A Brief Timeline of Yoga exercise

As we know, yoga exercise is enjoying an immense renaissance across the globe - we know about Bikram's Hot Yoga, Lotus Pose, general physical pretzelling and oh so much about where to purchase yoga clothes, yoga mats, even yoga gear for our pets! Nevertheless, the history of yoga is rich and long standing and deserves some mention. So without further ado, let us begin near the beginning.

Between 200BC and 300AD an Indian philosopher known as Patanjali gave the globe the Yoga Sutras - a series of aphorisms that set out the exercise of the eight limbs of classical yoga exercise. Though we know really little about the sage himself, Patanjali's excellent work is considered the cornerstone from the knowledge of yoga exercise exercise, from asana exercise towards the deeper internal journey of meditation and self- realization. The function is set out into four chapters known as The Samadhi Pada, the Sadhana Pada, the Vibhuti Pada and the Kaivayla Pada. Yoga exercise means union, sutra may be the Sanskrit word for thread, and pada may be the Sanksrit word for book. These 196 short phrases remain the foremost body of function on the philosophy of yoga. From the commentary and analysis of yogis, sages, translators and philosophers over waves upon waves of time we have accumulated the wisdom of yoga exercise as it's practiced today - a combination of asanas, meditation and body/spirit care that has proven to become of timeless benefit to all who engage in this exercise.

Hatha Yoga exercise

This may be the style most familiar to most of us. Hatha Yoga exercise is also called the forceful yoga exercise; the name Hatha comes from a mixture of two Sanskrit words Ha (sun) and Tha (moon). The western practice of Hatha Yoga focuses mostly on the asana exercise, which is designed to keep the body flexible and to cool the mind in preparation for meditation. This form of yoga also aids in creating a harmony in between our dual natures (masculine/feminine, hot/cold, will/surrender) and brings us closer to a deeper practice of yoga exercise.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti yoga may be the yoga exercise of devotion and chanting. Predating Hatha yoga, Bhakti yoga exercise is approx. 4000 many years old making it one from the oldest forms of yoga exercise in the globe! North Americans most frequently come to yoga like a form of exercise, whereas Indian culture approaches asana exercise like a way to calm the thoughts before meditation and worship. Kirtan is the practice of singing the name of God in all his/her divine aspects; translated from Sanskrit it indicates 'I surrender towards the Lord'. Traditionally, kirtan is performed in a call and response style. The kirtan leader sings a line or verse of a mantra or prayer, and the kirtan group responds as accurately as possible. Kirtan is a community, a dialogue between the call leader, the kirtan group and the energy of the Divine. Within the eight limb system of classical yoga, kirtan is regarded to become pratyahara (focusing the mind inward) and is really a bridge in between our inner and outer selves. Bhakti yoga exercise may be the divine melody and rhythm from the human spirit, expressed in chanting and song.

Karma Yoga exercise

Karma yoga exercise is selfless service to others. This yoga exercise asks that the yogi make his/her actions in this globe expressions of devotion and offerings to God, without considering personal gain. If you do community function, volunteer work, or just do something very nice for someone for no reason at all, you are performing acts of karma yoga exercise. Ghandi's many years of selfless service to South Africa and India are famous examples of the function of Karma yoga.

Dream Yoga

Dream yoga is about listening attentively to what your dreams are telling you. This knowledge is used to much better your waking life by helping you pay more attention to your daily realities, dreamed or shared.

Jnana Yoga exercise

Jnana yoga may be the study of the philosophy of yoga exercise; Jnana is the Sanskrit word for understanding .
The practice of this yoga involves deep meditation exercise, study from the self, the True Self and the Transcendental Self. The yogi is challenged to examine the real and the illusory. So that you can do so the yogi should use his/her mind to retrain the mind to separate the real from the unreal and thus discover and liberate the True Self. Jnana yoga uses meditation, introspection and contemplation techniques to attain wisdom and enlightenment.

Mantra Yoga exercise

This is primarily the yoga exercise of sound. The word mantra comes from a combination of the Sanskrit words man 'to think' and tra 'instrumentality' .
Mantra is intention expressed as sound, unlike Bhakti yoga , which is strictly the yoga of song and chanting; for instance when you chant 'OM' you're combining mantra yoga and bhakti yoga. Mantras have been chanted for thousands of years (some continuously for thousands of years!) to guide the mind into meditation and to establish an intention to produce states of consciousness or ask for divine guidance.

Raja Yoga exercise

Raj may be the Sanskrit word for king and Raja yoga is known as the Royal Yoga simply because it brings out the king/queen in all of us; the noble inner self that's so infrequently acknowledged in our every day lives. Raja yoga exercise offers an opportunity to focus on the high quality of our everyday thoughts and deeds, being careful to reveal the goodness that the workings from the mind frequently conceal or disregard. Most closely associated with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it is most frequently expressed within the eight limbs of Classical Yoga.