Instruction
Yoga is a teaching that includes a combination of mental and exercise which are aimed at the work of cleansing the soul and body. This is a voluntary connection when a person enters into a relationship with himself, working on his body, mind and breath. It is also one of the spiritual ways of liberation from attachment to the worldly fuss of our world, carnal life and reunion with the One. The primary purpose of yoga is to improve your body. Asana - a motionless posture, being in which, a person achieves detachment, independence from own body, but this detachment is based on mental balance and stability.
Performing asanas, a person acquires physical, mental and spiritual health and strength. He strives to learn how to manage emotions, control thoughts, and a person learns self-control and the ability to keep himself in balance. This is necessary to overcome life's difficulties, leads to peace and satisfaction with fate, which can improve and enhance the quality of life. And after controlling the mind, a person proceeds to work on consciousness. He is trying to achieve a state of peace, to feel whole with nature.
IN modern fitness clubs offer a choice different kinds yoga for all tastes.
Hatha yoga. Majority modern species yoga is one of the varieties of hatha yoga. Here, all postures, asanas are aimed at relaxation, a person learns to control breathing and meditation. It is customary to say (prayers) during meditation. The goal of hatha yoga is to achieve a general peace of mind and balance between the spirit, body and the outside world.
Ashtanga yoga is a fast-paced, fast-paced variation of yoga that is similar to aerobic exercise. A series of yoga poses is always repeated in the same order and in a certain rhythm of breathing. This type of yoga requires a good physical training.
Yogalates - is a combination of elements of meditation, asanas that develop flexibility, stretching Pilates with a system strength exercises. Practicing this type of yoga is suitable for people with any level of physical fitness and helps to bring the body into good shape. muscle tone.
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Yoga helps pregnant women prepare mentally and physically for childbirth. There are exercises that strengthen the nervous system, loosened by hormonal failure, unload the spine, improve blood circulation and cheer up and overall well-being. future mother.
Instruction
Yoga for pregnant women is a set of exercises that are aimed not only at stretching the body, but also at cleansing the body, correct breathing and relaxation of the whole body. Pregnant women who practice yoga regularly have excellent physical health and radiate joy and optimism. The meaning of asanas, special yoga poses, is not to tie in three knots and sit and listen to calm music, but to find comfort and convenience in any unusual situation, to strengthen spirituality and health. Yoga gives expectant mothers relief from various types of pain and reduces the pain threshold during. Also expectant mothers avoid postpartum depression.
During yoga, all asanas are performed smoothly and slowly. Exercises are aimed at soft work with the joints and spine. Special postures strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation in those tissues and organs that will be involved in the birth act. Particular attention is paid to breathing exercises. They supply oxygen to the baby and mother, and during childbirth relieve pain during contractions. Also, with the help of these exercises, weak labor and hypoxia in the newborn can be avoided. There are cleansing techniques developed for pregnant women that help not gain excess weight and reduce or completely get rid of toxicosis.
Special meditations help to establish contact with the baby. They teach to “hear”, understand and feel the mood and desire of the child. Relaxation exercises lead to harmony between mother and baby. After yoga, a pregnant woman feels relaxation on the emotional, physical and mental levels. Even inverted postures, with their correct execution, will have a beneficial effect on the body.
Yoga is suitable for all women, with a normal and good pregnancy. Some teachers recommend starting classes from the second trimester of pregnancy. However, even in her first months, yoga can save a woman from toxicosis. Therefore, before starting the course, you should consult with your doctor and trainer, pointing out all the nuances and characteristics of the body. For example, who has had a miscarriage, standing postures are contraindicated, etc. Also, yoga is not suitable for expectant mothers who have infectious diseases of the musculoskeletal system, vertebral and craniocerebral injuries, chronic diseases. of cardio-vascular system.
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Sources:
- Yoga and pregnancy in 2019
- Yoga for pregnant women in 2019
- Yoga for pregnant women in 2019
Kundalini yoga has gained great popularity in the West. This type of yoga contains meditation, chanting, visualization. Kundalini Yoga is formed on kriyas, that is, on exercises that must be performed in a strict sequence created by the Guru.
The main goal of kundalini yoga is the awakening of the Kundalini forces that are in the human body. This energy is associated with the idea of a snake dormant in the Swadhisthana chakra. As a result, the energy of this snake should wake up, and its power should gradually reach the crown chakra.
Translated from the Sikh language, "kundalini" does not mean "snake", but "curl of the beloved." This is where the confusion comes from. It is said that those who reach the kundalini stream will be able to awaken. It is important to understand what opportunities kundalini yoga brings. In the process of training, a person can feel feelings of relaxation, harmony, happiness, energy slowly awakens, the body seems to wake up and come to life. Of course, this cannot be achieved right away, you need to practice regularly, then the result will be.
Before starting classes, you need to make sure that your health allows you to practice this species yoga. For those who use alcohol or drugs, doing kundalini yoga is undesirable and even dangerous. It should be remembered that all yoga techniques were transmitted only by highly qualified teachers, and their knowledge was known only to the elite. The general public did not know about kundalini yoga until Yogi Bhajan brought it to the West and revealed its secret there. Nowadays, when almost any information can be found on the Internet, a person takes full responsibility to practice this type of yoga. The main rule that applies to kundalina yoga is respect for these activities and a serious attitude. If the classes will be held for the first time, it is advisable to find a good teacher who can show the right way to chakras and energy. In this case, you can expect a feeling of happiness, well-being and comfort from the first lessons.
Another important aspect is that most human needs, such as health, happiness, love, cannot always be corrected with the help of various kriyas. Each kriya in kundalini yoga affects a specific parameter in a person's life. You can find good online kundalini yoga lessons on the Internet and practice at home on your own. However, it is a good teacher who can help not only to gain and improve health, learn to meditate, plunge into a relaxed state, but also to understand the balance of harmony between body and soul for many years to come, which is very important for a person who is immersed in the bustle of the city and does not constantly spin like squirrel in .
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Yoga is gaining popularity among the people of Western society. But do all those who are interested in it know what it is, "yoga"? There are many myths and misconceptions about this issue. Often yoga is called ordinary gymnastics, and a yogi is a person who bends in some unimaginable way, sits in a motionless position for a long time or hums something unintelligible to himself. What does all these ideas have to do with the true description of the ancient teaching?
The first thing yoga should start with is that yoga is a system of self-knowledge. And this self-knowledge occurs, including through work with the physical body (we see people in various asanas), also through work with breathing (pranayama), voice (mantra) and absolutely through all manifestations of a person. Yoga is universal. Yoga is for everyone!
We all develop throughout life, over many of our lives. Not everyone realizes this, though. But everything has its time, sooner or later the craving for self-knowledge and development in a person becomes more and more conscious. And here yoga comes to the rescue! And some of its types, such as working with our manifestations (physical body, thoughts, feelings), are just options for what we can choose for ourselves in the search for a path of spiritual development.
We decided that yoga, first of all, is a system of self-knowledge. What else important criteria exist? Whatever system people call yoga, but by right it can be considered only that teaching that adheres to the first and second principles of yoga.
What is it about, those who have just begun their acquaintance with yoga will ask. In short, the first principle is the principle of kindness and not harming any living being, and the second is the principle of logic and common sense. If there is no mention of these principles in the system or they are known, but they are not fulfilled, then such a system, a priori, cannot be considered yoga. These are the main criteria by which we can determine whether a particular doctrine belongs to the most ancient knowledge.
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Tip 5: What is Raja Yoga and what place does it occupy in the system?
Raja yoga is called the yoga of control, the yoga of the President. Raja yoga is a practical system for the application of the will. The whole yoga system is one, but in this teaching there are different techniques working with various manifestations of a person. Such an ability to manage oneself, to manage the world around us, is also our manifestation.
Raja yoga helps to coexist with the outside world, this yoga is managerial. By practicing raja yoga, we reveal in ourselves that hidden potential that we did not even know about.
Among the many other types of yoga, raja yoga occupies a high position. There is an opinion that this yoga should not be practiced before a person becomes familiar with other yogas, such as pranayama yoga, kriya yoga, hatha yoga.
These yogas, as it were, create the foundation for Raja yoga. This is because Raja Yoga studies manifestations that are more difficult to perceive. These are subtle, mental processes that take place inside a person, in his head, in his mind. All these processes are based on Will.
IN different systems Yoga gives a different classification of the disciplines included in it. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali describe the eightfold system of yoga levels, Ashtanga, "eight." Raja yoga in this system occupies the last four steps, which come after pranayama.
There are other yoga systems that describe a different set of tools used by Raja Yoga. But, nevertheless, everywhere this direction occupies a high position.
The teachings of Raja Yoga are based on certain basic principles and relies on the axiomatics of Raja yoga. Raja yoga tells us about some super-logical things. But since we approach these things through logic, with the help of exercises understandable to our mind, no violation of logic is observed.
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What does yoga really give us? A very interesting answer is given to this question. Yoga gives us absolutely nothing! Yoga in ourselves reveals what is already laid down inside. It remains to figure out what exactly yoga can reveal in us.
The ancient teachings of yoga tell us that great powers are hidden within ourselves. It turns out that the practice of many types of yoga "only" reveals our potential. And the potential is truly huge! And, from this point of view, one can list for a long time how yoga helps us.
physical health
The first place to start listing the benefits is physical health. Hatha yoga is even called a panacea for many diseases. Yoga can indeed be our medicine.
Hatha yoga can remove many problems related to human health. The body of a person becomes stronger with regular practice, weakness disappears, diseases recede or their course passes much more gently.
The positive effect of the exercises is obvious. But, with all this, we remember that yoga never seeks to replace medicine. Therefore, if we have any disease, the first person to go to should be a doctor. It should not be mistaken that yoga can replace medicine. Yoga has completely different goals.
Of course, there are many cases when medicine turned out to be powerless, while the effect of yoga was very strong and saved a person from his disease. But there should be no misunderstanding. Yoga aims at self-knowledge, and medicine heals.
Of course, the physical body is strengthened during yoga, but only in the necessary amount so that the body does not interfere with the process of self-knowledge. In general, one way or another, yoga contributes to physical health.
mental health
The next thing yoga gives is mental health. The psyche is strengthened through the impact on the physical body. The process goes from gross to subtle. But the psyche of modern man is often shaken.
If we observe ourselves, then, as a rule, we can see that often we behave simply not adequately. In fact, the mere fact that you have come closer to understanding your condition is already a good result.
To change something in better side, you need to understand what you need to work with. The rhythm of life, stress, as well as environmental conditions lead to a painful state of our psyche. When we practice yoga, we influence the mind through the body. As the well-known proverb tells us, “a healthy mind in a healthy body”.
Intellectual ability
What else does yoga give us? While doing hatha yoga, we, oddly enough, develop our intellectual abilities. Also an interesting situation. We then do exercises at the level of the physical body, and we get the effect at the level of intellect.
In our understanding, the image of an athlete and the image of an intellectual rarely converge in one person. Either "", or a professor of philosophy. In the public mind, these are different things. This is where yoga disagrees.
In yoga, it is believed that if a person devotes a lot of time to physical training, while forgetting about the need to develop intellectually, or, conversely, is completely immersed in the development of mental skills, and the body suffers illness from a sedentary lifestyle, then there is a clear bias.
These are such painful deviations from the "golden mean", from harmony, which should be eliminated. The ideal of yoga can be considered a physically strong person who has a well-developed intellect.
It is interesting that a person who practices Hatha yoga gradually achieves an increase in his intellectual abilities. How this happens is absolutely not obvious, this mechanism is hidden. But, surprising as it may seem, it is a fact. We can learn about this from the sources of antiquity, and also be a witness to this by observing modern yoga practitioners.
Creative skills
What else does yoga reveal in us? Here we can talk about the "development", so to speak, of creative abilities.
From the point of view of yoga, everything here is prosaic and banal. Just when we are "out of shape", we have a lack of vitality, we cannot maintain the work of our nervous system at such a level that she was receptive and, as they say now, creative.
It's just a lack of energy. When we practice yoga, all our systems are in good condition and we have an excess of prana, the presence of free vitality. And if there is such an excess, then the person shows creative impulses.
superpowers
Also, listing everything that yoga gives us, one cannot fail to say about the disclosure of human superpowers. After all, in every person there are such abilities that are even difficult to imagine.
What could these abilities be? For example, mind reading or the ability to physical ailments by touch. Such abilities are revealed similarly to creative ones, that is, with an excess of vitality.
In yoga, it is believed that these abilities are already inherent in us, but we do not realize this yet, we do not know how to use them. The man is really capable of a lot.
Yoga is good for the soul and body, it purifies a person both physically and spiritually. Do you want to start yoga, but first you want to know more about what it is? Now we will tell you a little about what yoga is.
Definition of yoga
Teaching, which includes a collection of physical and psychological exercises is called yoga. These exercises are aimed at cleansing the soul and the whole body. Such a connection is called voluntary, as a person comes into contact with himself. He works on his body, breath and consciousness. It is also a spiritual liberation from the routine, from the bustle of this world. Man is reunited with the One.
First you need to get acquainted with the theory, and then move on to the practice itself. As you probably already heard, yoga came to us from India. If we translate the word "yoga", then its meaning will sound like "unity", "union", "bind". Scientists have found that the very first mention of yoga was in the Rigveda - a book of hymns. This book is very ancient, it is part of the Vedas (religious Hindu texts).
Yoga is not only a series of simple physical exercises. It has a serious philosophy. This philosophy is perceived as a method of self-development, a way of knowing the world, which is the main link between body and soul. The temple of the soul must be protected and try to keep it as long as possible. That is why yoga exists in our world.
Asanas
One of the main questions that arises among beginner yogis: what does yoga give, what are its goals and objectives? The main task of yoga is the improvement of a person's body. There are postures called asanas. These postures are motionless, in them a person becomes detached, he is independent of his body. Such detachment is associated with mental stability and balance.
When a person performs asanas, he acquires spiritual, psychological and physical strength and health. He controls his emotions, controls his thoughts, learns self-control and the ability to stay in balance. We need this in order to overcome life's difficulties, we gain peace and satisfaction with fate. Thus, a person improves and enhances the quality of life. After we have carried out the control of the mind, we smoothly proceed to work with consciousness. We reach a state of peace, we feel unity with all of nature. This is what yoga is good for.
Hatha yoga
Let's talk more about what yoga is for. Today, in all modern fitness clubs, there are many types of yoga, you can choose any one you like best. One such type of yoga is hatha yoga. In general, all types of yoga come from the mainstream hatha yoga. We direct every posture, every asana for relaxation, we learn to let all the energy through ourselves during mediation and control our breathing. During meditation, it is customary to say the words of the mantra. Mantras are prayers. The main goal of hatha yoga is to achieve peace of mind. It is necessary to acquire a balance between the body, spirit and the surrounding world.
Ashtanga yoga
One of the quick and dynamic yoga options is Ashtanga Yoga. It is similar to aerobic exercise. In yoga, all series of postures are constantly held in the same order, as well as in the same rhythm of breathing. To practice Ashtanga yoga, you will need a good physical preparation.
Yogalates
Another set of elements of asanas and meditation is yogalates. Yogalates helps to develop flexibility, includes stretching, Pilates and a system of strength exercises. If you want to practice this type of yoga, you can easily master it, because it does not require a high level of physical fitness. Yogalates also tones the muscles.
When a person practices yoga, his body and soul relax, spiritual renewal occurs. A person gets rid of depression and stress, finds spiritual harmony.
To find out what Hatha Yoga is, you need to translate this definition from Sanskrit. So, "hatha" means "effort and necessity", where the first syllable symbolizes the sun, and the second - the moon.
This suggests that the main task of training is to establish a balance of the body for recovery.
What is Hatha yoga and how is it different from yoga?
Everyone determines for himself why it is needed. Hatha yoga is preparatory stage to achieve high level spiritual development.
Since it can develop in various areas, the expediency of performing exercises determines the pursuit of different goals, which forms the main differences. So, with the help of Hatha yoga, the desire to grow spiritually is achieved through physical development body.
Direction history
Yoga is originally a concept from Indian culture. This is evidenced by seals dating back to 3300-1700 BC. e., which were found in India near the Indus River. They depict figures of people meditating in various poses.
There are legends describing how this teaching was transmitted to people by Shiva. It is generally accepted that such practices are passed from teacher to student in strict accordance with the rules. This allows them to preserve their traditions in their original form. 
Modern scholars associate the emergence of Hatha Yoga with Gorakshanath, who founded a new tradition in the 10th-11th centuries. He systematized the work of the body with consciousness and supplemented them with tantric elements.
Did you know? To achieve harmony between a person and his pet, in 2002 was developed special technique yoga. Susie Teitelman first began to practice such exercises. Thus, dogs, for example, could learn new commands.
According to the description of his practices, several works were published, among them Goraksha Shtak, Goraksha Paddhati, Jnana Amrita and others.
Is it an independent direction?
Hata yoga as a system for transforming the physical and spiritual manifestations of a person is considered an independent direction. Like other types, it is universal for working with the body and consciousness. This yoga involves achieving a balance of lunar and solar energies.
Relationship between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga
To establish a relationship between different types yoga, consider the concept of "Raja Yoga". It is a generalized name for the study of the psyche and the achievement of self-knowledge. This technique opens up the possibilities of the mind and helps to achieve a balance of body and mind. 
This allows you to control subjective perception, thoughts and feelings, and also gives freedom to thinking.
Did you know? The famous publication in the USA, Yoga Journal, published statistics showing that about 15.8 million people are engaged in this country, in the UK their number is 460 thousand people.
According to the teachings of Hatha Yoga, in the process of doing the exercises, a person is endowed with ideal health and increases the duration of his due to new abilities.
The relationship of these types of yoga lies in the fact that they carry the message of unity healthy body and a free soul. Proper breathing is the tool to achieve this effect.
Why Practice Hatha Yoga
Many people do yoga in order to improve their health in the first place. Along with this, in the modern conditions of the development of society, getting rid of nervous disorders is also relevant. 
Some practice Hatha yoga for the purpose of preserving youth.
The difference between Hatha yoga and gymnastics and other systems of a healthy lifestyle
Besides, regular classes Hatha yoga will help relieve pain, and with the help of breathing exercises the activity of the relevant organs is normalized. In this regard, a uniform amount of oxygen enters the body, which saturates, giving the body flexibility and improving blood circulation. 
Harm and contraindications
Before you start doing exercises, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor, since there are a number, the presence of which causes the termination of classes.
Important! For effective weight loss You must drink at least 2 liters of water daily.
It is necessary to perform exercises on an empty stomach, having drunk a glass before cold water. It will not be superfluous to arrange for yourself, based on the use of milk and. 
Hatha yoga can help you lose weight quickly. However, we should not forget that this is not just an exercise and proper breathing, but also a way to reboot brain activity.
Is it worth it for kids
A distinctive feature of this type of yoga is the strengthening of muscles through gradual loads and balance of twists. For a growing organism, the development of flexibility is an urgent issue, so regular moderate load will help stretch the muscles of the back and hips.
In addition, Hatha Yoga provides children with the opportunity to relax and practice concentration techniques through breathing procedures. Such an action will lead the child to feel that he is in security and peace. A set of exercises will allow you to feel your body and explore its new capabilities.
In some countries, Hatha yoga has been introduced into the system of compulsory physical training of military personnel, including submariners and pilots. Many athletes often successfully use yoga methods in their workouts. 
In general, for classes to bring maximum amount pleasure, you should acquire special paraphernalia and wear appropriate clothing. Practice has shown that the number of occurrence of diseases decreases when a person begins to practice yoga and lead healthy lifestyle life.
Yoga is a holistic and multifaceted teaching about the knowledge of oneself and the world around, which has a thousand-year history. In ancient times, it was an extremely closed system, since the techniques and practices were very strong and gave real power.
This is a very specific science, it contains many specific exercises and techniques that allow you to realize your inner potential, reveal the colossal physical and mental abilities inherent in every person, and keep yourself in excellent physical shape.
Practicing yoga, a person leaves the "gray everyday life" in a new, completely fantastic and magical world, becomes more and more open, sincere, kind, begins to live a brighter, richer, more fulfilling life.
Teaching not only helps to improve physical health, gain a strong, slender, enduring body, but also allows you to fully realize yourself in all areas of life - in work and study, in career and business, in family and interpersonal relationships, in professional and personal development, and many other areas of human activity.
This is an extra-karmic gift of the Universe, left to us by teachers and teachers of antiquity, who have already achieved all the goals that one can only dream of. They left us the knowledge of yoga to help us change our lives for the better as soon as possible, to rise to a new spiritual level.
Is yoga any system of self-knowledge?
No is not. Yoga can only be called that system of self-knowledge, which strictly adheres to the first principle of yoga, or the principle of kindness, and the second principle, or the principle of common sense.
The first principle tells us that we “should not harm any living being unless absolutely necessary; if it is not possible to do no harm, then we must do as our duty dictates. This principle is the cornerstone of any system of self-knowledge; without observing it, it is impossible to rise to a new spiritual level.
The second principle, or the principle of logic, tells us that “we should not waste our time and energy on trifles. We must first be very clear about our goals, whether these goals are in work, study, yoga or any other field of activity, and then direct all our efforts only towards achieving these goals.
Therefore, before engaging in another activity, we must ask ourselves if it leads us to the goal, and if not, we must ruthlessly discard it, no matter how tempting it may seem to us.
Observing the first and second principles, sooner or later we intuitively “grope” for our life path, which is called dharma, or destiny, and, following it, we quickly achieve all our goals and at the same time are better aware of our duty.
What is the main secret? How to understand which exercises are yoga exercises?
The foundation of all yoga, the main secret of any yoga exercise is in harmony, in the right combination of where you need to force yourself and where you can afford it.
If you only allow yourself, progress will go slowly, because yoga classes require will, determination, effort from a person; on the contrary, if you force the process too much and constantly "keep yourself in check" without relaxing for a second, this will also slow down your practice. Asceticism in yoga is absolutely necessary, but it must be harmoniously combined with relaxation and enjoyment of the practice.
In yoga, the most important thing is not WHAT you do, but HOW you perform this or that exercise. You can twist into three knots and take the most difficult asana, which will look one-on-one like in the picture, but will not be yoga at the same time, or you can take the most simple pose and get a huge effect from it.
In other words, we must avoid extremes, observe the principle of common sense and listen very carefully to our body, to our sensations, emotions, feelings. Any physical or mental exercise may or may not be a yoga exercise, the element of inner harmony and joy from its implementation is important.
How to determine that a person really succeeds in yoga?
There is only one main criterion for success - this is the habit of doing yoga. Of course, both flexibility, and harmony, and a sense of harmony, and the ability to concentrate are also indicators of progress in yoga, but they are all secondary and secondary.
If you have developed the habit of doing yoga every day - no matter what kind of yoga you do - then success is guaranteed to you, now it's only a matter of time when certain results come from the practice. If there is no such habit, you can get some effect very quickly and lose it just as quickly.
In addition, it should be remembered that only that system of self-knowledge can be called yoga, which strictly adheres to the first and second principles - the principles of kindness and common sense.
If a person is evil, cruel, harms others and does not want to change at the same time, he is unlikely to be able to master yoga practices at a really serious level.
Who can practice yoga, who is it suitable for?
Strictly speaking, anyone can practice yoga. Even if, for one reason or another, you are unable to physical yogis(age, health problems, etc.), you can practice other types of yoga - meditation, dream yoga, visualization yoga, raja yoga, etc.
The teaching is very multifaceted, for some, practices related to willpower and asceticism are more suitable, for others - with energy methods and hope for the Absolute. Anyone can learn something useful from a wide arsenal of practical methods of yoga.
But, no matter what kind of yoga you do, if you do it honestly, purposefully, regularly, if you develop the habit of doing it, you can get a truly wonderful result.
How to understand that the exercise is performed correctly?
In principle, there are no external devices or diagnostic methods to determine whether this or that yoga exercise is performed correctly. No external observer can do this, only the practitioner himself can determine this.
At the same time, yoga gives some guidelines on how to do this - when performing each exercise in yoga, you should feel harmony and a state of joy. If you are doing an exercise and you want to keep doing it, then you are doing it correctly. You can feel the joy of overcoming yourself, performing a pose with effort, using will, or, conversely, the joy of experiencing pleasant sensations in the body when the pose becomes comfortable, but in both cases there should be positive emotions.
If you feel pain, discomfort, desire to get out of the pose, but use violence on your body, then you are doing anything, but not yoga. In yoga, it is believed that violence against the body is absolutely not effective and does not lead to any long-term results. As stated in an ancient treatise on yoga, "pain and yoga are incompatible, if there is pain - there is no yoga, if there is yoga - there is no pain."
This is the main secret of yoga, this is what distinguishes it from physical education and sports. It is thanks to the method of harmony that you begin to feel better, move from the external world to the internal, and begin to grow spiritually. It is this method that allows you to get all the beneficial effects of yoga - to develop and hone your intellectual abilities, learn how to plan and achieve your goals, harmoniously build relationships with others and much, much more.
What exactly does yoga give?
If we briefly structure the whole variety of effects obtained from yoga, we can answer this question as follows:
- Physical health, good energy tone, a surge of energy and vitality.
- A beautiful, hardy, slender physical body.
- Mental health, stress relief, calmness, balance, inner harmony and freedom, a sense of joy and happiness.
- Real positive changes in life - a more interesting and highly paid job, rich, interesting life, building more harmonious relations with others, freeing up temporary resources, achieving all goals,
- Spiritual development - a person becomes more open, kind, sincere, begins to better understand himself and the Universe, becomes a support for other people.
What are the types of yoga?
There are a lot of types of yoga, as many as there are manifestations of human activity. As a rule, the main, classical types of yoga include hatha yoga, kriya yoga, mantra yoga, pranayama, meditation. These yogas allow you to rebuild your physical body, make it more perfect, resilient, strong, help you gain clarity of consciousness, hone your mind and intellectual abilities.
These yogas are the foundation for more complex, exotic yogas, such as tantra yoga, love yoga, nyasa yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, raja yoga, dream yoga, visualization yoga and many others. In our yoga school, within the framework of the Open Yoga University, about twenty types of yogas are studied - more than detailed information you can find about these species on the site openyoga.ru.
How long do you need to practice to get results?
No one in the world will be able to tell you clear deadlines, dates and numbers - it all depends on your specific situation, on your habit of doing it, on what goals you set for yourself. It happens that a person is just starting to practice yoga, and progress is very fast, and then suddenly “runs into a wall”.
In this case, everything depends only on you, on your will and determination, on whether you will be able to realize the method of harmony for yourself. But in any case, if yoga has become a habit for you, all the positive results will come, now it's only a matter of time.
Where and when did yoga originate? Where can you find the most ancient primary sources?
The history of yoga has thousands of years, now it is not possible to determine exactly where and when this doctrine arose. It is believed that in ancient times yoga was spread among various peoples and countries, we find echoes of this teaching in the myths and legends of Europe, Russia, the Scandinavian countries, the Middle East, Egypt, and India.
Then, for reasons unknown to us, this halo narrowed significantly, but still covered a fairly wide geographical area - the territory of such countries as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, the countries of Central Asia, modern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, the countries of Southeast Asia. Now this halo has narrowed even more, to the territory of modern India, Nepal, Tibet and other nearby countries.
As for the names of the teachers and founders of yoga, it is not possible to name them, since in ancient times it was not customary to draw attention to one's personality, it was considered immodest. We only know the names of less recent followers of yoga, taksikas like Patanjali, Vyasa and others.
Since the knowledge of yoga in ancient times was passed from mouth to mouth, from teacher to student, written texts and treatises on yoga appeared at a relatively late time. Many texts on yoga have been lost, and of those that have survived, many have not been translated not only into Russian, but even into any European language.
One of the most ancient texts on yoga, which is beyond doubt among orientalists, is the treatise "Yoga Sutra of Patanjali". However, in this text, Patanjali rather gives a systematic presentation of different approaches in yoga, generalizing them into a harmonious sequence of eight steps, but does not present the entire theory and practice of yoga.
Today, we can say that true knowledge has been preserved primarily in those yoga schools that have maintained the tradition of transferring knowledge from teacher to student for many generations.
Can yoga be dangerous?
Yoga is an extremely safe system of self-knowledge. As centuries-old history shows, yoga knows how to protect itself, to make sure that powerful knowledge and techniques do not fall into the hands of an evil, cruel person who can harm himself and others. Our Universe is so cunning that even if the knowledge of yoga falls into the hands of such a person, he will not be able to use it. In yoga, there are classical methods and so-called fast methods.
Classical methods are almost completely safe, anyone can study them, but it takes a long time to practice them to get the result, it requires determination, courage, will. Quick methods allow you to reach the goal very quickly, they are truly capable of working miracles, but they contain many pitfalls and can be dangerous for the practitioner.
However, usually an unprepared person cannot use them and harm himself, because none of the yoga teachers will teach such a person quick methods, and, having encountered them on his own, he simply will not be able to recognize them.
At the same time, yoga again and again encourages the practitioner to be extremely attentive to his body, to remember the principle of harmony, not to allow any pain. By observing the method of harmony and strictly following all the recommendations of your teacher, you can never harm yourself. This applies to both classical hatha yoga and all other types of yoga.
Is yoga open or closed?
In ancient times, yoga was an extremely closed teaching - the uninitiated were not even allowed to come close to the secret practices and techniques of yoga. It was believed that an unprepared person in any case would not be able to use them, but would cause negative associative connections in other people who would identify this person with yoga.
However, over the past 150-200 years, the situation has changed dramatically. It seems that some yoga teachers have made a decision: that's it, the time has come, humanity is ready to accept this science, now it's time to fully publicize the knowledge of yoga, to convey it to as many people as possible.
The most interesting thing is that historically this coincided with the scientific and technological revolution, as if yoga teachers were waiting for the moment when it would be possible to spread the knowledge of yoga very quickly with the help of modern means civilization. At the moment, the blessing of yoga teachers for the open dissemination of yoga knowledge has been received - certainly in those schools that are open, since even in our time there are many closed schools.
In our school of yoga in the Anandaswami tradition, it is believed that the knowledge of yoga belongs to all mankind, moreover, the history of civilization will largely depend on whether people will be able to perceive this ancient knowledge and the spiritual values embedded in it.
Is yoga a religion?
No is not. Yoga is extremely respectful of all religions, without singling out any of them, but it is not a religion itself - it is a system of self-knowledge. A person who adheres to any religious views, as well as an atheist, can practice yoga.
In yoga, it is believed that religion is a personal matter for everyone. Yoga does not contradict and perfectly complements religion, however, it completely distances itself from any religious disputes and disputes.
How do yoga and science relate to each other?
Yoga is extremely respectful of science, but is not itself a science. . The difference between science and yoga lies in the starting point: science tries to know the world by choosing an external starting point, in yoga, the starting point is the "I" of each person. In addition, yoga sacredly observes the first principle, in yoga it is considered that it is better to have no knowledge than to have knowledge gained at the expense of the suffering of sentient beings.
In science, the principles of morality and humanism are not always so strictly observed. However, in yoga, as in science, it is also called upon to hone one's mind, wherever possible, to observe the principle of logic and common sense, to root out any illogicality and obscurantism. Yoga knowledge never contradicts ordinary logic. Yoga is a great addition to science.
What diseases can be cured with yoga?
Yoga does not treat either physical or mental illnesses - there is medicine for this. Yoga is not a substitute for medicine, if you have health problems and you do not know if you can practice yoga, contact your doctor first. Yoga is designed for "practically healthy" people, in other cases, yoga should be approached with extreme caution.
Of course, there are situations when, with the help of yoga, a person was cured of diseases that official medicine recognized as incurable. Since yoga is a very strong teaching, it happens that it lifts a person out of bed, on whom the doctors, as they say, put an end to it, but, once again, there are no guarantees.
How does yoga feel about drugs?
Extremely negative! Yoga believes that it is fundamentally impossible to achieve any heights of self-knowledge with the help of chemistry - be it hallucinogens, psychotropic substances or any other drugs. The basis of spiritual self-transformation is only the will of a person and honest, purposeful work on oneself, it is impossible to “accelerate” this process with the help of chemistry.
Taking drugs, a person not only causes terrible harm to his body, but also sharply degrades spiritually, so yoga has a sharply negative attitude towards any narcotic substances. In the 20th century, there was a boom in the West, a huge surge of interest in drugs and hallucinogens, the followers of these movements were convinced that they opened up "new horizons of consciousness."
In yoga, this is considered a terrible myth, one of the dangerous traps on the path of the spiritual evolution of mankind.
Is there a certification? How to understand that the instructor professionally teaches yoga?
The very mentality of the countries of the East does not suggest that someone will take the liberty of certifying yoga teachers, there is not and cannot be a single certification center. In India, there are many different schools of yoga, the methods of these schools can sometimes differ dramatically. In addition, in the East there is ultimate freedom in choosing a method of self-knowledge, a method of spiritual development, they observe this freedom even more than we have the “Declaration of Human Rights”.
However, in some schools in India and in the West, there is a practice of certification of yoga teachers who have graduated from this school. However, the yoga tradition itself suggests that no certificate can guarantee you that you are really a yoga teacher or a professional teacher.
Of course, from the standpoint of logic, if you trust any school of yoga, it probably makes sense to trust a teacher who has a certificate from this school. But - no guarantees, because in yoga, the personality of the teacher is first of all important.
Therefore, the choice is only yours - if, while doing yoga under the guidance of an instructor, you feel trust in him and feel inner harmony from doing the exercises, it makes sense to continue practicing. If the instructor has certificates of all yoga schools, all conceivable and inconceivable initiations, but you personally do not feel trust in him - perhaps you should find another instructor.
What is the main purpose of yoga?
The main goal is to achieve the highest and transcendent state of happiness, awareness of one's higher "I", gaining complete freedom from any conditioning, any dependence. This state is called samadhi. Tantra
Hello, friends!
Every time I tell people that I'm a yoga instructor, they roll their eyes, spread their arms, put their thumb, index, and middle fingers together on each hand, and make an "oooommm" sound. According to them, this is what I do in my classes. 🙂
Others are surprised and say: “Cool! And show me some poses. Many men believe that yoga is only for women. It's not a man's job! Many women think that yoga is just stretching.
This leads to the conclusion that most people have no idea what yoga is and why it is becoming more and more popular in the Western world.
Moreover, when I started searching for information about yoga for my article, I began to read various sources on the Internet, I understood why. Most of the articles are written in a complex language, using terms from Sanskrit, which is not something that a simple layman, but also a knowledgeable person, is difficult to understand.
So, yoga is a combination of various spiritual, mental and physical practices that came to us from India.
MAIN DIRECTIONS OF YOGA
1. raja yoga(royal yoga) is known as classical yoga. Its main goal is to control the mind through meditation. Raja Yoga consists of eight steps, affecting all aspects of human existence.
Pit - norms of behavior, consists of five elements (non-violence, truthfulness, refraining from stealing, self-discipline - control over desires and lack of greed).
Niyama- following religious rules and regulations - full dedication to spiritual practices. It also consists of five elements (internal and external purity, contentment, austerity, study of scriptures and repetition of mantras, surrender to God and worship Him).
Asana- the ability to take certain positions of the body for meditation. Another exercise. Asana is any stable, motionless posture.
Pranayama- breathing practice aimed at relaxing the mind, cleansing the body, filling the body with energy. Prana means "life force", and "pit" means to control, manage.
Pratyahara- a technique for distracting feelings from the objects to which they are directed. Pratyahara gives inner spiritual strength. It allows you to achieve mental focus and increases willpower.
Dharana — concentration. real yoga begins with concentration, which turns into meditation. Mental concentration is aided by breath holding, sexual abstinence, clean eating, seclusion, silence, being in the company of a guru, and limiting human contact.
Dhyana- meditation. Feeling of happiness and love.
Samadhi - liberation from the ego, enlightenment. Obstacles and wanderings of the mind disappear, the yogi becomes independent of the external world and dissolves in the impersonal absolute.
2. Karma yoga(Yoga of Activity) is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred Hindu scripture in Sanskrit, and its main meaning is the performance of prescribed duties without attachment to the fruits of labor, without selfish motives, with the sole purpose of pleasing God.
3. Jnana yoga(the path of knowledge) is another direction of yoga, which acts as a path of self-awareness, on which the individual learns to distinguish reality from illusion and realizes his identity with the world, with the fundamental principle of all things.
4. Bhakti yoga The practice of bhakti yoga is aimed at cultivating love for God through bhakti - serving God with love and devotion. The practice of bhakti yoga is recommended in a number of sacred texts of Hinduism as the easiest and most effective view yoga.
5. Hatha yoga- the most common direction of yoga in the Western world, systematized by Swami Swatmarama (the author of the treatise "Hatha Yoga Pradipika") in the 15th century. Hatha yoga is presented as a system for preparing the physical body for complex meditation. That is, so that the body does not hurt, does not swell and does not become numb, thereby not distracting from the main thing, during many hours of sitting in one position.
Each exercise of hataha yoga (asana) affects a certain part of the body, organ or group of organs, improving their work.
Outside of India, the term "yoga" is often associated only with hatha yoga and its asanas, which does not reflect the spiritual and spiritual aspects of yoga.
I believe that everyone takes from yoga what he is ripe for. this moment. If a person is interested in yoga as a means to improve and strengthen health, that's fine. If he is ready for spiritual practices, even better. The most important thing is to listen to yourself and develop at your own pace.
If a person is ready for certain information or experience, he will definitely receive it from one or another source.
Be open to development, and an amazing life full of discoveries awaits you.
Practice yoga and be happy!
With sincere sympathy, Olesya.
