What is....

Yoga?

Yoga which literally means “to yoke” or “to join” is a physical, emotional and spiritual practice which focuses on the breath and the clearing of the mind so that there can be peace and stillness in the body.  Yoga is so much more than a stretch class, it is a way of life.

There are eight limbs to the practice of  yoga. The eight limbs are:
           

            1 – Yama – Universal Code of Ethics
            2 – Niyama – Code of Personal Conduct
            3 – Asana – The physical practice of poses
            4 – Pranayama – The practice and control of breath
            5 – Pratyahara - Learning to control and withdraw the senses
            6 – Dharana - Stilling the mind
            7 – Dhyana - Meditation
            8 – Samadhi - Enlightenment

Most people are aware of and practice the asanas or the physical aspect of yoga. The West (United States) focuses on the physical body as the primary goal of their “workouts” and so many often overlook the ethics, the focus and the final goal of enlightenment or surrender of the self to the Divine or True Source within each of us and head straight for the power or the stretch and flexibility aspect of yoga. 

The first limb of yoga is yama which literally translates restraint.  There are 10 yamas and without going into too much detail, these are causing no harm to anyone or anything, truthfulness, non-stealing, faithful (in marriage), patience, persistence, compassion, honesty, eating in moderate amounts, and purity of mind and body.

The second limb of yoga is niyama and it is more personal to the individual than the yamas.  The niyamas are cleanliness of the internal and external body, modesty and happiness with what one has, healthy eating habits, constant self examination and reflection, and trusting that God has a reason for all that happens.

The asanas are the third limb and are practiced so that the physical body can sit in meditation without discomfort.  Have you ever tried to sit with an erect spine and crossed legs for just 30 minutes?  It can be intolerable if the muscles of the back and abdominals are not strong and the hips are stiff.  During the asana there is a focus on the breath and the stilling of the mind. It is learning to handle the body in different situations.  There is a balance of energy as you move into the pose and then hold the pose.  There are many different levels of asanas.

Pranayama is directing life energy through and by controlling the breath. The chakras are affected in this stage of yoga because the chakras are affected by life energy.  (We will discuss chakras in the next “What Is…” article.)  The breath or pranayama is closely linked with the physical practice of the asanas.

Pratyahara means retreat or withdrawing the senses.  In pratyahara there is no awareness of what is going on around you.  You are so deeply into your own self that you cease to notice even the most amazing of sights.  Pratyahara occurs frequently and most easily during meditation.  The reason this limb is so important to the individual is the effect it has on the emotional or subtle body state.  There is no longer a need or a desire for what we see, we are absorbed by where we are physically and etherically.  There are no other needs.

Dharana, the sixth limb is focused on focus.  It is being so concentrated on one thing or thought that all others fall away.  There are no other thoughts outside of the one.  The one thought is not the goal but the path.  The goal is total stillness of the mind, no wandering or daydreaming, no mind chatter, only stillness.

Dhyana is similar and different at the same time from dharana.  The seventh limb is associated with total concentration with the intention of knowing the truth about that which you are focused on. 

Samadhi is the most freeing experience of the yogic practice. It is the loss of the self to the universe.  It is being one with all that exists.  If one is in meditation, one becomes the meditation.  There is no distinction between the self and the object of contemplation.

As you can see, yoga is so much more than you might have thought before you read this article.  It is a life changing philosophy.  It is a way of life to some, a spiritual practice to others, the start to a journey, or simply a stretch class.  Whatever it is for you, enjoy the process.

Namaste.

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By Christina Leon, Staff Writer