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“Yoga is a way to restore our lost wholeness, our integrity as complete human beings, by unifying the personality around a centre that is silent and unbounded.”
“By directing the inner light we can see what is subtle, hidden from view or far away.”
Alaister
Shearer - The Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali
The
pause at the end of the exhalation
and the pause at the end of the inhalation
is a special place where nothing happens
or nothing seems to happen
yet
the old air is travelling away
and the new breath is ready to move in
in
that space in between there is silence
more than anything else silence....and space.
Sandra Sabatini
When
the mind and the heart are stretched together in expanding self awareness,
I assure you, there is instantaneous self transcendence
and, therefore, limitless freedom.
SHRI SWAMI NIRMALANANDA
Benefits
of Yoga
The soothing ad benevolent teachings of Yoga have multifarious benefits,
ranging from the physical and visible to the subltle and spiritual. It
allows us to live as we want to, usefully, lovingly and interestingly.
· Realigns the body, strengthenening bones and joints, and tones and
lengthens muscles.
· Builds self-esteem and self–acceptance.
· Detoxifies the system, purifying the internal system.
· Builds strength, flexibility and stamina.
· Increases blood circulation, which improves respiration and raises
energy and vitality.
· Calmes the mind and soothes the emotions, removing anxiety.
· Brings focus and clarity.
· Massages the internal organs, thus improving bodily functions.
“Yoga
is — citta-vrtti-nirodhah — the controling of the mind.
If we are sitting here, but our mind is not here, then it has gone elsewhere.
To control the mind, to bring it back, that is Yoga (Jois, Nama Rupa p. 10,
Spring 2003).”
Yoga has two meanings: a practice, and a state of consciousness.
As a practice it is the discipline of focusing the psyche upon one thing,
thought or activity (abhyaasa); and as a state it is when the psyche intentionally
becomes so utterly absorbed upon the object of concentration that one's sense
of self becomes like a void (samaadhi) (Yoga Sutra III:3).
The traditional aim of yoga practice is to perceive the difference between
the temporal mind-body and the Eternal Soul (aatman; purusha); whereby from
this discriminative enlightenment (viveka-khyaati), awareness of and devotion
towards the Eternal Soul becomes natural and automatic. Therefore, Sri K.
Pattabhi Jois says that “the way of establishing the mind within
the Self (aatman) should be known as yoga (Jois, Yoga Mala p. 4 - 5, 2002).”
This of course requires a long time of consistent, diligent and dedicated
practice of the yoga methods as taught by one who has obtained yoga (Yoga
Sutra I:14).
In ancient times yoga was often referred to as a tree, a living entity with roots, a trunk, branches, blossoms, and fruit.
Hatha yoga is one of six branches; the others include raja, karma, bhakti, jnana, and tantra yoga. Each branch with its unique characteristics and function represents a particular approach to life. Some people may find one particular branch more inviting than another. However, it is important to note that involvement in one of these paths does not preclude activity in any of the others, and in fact you'll find many paths naturally overlapping.
