Yoga

Yoga is an ancient form of spiritual and physical exercises that encourage health and well-being. Originated in India, yoga is useful for conditions such as anxiety, arthritis, headache, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. Generally speaking, yoga comprises simple exercises and everyone can perform them without much effort. To practice yoga, one does not require any paraphernalia or particular clothes. All that is required to practice this form of exercise is some space and an intense longing for wellness. At the same time, there must be a desire for a healthy and satisfied living.

Yoga postures, better known as ‘asanas’, are beneficial for the work out of all parts of the body. While practicing, yoga helps to straighten and tenor the body muscles and joints, including the spinal cord and the skeletal system, it also influences the internal organs, glands as well as the nervous system. This ancient form of exercise also helps to liberate mental as well as physical anxiety and thereby release enormous reserve of energy to keep the systems alert and healthy. Yoga also includes breathing exercises, identified as ‘pranayama’, invigorates the body and enables a person to be in command of his awareness and thoughts. This process helps not only to refresh the body and the mind, but also brings in a soothing experience. At the same time, practicing ‘pranayama’ sets an optimistic thinking and meditation that eventually results in intelligibility of thoughts, intellectual power and attentiveness.

Looking back at the genesis of yoga, it originated in India thousands of years ago during the Vedic period and is a complete science. Yoga is considered to be the oldest form of exercise that covers all aspects of the human being - the body, mind and even the spirit. Although it may seem to be incredible, the primeval yogis (a practitioner of yoga) were copiously aware of man’s basic temperament, personal needs as well as the prerequisites for living in synchronization with himself and the world around him. These yogis recognized the physical body as an automobile, the mind as its driver and the spirit or soul as his exact essence. They identified deed, sentiment and acumen as the three different energies that helped to set the body or ‘vehicle’ in motion. Hence, the yogis felt that in order to run the ‘vehicle’ or body effectively and efficiently it was essential that all the three forces were in equilibrium. Keeping all these as well as the co-relation between the body, mind and the soul, the yogis developed an inimitable mechanism that struck a balance among the three different powers. They consequently invented yoga, which merged various aspects of life and ensured that the body gained all the movements that are necessary for physical wellness as well as sound mental and spiritual conditions. Hence, the ‘pranayama’ as well as meditation were incorporated in yoga.

Yoga in your life

There are many reasons for taking up yoga and each one has his own motivation. Generally, people are attracted to yoga and take up the exercises with a view to keep themselves healthy and agile. There are some others who take up yoga with the aim of toning their body so that they appear handsome and attractive. However, there are many who go to the trainers to practice yoga with a view to get relief from different ailments or complaints like anxieties and backaches. Again, there are people who believe that they are not getting enough from life and wish to make it more fruitful and pleasurable by practicing yoga. No matter, what is your reason or goal, yoga can definitely be an efficient means or mechanism for a person offering him what he expected from the exercises and much more.

However, it is not feasible for anyone to learn all about yoga without practicing it himself. Hence, if one wishes to understand what yoga is and the benefits it offers, he should contact a trainer and take up the exercises. On the outset, yoga appears to be merely a chain of physical exercises or postures (asanas) that helps one to keep his body slim, fit and agile. But as one delves into the intricacies of yoga and continues practicing the asanas, he is able to realize the delicate changes it brings to his body and attitude towards life. Apart from toning and healing the body, yoga also brings about serenity in the mind which eventually leads to inner peace and tranquility revealing one exact personality. Honestly speaking, the self-realization experienced through yoga is its real spirit, as each one of us has been earnestly seeking self realization whether knowingly or involuntarily. And the evolution brought about through the practice of yoga helps one to lead a peaceful and fulfilled life.

It is an accepted fact that if one is able to be in charge of his mind and thoughts, he is able to do wonderful things. Actually, then there is no limit to what you are able to achieve. If you look back, you will realize that it is only your delusions and misapprehensions that often prevent us from doing things that we should be doing. And as a result of these we are unable to achieve much, including a fulfilling life. However, when we reigned in through the practice of yoga asanas, we feel liberated physically as well as mentally and can achieve wonders.

Yoga's physiology

As people age, their body begins to function lethargically. As years pass, many of the body organs become weak and inept. They even become less receptive to external stimuli. But then how many of us have really stopped to think why these changes happen or why our bodies fail to work as efficiently as when we are younger, or why the animals are able to function in a uniform manner throughout their lives. All these notwithstanding, one would be surprised to learn that ageing is basically a contrived condition that is brought about through self-intoxication or self-poisoning. However, one must not loose heart over this as if we want and make sincere efforts to keep our organs hygienic and well oiled, we can successfully slow down the catabolic wear and tear process of the cells.

Although yoga continued to be considered as an ancient Indian form of exercise, in recent times modern medical science has turned its focus towards the consequences or rather benefits of yoga. A number of researches have been undertaken in this regard and their findings have been encouraging. For example, one studies have show that the ‘corpse pose’ or the ‘shav asana’ effectually alleviates high blood pressure and people who regularly practice the yogic asanas and pranayama can get relief from numerous aliments, including arthritis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins, arteriosclerosis and even poor heart conditions. What is significant is the fact that laboratory examinations have established that owing to regular practice of asanas and pranayama for long periods, the yogis can effectively be in charge of the automatic or involuntary body functions like heart beat, temperature and blood pressure.

A study conducted for over six months on the consequences of ‘hatha yoga’ has confirmed that practicing this asana regularly helps to enhance lung capacity and improve breathing, as well as lessen body weight and obesity. In addition, this particular asana is also helpful in equipping the body with the aptitude to withstand stress and lower the cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the system. All these functions in turn help to stabilize as well as restore the body’s natural systems retarding the ageing process. Several studies undertaken by the scientists to gauge the consequences of yoga have proved beyond doubt that this ancient form of Indian exercise comprising asanas and pranayama is not only effective in protecting us from numerous disorders, but also helps to cure an assortment of ailments. It is effectual both as a preventive as well as a curative remedy.

The history of yoga

Yoga, aptly described as the ‘divine science of life’, and is known to have enlightened the learned sages over the ages through meditation. Since it is an ancient science, the origin of this form of medication and health care or wellness is basically covered in ambiguity. Barring the fact that yoga originated in ancient India, actually, very little is known about the beginning of this form of mental and physical medication. Archeological excavations have brought to the fore some evidence regarding the practice of yoga in the ancient Indian civilization. Stone seals found in a number of archaeological sites depict yogic asanas on them. These seals have been particularly found in the areas where the Indus Valley Civilization flourished and dates back to around 3000 BC. Incidentally, the ancient collection of Holy Scriptures composed during the Aryan age of the Indus Valley Civilization known as the Vedas first mention of yoga. While the Vedas date back to 2500 BC, it is basically the Upanishads, which comprise the later part of the Vedas that actually provide us with the details regarding yoga – including the manner of teaching this ancient form of spiritual and physical exercises as well as the philosophy or way of life known as the Vedanta. Going deep into the philosophy of Vedanta, it talks about a complete realism or realization or consciousness that is known as the Brahman in the Hindu community. The Vedanta says that the Brahman underlies the complete universe. However, while yoga still reigns supreme, this belief of Vedanta is now being debated among the community itself.

The mythological angle of yoga is more prominent in the two Hindu epics - Ramayana composed by Rishi Valmiki and Mahabharata by Vyasa around the sixth century BC. Along with Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita was composed that is probably the most popular and best known of all written materials from that ancient era. The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Mahabharata where Lord Krishna, who is depicted as God or Brahman, teaches as well as instructs Pandav hero and warrior Arjuna how to fulfill one’s duties in life by practicing yoga. In this Holy Scripture, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that this is also a way to obtain emancipation or ‘moksha’. Again Yoga Sutras composed by Patanjali in the third century BC furnishes details about Raja Yoga. Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a traditional manuscript on Hatha Yoga explains the numerous asanas and breathing exercises that form the base of the modern day yogic practice.

The meaning of yoga

Although there are various aspects of yoga practice, the principal function is one - to bring back together the individual ‘Self’ (also known as ‘Jiva’) with the ‘Absolute’ or wholesome realization known as the ‘Brahman’. In fact, literally translated to Sanskrit, yoga means joining or unification. Hence, the unification of the spirit with this static realism unshackles it from every meaning of severance. This also liberates the spirit from the delusion of time, space as well as reasoning. According to the Holy Scriptures, yoga helps in liberating the spirit as it is only an individual’s lack of knowledge and helplessness to distinguish between the authentic and the illusory that stops him from becoming conscious about his genuine personality.

Despite the unawareness, an individual’s spirit is able to often recognize that there is something absent in the person’s life. This wanting is something particular which cannot be satisfied either by accomplishing an ambition or gratifying a wish. It is a fact that in every individual’s existence the restive exploration for love and affection, for achievement, for contentment are all onlookers to this fundamental consciousness of a realism that everyone can discern, but cannot attain.

According to the preaching or teachings of yoga, the fundamental thesis is that realism is static and never changes. Yoga principles emphasize that contrary to this, the world that we perceive is in a continuous condition of vacillation and hence, it is a delusion or ‘Maya’. This concept is best manifest in the description of Nataraja or Lord Shiva, the Lord of Dance. In Hindu mythology, Nataraja is illustrated in a dancing pose with his one foot raised. According to mythology, if Lord Shiva puts both his feet down, the universe that we perceive will come to an end. Although it may appear to be a trifle perplexing, yoga texts say that the universe we recognize is an illusion that is a superimposition on the real. It says that the manifest universe is a projection on the screen of realism, much like a movie is projected on the screen of the cinema. Citing examples and drawing parallels, the yogic teachings say that just like while walking in the darkness a person may blunder a rope to be a snake, in the absence of lighting a person may slip-up the illusory for the genuine universe.

The fact that the teachings of yoga still hold true even to this day, it is a manifest in the exploration of modern-day science for the eventual and inseparable particle of matter. This once again proves that the illusive temperament of worldly reality preached by yoga holds strong ground. This fundamental yogic principle has eventually led to the comprehension that substance and energy can be changed from one form to another. It has also led to the belief that the hardness that we recognize in matter is fashioned by movement or pulsation - much similar to considering a running fan as a complete encircle. Yoga says that almost all of what we identify as unyielding is basically vacant space. For instance, if we were to remove all space from the atoms in our bodies keeping hold of just the ‘non-space’, it would be really impossible to see the remaining space or matter.

The creation of Maya

Initially, the yogic way of life just included self-unifying energy, static, inestimable and the amorphous. However, the method of segregation that has given rise to the apparent universe or the physical world that we are aware of has been explained in many dissimilar ways. According to the yogic philosophy, initially there was only the Spirit or ‘Purusha’ and this was followed by a immense reverberation (which is also known as the ‘Big Bang’ theory in the West) that led to the evolution of the material universe known as ‘Prakriti’. Prakriti is the obvious world we recognize today. After ‘Prakriti’ departed, the three qualities known as the ‘Gunas’ were categorized, while in ‘Purusha’ they remained in balance or symmetry. Incidentally, the similar method is often explained as the segregation of the ‘I’ and ‘this’ of the subject and object. Explaining this in terms of mythology, this signifies ‘Shakti’ leaving ‘Shiva’ during the raising of Kundalini. Hence, in Kundalini - when the situation of tremendous realization is attained by the yogi, the two principles are once again united and there is no delusion left whatsoever. In brief, this is also known as the ‘Maya’.

Karma and reincarnation

According to active yoga practitioners or yogis, the body and mind are nothing, but a part of the deceptive material world which has a restricted life period. On the other hand, the yogi considers the spirit to be perpetual as it is believed to move on from one body to another when the former perishes. The Bhagavad Gita draws similes between the body and the clothes a person wears. It says, “Just like a man throws away his torn clothes and puts on new ones, the spirit embodied in a person too leaves the body when it perishes and takes refuge in a new one. The Holy Scriptures emphasize that it is through the sequence of reincarnation or re-birth the shroud of unawareness becomes slighter and we move closer to be one with our inner self. Here it is important to know that the law of Karma - or the rules of cause and effect and action and reaction - forms the basis of the yogic philosophy. According to the laws of Karma, every action initiated by us bears fruits either in the present life or in the lives thereafter. The ancient adage ‘we reap what we sow’ is never more true than in the laws of Karma, which states that a person molds his future by what he does or thinks in the present.

The paths of yoga

Although yoga is an ancient form of spiritual and physical exercise that originated in India, there are different forms of this training as there are different ways of yoga. Primarily, there are four paths of yoga - Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. Importantly, each of these forms is suited to different individuals or goes with their outlook or approach towards life. However, importantly, all these four different paths eventually lead to the same goal - unifying the individual ‘Self’ with God or the ‘Brahman’. Moreover, lessons of each of these paths need to be incorporated by an individual if he or she desires to accomplish the true wisdom.

Basically, people with a sociable personality opt for Karma Yoga, which is the yoga of action. This form of yoga sanitizes the heart by training one to act unselfishly without the thought of any gain or profit. By following this path of yoga, an individual realize sublimate the self-image by learning to disengage oneself from the fruits of his actions and presenting them to God. In order to attain this power it is essential to keep the mind concentrated on continuously reciting a mantra or holy rhyme while occupied in any doings.

On the other hand, Bhakti Yoga is the means and way to devotion and is generally followed by individuals who are of poignant personality. Normally, a person who practices Bhakti Yoga, or a Bhakti yogi, is aggravated by the potency of love and perceives God as the personification of love. A Bhakti yogi resigns himself to God through prayer, reverence and sacrament. He directs and transmutes his sensations into unrestricted love or dedication to the Almighty. Incidentally, a considerable part of Bhakti Yoga comprises reciting or singing the glorification of God.

Jnana Yoga is basically known as the yogic practice of awareness or astuteness and is considered to be the most complex among the four paths of yoga. Practicing Jnana Yoga requires great power of resolve as well as mental power. Going by the definitions, accepting the philosophy of Vedanta, the Jnana yogi utilizes its intelligence to question into its own temperament. For instance, an individual recognizes the interim inside and outside a glass as unlike, similarly he perceives himself as detached from God. Thus, Jnana Yoga leads the yogi to unite with his God by breaking the glass and dispersing his ignorance about reality. It may be mentioned here that before taking up the practice of Jnana Yoga, it is essential for an individual to take up the incorporated instructions of the other three paths of yoga because without unselfishness, love of God, power of body and mind and the search for self-realization, this path of yoga may just prove to be an redundant conjecture.

Though mentioned in the end, Raja Yoga is equally important as the other three paths and may be termed as the science of corporeal and cerebral control. The path of Raja Yoga is also often known as the ‘royal road’. This form of yoga proffers an all-inclusive technique for organizing the impressions of thinking by transforming one’s mental and physical vigor into spiritual energy.

The eight limbs of raja yoga

There is little or no information regarding the exact period and place where yoga originated. While the earliest reference of yoga can be found in ancient Indian manuscripts that date back to 3000-1200 BC, later, archeologists have discovered seals belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization (2700 BC) which depict pictures of humans seated in yoga postures. In fact, to this day, the Bhagavad Gita (Song of God), a part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, and Yoga Sutras composed by Patanjali are considered to be the best ancient texts on yoga. Although the two manuscripts are different and they talk about yoga in different ways, both the manuscripts offer excellent synthesis of accessible knowledge and practice of yoga.

Incidentally, although Bhagavad Gita is a part of the epic Mahabharata, it was composed around sixth century BC during the time of Lord Buddha. The Bhagavad Gita is considered to be a hypothetical verse, which is rich in descriptions and representation. In its entirety, this Hindu manuscript brings forth different meanings of the term yoga to the reader. Yoga is explained here as preserving a balance both in accomplishment as well as in disappointment, talent in deed, the ultimate secret of life, the producer of the utmost felicity, tranquility, detachment from the manifest universe and demolisher of pain.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, one does not require to renounce the material world or his individual responsibilities to seek and obtain serenity and enlightenment. Contrary to many other preaching, the Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that one may simultaneously continue with his responsibilities in life as well as cultivate the spiritual practice. Such valuable advises have made people in India accept and value the Gita as their daily guide. Significantly, even Mahatma Gandhi has claimed to have obtained both comfort and resource from this ancient scripture. Notwithstanding the contents and value of the Bhagavad Gita, the first methodical imagery of the philosophy and practice of yoga was found in Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutras’ (also known as the threads of yoga) that was written some time between the second century BC and fourth century AD. The methods and path described by Patanjali in ‘Yoga Sutras’ is also often known as the Raja Yoga literally meaning the royal pathway.

The four books on yoga include concise adages, distillations of the quintessence of yoga teaching as it had been passed on orally from one generation to another since the ancient times. The definition of yoga, according to Patanjali, is ‘calming the restiveness in an individual’s mind’. He emphasizes that the quieting of the intellect is not only the objective of yoga, but also its technique. Yoga preached by Patanjali in ‘Yoga Sutras’ is founded on eight fundamental principles also known as the eight-fold path or ‘astanga yoga’. The ‘astangas’ or ‘eight limbs’ of yoga includes yamas, niyamas, pranayama, asana, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.

It is important to note that according to the moral rules of Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutras’, the rudiments of yoga exercises or practice are the ‘yamas’ (restraints) and the ‘niyamas’ (disciplines). These moral laws, particularly non-violence and non-greed, constitute the nucleus of the practice of the yoga postures or asanas. This approach in Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutras’ is contradictory to the present-day sports philosophy that says ‘no pain, no gain’. Incidentally, unlike the values and principles of yoga, success, manifestation and consequences have come to gain more prominence in the sports philosophy today and this is in fact inflicting damage both to the sportspersons as well as sports.

Yamas

In yoga, yamas, denoting fetters, are the common ethical values that preside over our responsibilities in the society and they also govern our associations with others. In all there are five yamas - truth, chastity, non-violence, non-stealing and non-greed.
In his ‘Yoga Sutras’, Patanjali says that the practice of yoga asanas and breathing exercises begin with non-violence in though as well as action. When we consider the violence and aggression spread across the world today, Patanjali’s preaching becomes all the more important and relevant. His advice to practice non-violence becomes more imperative today than ever before. Coming back to yoga, injury caused during the practice of yoga is not only an outcome of violence and aggression in the mind and action, but also of great concern. Again, even if there is no injury during practice, one must always look out for any mark of force or might. By being alert during our yoga practice, we are able to identify if we are violent or wounding in our personal lives. This approach provides us with a prospect to change hostility or violence in our lives through yoga practice.
The ethics of non-stealing and non-greed are intimately associated with one another and also to non-violence. While non-greed denotes just having as much that one requires, non-stealing pertains to theft as well as having a yearning for others’ property. While talking of practicing yoga asanas, these characteristics are seen as aggressiveness and belligerence in the asanas - it may mean that we are forcing to perform an asana that we may not yet be ready to do or an act of challenging either others or ourselves. At some time or other, we all are annoyed with us. Hence, it is important that we are reminiscent of the fact that the practice is an ongoing procedure of progress and that getting into the posture is not our ultimate aim. We must also remind ourselves that accomplish a position at the cost of harming our bodies is worthless. It is also true that there is no gain in competing against oneself, others or even images of postures in a book. We must always remember that it is always not an unproblematic lesson to be able to take care of ourselves and value our bodies.
Patanjali teaches virtuousness or chastity through its text ‘Yoga Sutra’. Although a very small number of students in the West pay much importance to chastity, Patanjali’s teachings make us reminiscent of saving up our vitality and to take note of our association with others - especially the manner in which we handle others and how we are touched by them.
It must be mentioned here that yoga requires us to be honest to ourselves. It also teaches us to be true in all our words and actions. At the same time, it is important to realize everything about us - who we are and where we are. It must always be remembered that the body never tells untruths and the postures we perform depicts our assets and flaws. The body also tells us about our talents and drawbacks. Our bodies also mirror our perfect mental condition and tell us when we are looking inwards and when we are detached or unsound. It would be interesting to note that practice of yoga postures brings to the fore our best and worst sides, which we may have otherwise been over-looking, ignoring or denying. At the same time, yoga enables us to recognize as well as admit our thorny feelings such as rage, desolation, apprehension and sorrowfulness and help us to find ways and means to work with and in the course of them. In fact, the spirit of yoga lies in the fact that it helps us to tolerate our entire self - both good and bad. Always remember that practice of yoga requires us to face ourselves truthfully as well as with compassion.
It is pertinent to always keep in mind that being honest to oneself means being the true self. At the same time, liberation is the sovereignty of not being traditional or conventional. Let your real self emerge from captivity and flourish after the outer stratum has been unpeeled. The real you may be amusing, gloomy, stupid, offensive, fuming, calm or whatever, but you are definitely liberated through the practice of yoga.

Niyamas

Niyamas, denoting disciplines, have to do with the inner self of an individual and are associated unswervingly with the dedicated yoga practitioner. In yoga, there are various aspects of niyamas and they include clarity, happiness, soberness, study and dedication to the Lord.
Incidentally, these days many students coalesces yoga with the anxiety over their food intake and pattern of eating. As a part of their yoga practice, many of them also undergo fasting and cleansing of the body. However, it is imperative that a qualified teacher or yoga practitioner oversees all such activities. During earlier times, conventionally yoga was basically a technique to preserve as well as enhance the physical and mental health, but today yoga is being utilized as a therapy to heal different disorders. People who are endeavoring to prevail over addictions, eating maladies and substance abuse may benefit profusely by practicing yoga postures and the breathing exercises. Students of yoga have asserted that as their yoga practice intensified they have been able to end or decrease maladies like smoking, drinking and over-eating. Hence, it may be assumed that wholesomeness or purity is an outcome of practicing yoga postures.
In yoga, contentment or satisfaction in a dynamic practice that encompasses much more than non-greed. This requires one to develop a mind-set of appreciation, profusion, delight and tranquility in an atmosphere and way of life that is always persisting on the necessity to possess more, purchase more and be more. In this method, an individual cultivates the idea of accepting his body and himself. Acknowledging our drawbacks and being prepared to work with them regularly generates a liberation that enables one to move forward. By practicing these, only one will be able to progress towards health, equilibrium and constancy.
Niyamas in yoga also comprise asceticism or tapas, which literally means heat. According to yogic scriptures, tapas is considered to be a counter-balance to gratification and entails spiritual or psychic heat such as fury and belligerence. Tapas also signifies a burning passion or fervor in an individual.
Each posture in yoga offers an individual the opportunity to balance his practice. For instance, if one practices the asanas less, he is not at his utmost, and if he does more of it, he his coercing himself. To locate and settle on the rim is the halfway path that helps us to strike a sense of balance as well as continue with satisfaction and contest, self-recognition and development. Yoga scriptures say that every one requires locating his equilibrium of inert submission and vigorous practice to facilitate the amalgamation of these two extremes to emerge tough without endeavor and energetic without force.
Yoga says that learning the sacred scriptures not only helps in attaining intellectual knowledge, but is also a source or way for personal contemplation as well as spiritual development. It further states that any kind of motivating reading is able to take care of one’s spirit and act against all the imagery and communication of aggression that environs him.
On the other hand, devotion to the Lord is conventionally practiced by praying and reciting mantras or sacred hymns. It is significant to note that even without having any recognized devotional practice, one is able to take out some time of his daily schedule to express his gratitude to the Lord for all the gifts He has bestowed on his life.

Asana

In simple terms, asanas means or refers to the different kinds of yoga positions. Going by Yoga Sutras, asanas also means the place where the yogi or the yoga practitioner sits as well as the style he sits there. It is important to mention here that all the postures in yoga need an obvious, cognizant alertness of contact with our body and the ground or the Mother Earth. The meaning of the term asana also includes such contact between the body and the ground.
Going by the definitions of Patanjali in Yoga Sutras, the asanas or yoga postures may be both - rigid or firm and relaxed or comfortable. Whatever be the condition of the asanas, it is obtainable through lessening of endeavor or through the mental status of balance. However, many believe the fact that the firmness and steadiness of the yoga posture or asanas may be obtained through relaxation of endeavor. Hence, it is essential that we be trained how to distinguish potency and constancy without effort and anxiety.
Incidentally, meditation on Ananta also enables one to accomplish controls over the yoga postures. The Hindu mythology says that Ananta is the Chief of Serpents that supports the globe of the Mother Earth and helps it to remain in an orbit around the sun. Incidentally, Ananta is a figurative depiction of the gravitational force. In the process of enduring to concentrate on this gravitational force, we eventually bring ourselves in a configuration or alignment with it. Significantly, a blend of association with as well as giving up to the gravitational force provides us the constancy and effortlessness that is mentioned in the Yoga Sutras.

Pranayama

As mentioned earlier, ‘pranayama’ or the exercise of breathing helps us to control and complement the inhalation as well as its cadence. In fact, prana or energy or life is controlled and stabilized through the breathing practices known as pranayama in yoga. In his classic text titled ‘Light on Yoga’, we can find that, “Prana is the breath of life of all beings in the universe. They are born through and live by it, and when they die their individual breath dissolves into the cosmic breath." Incidentally, asanas and pranayama are closely related and whenever we practice yoga, we integrate the alertness of the inhaling into our practice of yoga postures.

Meditation

The final stages of yogic practice comprise ‘pratyahara’ or the removal of the mind from the external world, ‘dharana’ or attention, ‘dhyana’ or reflection that may also be described as assimilation or contemplation and ‘samadhi’, also known as blissful unification and collectively all these processes are known as meditation. Like the term yoga, the word meditation is related to the objective of blissful unification of the spirit and the universe. It may be noted here that there is not one, but various ways or practices through which one may achieve this aspiration. Generally speaking, one may term meditation as concentrating one’s attention.
Concentration as well as controlling breathing are the most important aspects of most yogic meditation practices and this is the reason why pranayama is crucial form of meditation. Procedures or systems of meditations differ as far as the purpose or the focus is concerned. Incidentally, while the Indian yogic beliefs and practices traveled East via Tibet, China, Southeast Asia and Japan the yogic teachings and practice methods underwent transformation as they came in contact with different cultures of the region. The Vipasana or ‘Insight Meditation’ in yoga, where one monitors the content of the mind, is an example of this transformation. Like Vipasana, the Zen practice also comprises attention on crucial questions or ‘koans’. Questions include like the prominent “What is the sound of clapping with one hand?” Similarly, Mantra meditation exercises sound or recitation of sacred phrases as concentration or focus. While the best known form of Mantra meditation is transcendental meditation, there are many other types of meditations that utilize mental picture of divine beings, i.e. mandalas or yantras, usually made of geometric forms. Even the Chi Kung as well as the Tibetan meditation practices also envisages movement of energy through the body.
Although yoga originated in ancient India and traveled to the East where it underwent transformations as it encountered the local cultures, presently these forms of meditation and practices are in the procedure of further alteration and assimilation into our culture. Hence, unlike in the past, today there are several kinds of meditation practices to choose from. Although they may be in different forms, all these meditation exercises are systems that are aimed at calming down the mind and enhancing concentration or focusing awareness. The diversity or assortment of meditation practices, methods and groups enables one to select the one that he feels is best suited for him. Hence, before choosing any of the meditation forms or techniques one must be sure that both the method as well as the teacher is right for him.

Yoga in the modern world

During the last few decades popularity of yoga has spread rapidly as more and more people are taking up this form of ancient oriental exercise every day. And with the popularity of yoga, the number of instructors too has been growing. Although there are numerous yoga asanas and pranayama, the basic rules are the same everywhere. The training process, however, differs with each instructor who teaches in his or her individual style depending on their personal experiences. The most frequent forms of yoga currently practiced by people in the West are ‘Hatha’ yoga that includes various postures or asanas, pranayama or breathing methods and meditation or rumination.

Apart from ‘Hatha’ yoga, ‘Karma’ yoga, ‘Mantra’ or repetitive chanting of holy syllables or phrases, ‘Bhakti’ yoga or devotional practices, ‘Jnana’ yoga or the study or self and ‘Kriyas’ also known as purification practices are also popular among the health conscious people in the West. Significantly, each of these yogic forms again has different deviations and techniques which are practiced differently. In brief, the different characteristics of yoga may be compared to a hologram (a flat optical image which looks three-dimensional to the naked eye) that also has several sections and exposes as a complete entity. In fact, all these aspects of yoga are simple optional paths that lead one to the same cherished end.

In the modern day world, plenty of students are looking forward to material as well as mental healing and increasingly adopting yoga as the vehicle to achieve their objectives. However, the entire idea of giving up the will power often becomes difficult for people who are extremely blemished and wounded or those who have survived different abuses in life. It is truly regrettable that presently the yoga and meditation societies are bringing to light more and more incidents of different types and volumes of abusive relations prevailing in the modern-day society. Even as yoga is gaining popularity, there is a new breed of so-called spiritual leaders or gurus who are exploiting people and are alleged to be physically, emotionally, financially as well as sexually abusive towards their disciples. Some of these gurus or teachers are also known to be indulging in drug and alcohol abuse. This is ruining the benefits of yoga as well as wearing off some of its reputation.

Hence it is always advisable to remember that one need not take what ever the teacher says or does to be gospel truth. Never take it for granted that every move of the yoga teacher or guru is beyond question and hence never ever surrender or sacrifice yourself to all the doings of the yoga guru or any specific community or group. Even as we accept and acknowledge the benefits of yoga and all related regulations, it is pertinent that we are careful and cautious and distinguish as well as recurrently examine that the teachings and practices are beneficial for us in the present situations. Incidentally, this is not what we are advising, but has been included in the ancient yoga teachings that emphasize that one must not acknowledge anything that he or she does not believe it to be true from within. Unless our experience tells us that something is correct, we need to accept it.

The sacred practice of yoga enables us to unlock ourselves as well as become more responsive and regulated. However, at the same time, we need to be trained to protect ourselves from being susceptible to the various traps laid by a section of unscrupulous yoga gurus or trainers. It is pertinent that we organize ourselves to avoid the weaker sides of the openness brought about through yoga and as energy is released, we need keep ourselves more deeply involved in this ancient form of spiritual and physical form of exercises. Incidentally, there are a number of people who are talented with supernatural powers and obvious perception and these qualities may be further molded as well as enhanced through regular practice of yoga. Although many may be of the opinion that having such mystical powers makes a person ‘spiritual’, the Yoga Sutras describe them as mere commotion that may prove to be hurdle in the path to attaining enlightenment. One should never forget the basics that yoga is primarily all about completeness and amalgamation as well as inter-connectedness and tranquility. As our awareness increases through the practice of yoga, it is essential that it should progress in uniformity with wisdom and discretion so that we may be able to utilize these skills sensibly as well as carefully.

Before concluding, it is essential to remind that yoga and its holistic attitude in curing, provide us with several openings and opportunities for self-care and empowerment or make us physically, emotionally and spiritually stronger. And when this acknowledgement is carried to the farthest, we are told that we are completely responsible for the well-being of our mental and physical health. Eventually, it also results to our emotional and financial betterment.

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