Yoga has become one of the most popular forms of exercise these days. But did you know that yoga is much more than a way to lose weight? With a large number of yoga forms present, most people know very little about the various forms of yoga and what it actually means to practice them. In this post Smt. Hansaji, wife of Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and present Director of The Yoga Institute, tells you about ashtanga yoga and what the practice actually means.
What is yoga?
Yoga is a science of life. The prime focus is on how to live a meaningful, healthy life so as to achieve the utmost potential of what one is capable of. There are various definitions of yoga that encapsulate this simple philosophy. Yoga is believed to be a tool through which one can gain complete control over one's own mind. It is a means to develop concentration, sharpness and efficiency. One who practices yoga can learn to be in a balanced state of mind, work efficiently and can hence excel in the path of life.
Yoga deals with body, mind, emotions, intellect and interpersonal relationships. It is a combination of psychology, philosophy and specific ancient techniques that one can use to achieve one's goals in life. So the belief that yoga is for those who wish to live a secluded life is not true at all. In fact is relevant to and quite important for anybody and everybody.
What are the different schools of yoga ?
There are many schools of yoga. The choice of which school one should practice should be based on what one expects to achieve through the practice.
To develop one's overall personality, the most standard and popular ones are:
1. Ashtanga Yoga the eight fold path
2. Hatha Yoga dealing with physical body
3. Raj Yoga dealing with mind
4. Mantra Yoga dealing with energy.
To train and condition one's mind, one can follow:
1. Raj Yoga
2. Gyan Yoga
To focus on one's innate energy:
1. Kundalini Yoga -deals with internal energy and chakras
2. Bhakti Yoga surrender to God and emotions
3. Karma Yoga dealing with actions which is most practical for common man
What is ashtanga Yoga?
The great Sage Patanjali, after studying various types of yoga scriptures, realised that human beings need a holistic approach and not a single-sided development in life. So, he took the essence of all the philosophies of yoga and developed a very systematic approach and a path to self evolution. He specified this systematic and scientific approach in eight simple steps called it ashtang yoga (eight-fold path to yoga).
What are the merits of ashtanga yoga when compared with the other types?
Asthanga yoga, since it is holistic in nature, develops every aspect of the human personality. The focus is not just the physical body or just the mind. The idea is to enhance one's body-mind coordination so as to improve both, physical and mental strength. It is very practical experiential. To put it in simple word, ashatanga yoga is sure to give you results if you practice it with faith and discipline.
Who should practice this school of yoga?
Which school of thought one should practice is actually a matter of personal choice. However, I would also like to mention that ashtanga yoga is what will suit every single individual, irrespective of one's age, gender, health conditions and beliefs. The eight simple steps that it prescribes focus on all aspects of human life and help the practitioners prevent and control health conditions as well.
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