 Yoga originated thousands of years ago in India. The first findings on Yoga; 5000 year old seals depicting human figures doing yoga, were found during an archeological excavation. In skanskrit yoga means “to unite or to join.
Most recently yoga has grown increasingly popular in the West and even though it may be perceived more as a system based on physical activites, in actual fact the yoga teaching is based on ASANALAR (YOGA POSTURES), PRANAYAMA (BREATH), meditation, nutrition and many other limbs. With theuse of the body and breathing exercises, it seeks to calm the mind. Yoga has its own philosophy in addition to the above. “PATANJALI” who lived during 300 B.C. and has a very important place in the history of yoga, submits that there are 8 limbs of yoga in his writings of yoga Sutras. YAMA- The 5 basic prinicples (“abstention”)that a person should follow socially and ethically NİYAMA- The basic principles (“observances”) that a person should follow with respect to themselves ĀSANA- The yoga postures to attain physical well-being and mental tranquility PRĀNĀYĀMA- Mastering the use of life force through breathing PRATYĀHĀRA- Becoming aware of the illusionary effect of the 5 senses and freeing oneself from their lure. DHĀRĀNĀ-Concentration. Fixing the attention of the mind on a certain part of the body or an external object . DHYĀNĀ- By kendini tanıma içindeki gerçek beni keşfetmek. Meditation. SAMĀDHI- Unification. The merging of the mind of the individual with cosmic consciousness. There are many forms of yoga. The most commonly known are Hatha yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga. However these yoga forms only incorporate a few of the above mentioned eight limbs. Regular practice of yoga : - Stabilises the metabolisim - Strengthens the muscles, joints, internal organs and nervous system - Calms the mind - Calms the individual and develops their patience - Enables the individual to reach out to their true inner-self NAMASTE Source: Yoga Yolu |
