figures in a yoga- or meditation-like posture, "a form of ritual discipline, suggesting a precursor of yoga" that point to Harappan devotion to "ritual discipline and concentration", according to Archaeologist Gregory Possehl. According to prof. Egbert Richter Ushanas, concerning the IVC seals he has said, "All the seals are based on Vedas -- Rig Veda and Atharva Veda

Sage Patanjali

Sage Patanjali was the first person to present the ancient tradition of yoga in a systematic way. Thus he is considered the father of yoga. In his most important work- The Yog Sutras of Patanjali, he presented an eight fold path for attaining salvation. The path is called Ashtang Yog i.e. it is eight part yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga

The eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are-

1. Yam - Social Disciplines
a. Ahimsa - (Non Violence)
b. Satya - (Truth)
c. Asteya - (Non Stealing)
d. Brahmacharya - (Self control)
e. Aparigraha - (Non Hoarding)
2. Niyam - Personal Disciplines
a. Sauch - (Cleanliness)
b. Santosh - (Contentment)
c. Tapas - (Great Effort)
d. Svadhyay - (Introspection)
e. Ishwar Pranidhan - (Faith in God)
3. Asan - (Postures)
4. Pranayam - (Breath Control)
5. Pratyahar - (Withdrawal of Senses)
6. Dharana - (Concentration)
7. Dhyan - (Meditation)
8. Samadhi - (Union)