Yoga Philosphy
Sutra, 8 Limbs, Yamas and Niyamas
The word Yoga comes from an ancient Sanskrit and therefore has more than one meaning. Sanskrit is an ancient language of India, in which the Hindu scriptures and classical Indian epic poetry are written, and from which many North Indian languages are derived. Yoga can mean "way", "method", "remedy" or "cure". It is associated with careful effort, attention and work. It is often said to be a kind of "yoking", which means that several things come together.
Yoga consists of "Asanas" (postures), which are used to heal and strengthen the body. Through focused attention one cultivates mental stability. Competing thoughts, wishes and feelings begin to come into harmony. There is less mental imbalance. This allows people to discover deeper connections and unite body and mind. In this sense Yoga is considered a spiritual exercise. It is not a recognized as a religion. However, yoga has influenced various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Yoga shows that all people are connected and that everyone has the power to change their inner and outer world.
Origin Yoga history is based on various ancient scriptures. The exercises of today are based on the so-called "200 Sutras". The Yoga Sutras, widely regarded as the definitive text on Yoga, is a collection of aphorisms that outline the eight limbs of Yoga. These "threads" (as Sutra is translated from Sanskrit) of wisdom provide guidelines for a meaningful and purposeful life.
The most common yoga style used today is called Hatha Yoga. This is the physical part of yoga, the yang part. All other styles, such as Vinyasa and Ashtanga, which are taught today, have their origin in Hatha Yoga. The entry of yoga into Western culture was and still is permeated by the complexity of casual exchange and appropriation. If one knows yoga as it is practiced today, it is important to understand not only its ancient origins, but also the cultural context surrounding its development and spread. The Indian class system and the struggle for Indian independence influenced yoga in practice and how it developed. At the same time, the practice of yoga itself was a method of resistance. It became a powerful means to liberate the body from both class and colonial oppression. Yoga was first brought to the West at the end of the 19th century by Swami Vivekananda, who tried to bring the Hindu faith to the global stage. The work of Vivekananda and his followers was a wave of Indian nationalism inspired in India on the threshold of independence from Britain. His modern view of certain aspects of Hinduism resonated with popular Western schools of thought such as New Thought, Theosophy and Transcendentalism. This paved the way for the enthusiastic reception of Yoga, Transcendental Meditation and other Indian alternate practices in the West. Vivekananda saw that meditation is the main path to enlightenment. His teachings focused mainly on breathing exercise meditation (Pranayama) and positive thinking, and less on physical poses (Asanas). This was largely the result of class and colonial pressures of the time. At that time, mendicant monks of lower classes even collected money for physical poses. Expressing prejudice against yoga was one way in which the higher classes separated themselves from the hostility and ridicule that Western colonialists held against the lower classes of Indians who followed these practices. At the beginning of the 20th century, as the Indian people fought to gain freedom from the United Kingdom, they sought to break down stereotypes that were supported by years of white racist domination.
Hatha Yoga, long a target of racist stereotypes, now offered an effective means of combating them. Teachers began to combine traditional yoga practices with modern physical culture in an attempt to combine traditional Indian practices with Western practices and ideals. The result is a new and more acrobatic version of Hatha Yoga, free from the negative associations of earlier centuries.
"8 Limbs”
Yoga also consists of the so-called eight limbs. These reflect the ultimate practice to lead a balanced life. They can also be translated as "rules", so that they also make sense for those who do not practice yoga. The eight limbs are composed as follows: Yamas (rules of conduct in dealing with nature and other people) Niyamas
The eight links are made up as follows:
Yamas (rules of conduct in dealing with nature and other people)
Niyamas (rules of conduct in dealing with ourselves)
Asanas (physical exercises)
Pranayama (breathing exercises)
Pratyahara (The retreat of the senses to the inside)
Dharana (concentration and alignment of the mind)
Dhyana (Meditation)
Samadhi (Perfect Knowledge)
Derived from this there are 5 "Yamas", which describe the rules for dealing with our environment:
Ahimsa: non-violence
Satya: Truthfulness
Asteya: Do Not Steal
Brahmacharya: acting in the consciousness of the "Divine
Aparigraha: Simplicity
In addition, there are the 5 "Niyamas", which are a guide to how to deal with ourselves:
Shauca: Purification of body and mind
Santosha: Frugality and gratitude
Tapas: discipline
Svadhyaya: Self study
Isvara Pranidhana: Devotion to the "Divine