YOGA OF BEND
Hatha Yoga
in the Iyengar Tradition
taught by Nadine Sims
541-318-1186
Nadine(@)bendcable.com
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YOGA PHILOSOPHY |
Iyengar yoga is firmly established on the profound and timeless classical treatise, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The great Sage Patanjali is said to have lived around 2500 years ago although some scholars now place him even earlier. We are indebted to him for his codification of yoga into 196 terse sutras (verses). This brilliant work is the most complete dissertation on the subject of yoga ever written. Within just 4 short chapters, Sage Patanjali succinctly outlines the entire path of yoga, including the obstacles one may expect to encounter, the powers and gifts (potential traps in themselves) one may gain and the final glory of Self-realization. According to Patanjali, man's purpose on earth is to know himself at his deepest level, his very Self or Soul. He enumerated the different practices or disciplines that must be mastered in order to reach this lofty goal and named it Ashtanga Yoga, which means The Eight-Fold or Eight-Limbed Path, (not to be confused with a contemporary style of yoga known by that same name). These eight limbs (set out below) are the Yogic foundation, which supports a life of moral rectitude; physical/emotional/mental well-being and spiritual growth.
THE EIGHT LIMBS
1. Yamas - Ethical Code of Conduct
- Ahimsa - Non-violence in thought, word or deed
- Satya - Truthfulness
- Asteya - Non-stealing
- Brahmacharya - Continence, moderation in all things
- Aparigraha - Non-attachment, non-covetousness, non-hoarding
2. Niyamas - Personal Restraints
- Saucha - Purity, cleanliness
- Santosa - Contentment
- Tapas - Zeal, austerity, self-discipline, committed devotion to one's practice
- Swadjaya - Self-study and study of sacred texts
- Ishvara Pranidana - The abandonment of the fruits of one's actions to God, or to the Universe. Surrender.
3. Asanas - (Postures) begin the physical journey inward. Asanas develop strength, flexibility, concentration and awareness and in the process make the body strong, healthy and fit for meditation.
4. Pranayama - (Breath Control) Pranayama techniques develop mastery of one's breath, a usually sub-conscious process is brought under conscious control. Pranayama reveals the intimate connections between mind, body, breath and emotions on an even more subtle level, allowing still deeper penetration inwards.
5. Pratyahara - (Withdrawal of the Senses) Pratyahara is the withdrawal from the outer world as experienced through our senses so we may journey farther inwards towards a more dispassionate, objective observance of ourselves.
6. Dharna - (Concentration) Dharna is the
practice of making the mind "one-pointed", so as to steady it
and make it still. This state of "one-pointed ness", when prolonged,
leads to meditation.
7. Dhyana - (Meditation) is the state of
existing fully in the here and now. Having naturally arrived at this stage
thru the practice of "one-pointed ness", thought ceases and
we abide in the present.
8. Samadhi - (Bliss) Union of the Individual Self with the Supreme. Samadhi is a profound state of grace that is gained after prolonged meditation, wherein the practitioner transcends the illusory sense of separateness from the Universe. Samadhi is the culmination of the practice of all the limbs of yoga.