Yoga Women practising Yoga Yoga originated in India in the pre-vedic period. It is mentioned in Rigveda the yoga was performed as an Ind...
Yoga
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| Women practising Yoga |
Yoga originated in India in the pre-vedic period. It is mentioned in Rigveda the yoga was performed as an Indian tradition. The practice of yoga in India is also mentioned in the Upanishads. The first systematic presentation of yoga—Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, was written in the second century. A few centuries later, Kabirdas, Tulsidas and Surdas included yoga in their teachings. Yoga Gurus from India have been instrumental in spreading yoga in the western countries. In the 19th century, Swami Vivekananda spread yoga through his teachings and works. Yoga guru, Baba Ramdev is also credited for making yoga a popular physical exercise all over the world.
MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF YOGA
Meaning of Yoga
The word ‘yoga’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, which means to unite, add or bind. Yoga has been referred to in our Vedas, Puranas, Upantshads and the Gita. In ancient times, this word was associated with sadhana or efforts to control the body, mind and emotions for attaining unity with God of Paramatma. The Bhagwad Gita refers to various forms of yoga such as Saankhya yog, Karm Yog, Dhyan Yog, Gyan Yog and Bhakti Yog. On the basis of our ancient texts, the main paths of yoga are:
1. Karm Yog
4. Bhakti Yog
2. Gyan Yog
5. Hath Yog (Physical discipline)
3. Dhyan Yog
6. Raaj Yog (Mastery of the self)
All these forms of yoga emphasise on the development of mental, moral, spiritual and physical well-being of man. Sage Patanjali wrote a treatise on yoga called Yog Shastra in 2nd century BC in which he emphasised on the need of different yogic practices to control the mind and keep the body healthy. He had referred to eight stages of yoga that could help in achieving the goals. The eight stages or limbs of yoga are as follows:
1. Yam
2. Niyam
3. Aasan
4 Pranayama
5. Pratyahaar
6. Dhaarana
7. Dihyan
8. Samadhi
Very often, yoga is misunderstood by students and laymen as yogasana or yogmudra and pranayama. Actually, these are just two parts of proper yoga and do not represent the whole. Yoga as a whole is a way of life or sadhana that helps an individual to control the mind, intellect and keep the body healthy. Thus, a person feels eternal joy. In this way, yoga is said to destroy all pain and Sorrows.
Yoga has been defined in different ways. Some definitions of yoga are given below:
Definitions of Yoga
“Yoga is a deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow’ —Bhagwad Gita
"Yoga is the control of mental modifications or fluctuations.” —Patanjali
“The steady control of the senses and mind is called yoga” —Kathopanishad
“Oneness of man with God is yoga.’ —Shri Bharti Krishan Tirth
“The knowledge about Shiva and Shakti is yoga” —Agam
We can define yoga as an effort to obtain inner peace and happiness. It can also be defined as the method by which we can calm the restlessness of the mind and direct the energies into constructive channels. In fact, all the practices and methods in the field of spiritual sadhana are called yoga.
Importance of Yoga
Yoga, consisting of its eight branches or stages such as asanas and pranayam has been practised in India since ages Asanas and pranayama were practised h, yogis to be healthy to enable them to concentrate and attempt to attain samadhi. This practice of the past is still relevant in the present day world and perhaps, is now more important than it was in the past We are living in a rapidly chang Np world with all its tensions, miseries and threats to health It is believed that practice of yoga can solve many problems of the modern world. For this reason, it is gaining popularity in the western countries as well Its branches like asanas, Pranayama, dhyan etc. are being applied in the medical world to improve heal, Cure maladies, correct certain postural defects and remove tension.
In the modem times, yoga and its various forms have gained much important because of the following reasons:
1. Improves health: Yogic asanas help maintain and improve health by making our muscles strong, joints flexible and regulating other system of the body such as respiration, circulation, excretion, nervous and the glandular system. Thus, an all-round development of an individual take, place through asanas that help him lead a carefree and contented life Care for health is an important requirement nowadays. Health is being seriously impaired in the world today and the practice of yogasanas ix making a very valuable contribution to solve health problems.
2. Cures diseases and deformities: Many diseases and deformities can be cured by practising yogasanas and pranayama. The diseases that are claimed to be cured by yogasanas and pranayama include bronchitis, asthma, gout, high and low blood pressure, cough, cold, indigestion, constipation, diabetes, piles, backache, deformities in legs, etc. The curative values of yoga have made its practice very popular in the world.
3. Develops mental faculties: Yoga not only develops physique, but also helps develop mental faculties and control over the mind. It is an accepted fact that body and mind are interrelated and interdependent and the body is an extension of the mind. Therefore, the practice of asanas helps in the development of muscles, body parts and nerves which are vital links between the body and the mind. Yoga is beneficial in treatment of mental health issues like stress, anxiety depression and is also used as a tool in psychotherapy.
4. Emotional development: An important contribution of yoga is the development of powers of concentration, control over one’s feelings and desires and detachment. In the modern world, lack of self-control to the cause of fear, anger, jealousy, sorrow, etc Therefore, the practice of yous can help an individual free themself from such emotional states and lead a happy and stress-free life.
5. Moral development: Moral degradation is the scourge of the modem world. Yama is a branch of yoga that teaches moral discipline by practising truth, non-violence, non-stealing, brahmacharya, etc Such qualities developed through yoga can help an individual raise his moral conduct, lead a contented life and contribute towards the upliftment of the society.
6. Social development: In this tension ridden world, one can contribute to lessen the stresses and tensions through the practice of niyama in yoga This can be done by developing cleanliness, i.e. purity of body and mind, contentment, austerity and surrender to God. Social relations in the modem world are strained and unhealthy. Development of social qualities through niyama can help in developing healthy relations in society.
9. Spiritual Development: In today’s world, there is a lack of spiritual qualities that help in improving social order and enriching life. There is a great need for developing spiritual qualities. Greed, jealousy, hatred, deception and lust are increasing in society. The practice of yoga shows us the ways of right thinking, right conduct, physical well-being, detachment and other moral virtues which can help in removing many ills of modern society. Therefore, it is more desirable to lead a yogic lifestyle today, than in the past.
ELEMENTS OF YOGA
According to the Yog Shastra of Patanjali, the path of yoga includes eight elements Pratyahara parts.
YAMA : The first element of yoga is called yama. Yama means social behaviour. This is about how we treat others. This element lays down the rules of morality for the individual and the society as a whole. These rules include:
(i) Satya or truth: Satya means truthfulness in thoughts, words and deeds. We must speak the truth and keep away from falsehood and lies.
(ii) Ahimsa or non-violence: Ahimsa means to be kind, friendly, loving and affectionate etc. Nan-violence means we should never be violent or to other beings.
(iii) Asteya or non-stealing: Asteya means not stealing other's money items and using them for own benefits. We should be happy and satisfied with whatever we have.
(iv) Brahmacharya: We must follow the path of Brahmacharya by controlling our sexual desires. It means celibacy before marriage and fidelity after marriage.
(v) Aperigraha: Apernyraha means non-possessiveness or not hoarding of collecting things. It means not holding on to what is no longer needed.
2. NIYAMA: Niyama refers to the rules of conduct for individuals. These rules are meant for self purification. They include:
(i) Shaucha: Shaucha means cleanliness or purity. It includes external as well as internal cleaning. There are suddhi kriyas in yoga that help clean intenal organs.
(ii) Santosh: Santosh means contentment or to appreciate what you have. We should be happy for whatever we have and live a happy life. We must be satisfied and content.
(iii) Tapa: Tapa means culture of facing difficulties and obstacles in life. We must endure difficulties in life and concentrate on advancement. We should accept the challenges in life.
(iv) Swadhyay: Swadhyaya means study of sacred scriptures: Geeta, Vedas, Guru Granth Sahib, Upanishad and Yogdarshan. Swadhyay also means introspection.
(v) Iskwar Pranidhana: Ishwara parinidhana means to dedicate all the happenings to God. We must eradicate ego, pride and other impurities from our mind and surrender to almighty God.
3. ASANAS : Asanas means postures which discipline our body in order to develop the ability to concentrate for meditation. Asanas are practised to acquire health and internal physiological balance.
4. PRANAYAMA: Pranayama means the science of breath control. It includes the Process of:
(i) Inhalation (puraka),
(ii) Retention or holding the breath (kumbhaka) and
(iii) Exhalation (rechaka).
Pranayama helps in strengthening the respiratory system, purifying the blood and soothing the mind.
5. PRATYAHARA: In this fifth element or part of yoga, a yogi tries to bring the senses under his control. By doing so, he can be successful in destroying the destructive qualities and acquiring good or divine qualities
6. DHARNA: Dharna is an attempt to concentrate on a single point or object it is a state of complete absorption or ‘ekagrata’ It takes years to attain this quality because it is very difficult to control the mind.
7. DHYAN : Dhyan is also called meditation and refers to the concentration on all-pervading divinity in order to be transformed into the likeness of that divinity. It is a state when mind is quiet.
8. SAMADHI : This is the last stage of yoga where a yoga tries to merge his self with the divine spirit. It is said to be the state of going beyond consciousness put still remaining fully conscious and alert.
Among the elements of yoga, asanas and pranayama occupy an important place because they keep the body healthy and free the mind to concentrate on other stages of yoga. Since an unhealthy body cannot concentrate, meditate and attain samadhi, therefore, asanas and pranayama are considered to be very important stages of yoga.
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