Skip to main content

Yoga

Back

Contrary to popular belief, yoga is not just yoga positions, those asanas that are known are just a part of yoga, which is called hatha yoga.

Yoga means union, integration, that is, union and reintegration of the body with the mind, thus leading the human being to a balance of his Being, and also to be able to take him to a higher state of existence.

There are numerous yoga masters of this millenary tradition, however, we highlight one of the greatest masters, Patanjali, responsible for bringing together much of the teachings of the Yoga Sutras, which made it possible for yoga to be understood in a much broader and deeper way.

    According to Patanjali there are eight steps in yoga:

    1. Yamas

    These are the social and universal ethical values, which when applied in our daily lives, allow us to find a virtuous state of consciousness and evolve on the path of yoga. The five yamas are: ahimsa, non-violence, satya, truthfulness, asteya, non-stealing, brahmacharya, abstinence and aparigraha, non-accumulation.

    1. Niyamas

    They are personal practices that cultivate a state of purification and surrender and allow a refinement in consciousness and self-knowledge.
    The five niyamas are: soucha, inner and outer cleansing, santosha, being happy and content, tapas, penance, swadhyaya, self-study and ishvarapranidhana, surrender to the higher power.

    1. Asana

    It is perhaps the way in which yoga is best known in the West, through the body postures that allow the practitioner to reach a state of contemplation, that is, its effects go beyond the body, also bringing benefits to the mind, spirit and our daily life.

    1. Pranayama

    It is the key to connecting the body to the mind and are known as breathing techniques that raise the levels of vital energy, prana, reducing mental activity, bringing calm and a deep serenity.

    1. Pratyahara

    It is the control of the senses, which are constantly connected with the outside world. Here the practitioner brings his consciousness to his inner world, isolating himself from external stimuli, that is, he develops the ability to introspect.

    1. Dharana

    It is the state of mental concentration, where the practitioner reaches a meditative state by bringing their attention to a single point.

    1. Dhyana

    It is a state of meditation in which the practitioner is aware of his act of contemplation and the object of meditation, managing to keep his mind for some time on his object of contemplation. This object can be the breath itself, a mantra or a mental image. This step happens when there is no effort to exert that same focus, that is, when one reaches a contemplative state.

    1. Samadhi

    It is the deepest state of the practice of yoga and meditation, in which the practitioner becomes the object of contemplation itself, that is, it is when we experience the essence of Being.

    Types of Yoga

    There are different types of yoga practices, however, they all lead to the same goal which is the union and integration of the body with the mind. These different paths are unified to bring the benefits in the most complete form that this philosophy can offer. Are they:

    1.Hatha yoga

    It is the path of determination, physical postures or asanas. Its purpose is to purify and prepare the body to reach a state of contemplation and meditation.

    2. Karma yoga

    It is the path that places the individual at the service of everything and everyone in need, without expecting anything in return. It’s a way of always being available to everyone.

    3. Bhakti Yoga

    It is the path of devotion, of pure and divine love. On this path, we allow ourselves to experience the divine aspect in everything and everyone.

    4. Jnana Yoga

    It is the path of knowledge and wisdom, obtained not only by reading and listening, but mainly by experience. It is a state of questioning about Being, about nature, about spirituality, in order to realize that in reality everything is interconnected, the human being, nature and the divine.

    5. Raja Yoga

    It is the path of discipline and mind control, where we have the freedom and ability to choose our internal state, regardless of the conditions of the body and environment. This is the path that is associated with meditation and inner serenity.


    In addition to these types of yoga, there are also several schools or lines of yoga, such as the ones we are now enumerating:

    1.Hatha Yoga

    Perhaps considered the most classic line of yoga, it combines breathing exercises and body postures that help with physical conditioning, help to strengthen the body and increase flexibility. It is very suitable for those who are starting to know and practice yoga and is the most widespread in the West.

    2. Ashtanga Yoga

    It combines yoga and breathing sequences performed in a more accelerated way. The purpose of this practice is to activate the body’s internal fire helping to purify and detoxify the body.

    3. Vinyasa Yoga

    They are sequences of postures that follow a flow of movements that combine with breathing. It is also a more dynamic type of yoga.

    4. Iyengar Yoga

    It is a modality that focuses on the correct alignment of the practitioner’s body and uses tools such as blocks, elastic bands, belts and ropes so that the practice can be adapted to the participant’s body limits.

    There are other modalities that are practiced, however, these are the most widespread. The important thing is that the practitioner feels free to start and that they identify the line that best suits their rhythm and body.

    Therefore, it is possible to see that yoga is much more complex than it seems, and therefore it is a very effective way to find a path to everything you are looking for in life.

    References

    • Feuerstein, G. (2019). A Tradição do Yoga. Editora Pensamento
    • Patanjali. Os Yoga Sutras de Patanjali. Editora Mantra