Yoga

Yoga in essence means union of body, mind and spirit. Some of the different techniques of yoga are Hatha Yoga, Gyana Yoga, Bakthi Yoga, Kriya Yoga etc.

Through yoga we transcend the gross level physical body, start understanding and connecting with the subtle body. We start to understand that mind, which is subtle, ethereal in nature, is behind the functions of the physical body.

Through asanas (specific postures), we start paying attention to how we sit, stand, the structure and alignment of our spine, shape of the body (including excess fat), stiffness in limbs, strength of nervous system and balance. We develop coordination of motor organs and our posture (which we took for granted before practice).

When you notice a child, you see how it sits, stands, moves or flexes with total ease and coordination. It seems almost effortless. Notice how it breathes - it is breathing effortlessly and rhythmically - a proper way of breathing. When it inhales, the abdomen bulges out and when it exhales, the abdomen goes in. The child's mind is so innocent and pure (sattva). The child expresses itself without any inhibition. The child is in a state of pure bliss.

As the child grows up, the outer world influences the grown-up in various ways. Gone is the flexibility (both of the physical body and the mind). Due to a pressured and hectic lifestyle, always on the go, physical body, breathing and mind undergo a lot of changes. Everyday stress and tension accumulate in the limbs, bones, muscles – tissues and organs, endocrine system, brain. This stress disturbs the rhythmic breathing (one can relate to this by expressions such as - "I hardly have time to breath"). Emotional disturbances cause shallow breathing.

We are always in a hurry to catch up, caught up in the whirlpool of competition, our actions are merely engaged in satisfying our sensual pleasures, mind gets distracted, thus looses control over senses, we forget to pay attention to the basic necessity - how we breath; we take it for granted until the day the body starts complaining. Thus we become blind sighted towards conscious living.

The result is a disturbance of the body, mind, spirit equilibrium, which leads to various illnesses.

In adulthood, Yoga, which was a natural part of us when we were a child, has to be separately practiced by setting aside some time. If we have it integrated into our lives, we would not have to get pressured to DO yoga.

How do we integrate yoga into our daily life?

By conscious living, by being here and now, yoga becomes a natural part of our life.

Sage Patanjali has outlined the principles as Ashtanga Yoga - the 8 limbs of yoga.

8 limbs in day-to-day life

We do certain right things and observing certain moral codes such as not hurting others, speaking truth, not stealing or not being greedy, exercising restraint, etc. These constitute the first limb - proper social conduct - Yama.

We purify our body and mind by right actions and right thinking; we take care not to lose our happiness; we may hold a strong determination to keep body and mind strong in any situation; we may interact with others exchanging knowledge and wisdom. These constitute the second limb - proper personal conduct - Niyama.

When you are holding certain prescribed poses with discipline, comfort and steadiness - we are practicing the third limb - Asana. For example, with conscious attention, the way we sit right, properly aligning our spine, standing, walking bending etc.

When we breathe consciously, paying proper attention to the way we breathe, the oxygen reaches the subtle channels, eliminating excess carbon, cleansing the organs, purifying the entire body and bringing steadiness to the mind. This is the fourth limb - Pranayama.

When we pay attention to ourselves, introspecting, withdrawing from the distractions of the senses or external subjects, we are practicing the fifth limb - Pratyahara.

A single-pointed attention or concentration is the sixth limb - Dharana.

Observation as an obedient watchman, without reacting is the seventh limb - Dhyana.

Super-conscious state, where the distinction between the observer, the observed, and the act of observation blurs and becomes one - is the final limb - Samadhi.

In our day-to-day life, we do these without consciously paying attention to each and every nuance. When we DO pay attention and practice them consciously, we become aware that our life is in sync - in balance - in yoga.

KRIYA YOGA

Kriya Yoga is a scientific technique, which closely follows the Patanjali Method. Living in the Sansar (family life) one can easily practice it and gradually one can experience Self-Realization.