What is Yoga?
Bhagwad Geeta, the highest song of Yoga, written about 5000 years B.C. says, “Yoga is Equilibrium. It is a path to a balanced life with complete knowledge of self, devoid of any dilemma or confusion”.
Yoga is encountering life, Yoga is Discipline, Yoga is a Lifestyle, and Yoga is a conceptualization of living a Disease-Free Life. It is a sovereign remedy for all illnesses. It is the most glorious spiritual wisdom leading to “Aatma Saksatkar” self-realization.
Yoga is considered the most predominant way of overall personality development. It purifies the whole body, mind, and senses, freeing them from ailments and toxins. It enables us to rise above body and mind to connect with our inner self/Soul.
Yoga is scientifically proven, evidence-based science that does magical healing on the mind, body, senses, and spirit. It teaches us to be our doctors providing tools to sustain optimum health. It gives clarity to the mind and thoughts and sharpens the memory.
Regular yoga asana and pranayama (along with the other six limbs) even eradicate the past life karmas and evokes the Kundalini Shakti (Spiritual Powers).
“The body is the Chariot; the Soul is the passenger, the five senses are the five horses, and the Mind is Sarathi (the driver). When mind, body, and senses are hundred percent, the Soul unites with the Supreme Soul. This Union is Yoga. – Bhagwad Geeta/Upanishads.
Patanjali Yoga Sutra begins with-
Atha Yoganushasanam. – Atha is now. Yoga is the Union of the Self with the Supreme Self. Anushasanam means Discipline.
Discipline is essential for the desired outcome of their practice.
Therefore, Yoga is practicing divine Union within, in this very moment. There is no past, no future either, only this moment. The Father of Yoga, Maharishi Patanjali, puts a great emphasis on diligently following the eightfold path (Ashtanga Yoga) of Yoga to attain this state of divine Union within, where there is “Shonya” (Zero/The state of nothingness).
This state of shoonya is “ParaAvastha,” Full Enlightenment. It is the state where the mind and body become fully conscious.
Determination, Dedication, and Discipline make it possible.
Other definitions of Yoga
• It is a self-commitment to be conscious each second for a higher purpose.
• It is about the stability of the mind achieved with awareness.
• It rises above heart, mind, and senses to meet one Self.
• It completely controls the conscious, unconscious, and super-conscious mind.
• It is about cherishing now with Discipline.
• It is practicing Yama, Niyama, Aasan, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyan to attain Samadhi.
• It is an art of living using scientific methods.
• It is accepting and acknowledging the Self without judgment or criticism.
• It accepts all as part of universal creation and maintains harmony with all.
Various Paths of Yoga
- Bhakti Yoga – Yoga of Devotion.
- Karma Yoga – Yoga of Perfection in Action.
- Hatha Yoga – Yoga of Balance of (Ha = Sun and Tha = Moon) Prana.
- Ashtanga Yoga – Yoga of Eightlimbs (Asht = Eight, Anga = Limbs).
- Dhyan Yoga- Yoga of Meditation.
- Laya Yoga – Yoga of complete absorption of the mind in Nada (internal sound).
- Jyana Yoga – Yoga of knowledge.
- Kundalini Yoga – Yoga of rising the serpent power, Kundalini.
- Kriya Yoga – Yoga of movement. (Kriya = activity or movement).
- Raja yoga – Yoga of Self-realisation.
- Tantra Yoga – Yoga of Tantra. (Tantra = A machine/technology/system ex. Digestive system) (Tantra is something that converts/transforms, a symmetrical drawing on a piece of wood or on a metal transforms the negative into a positive).
The rivers follow their own paths and finally meet the mighty Ocean. The same is true of Yoga; no matter your path, the destination is the same.
