Yoga post. A Brief History of the Development of Modern Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice that has historical roots in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.

In its five thousand year history, it is experiencing a renaissance in modern culture, replacing the loincloth with a swimsuit and a pair of leggings.

Yoga has become popular as a physical exercise based on asanas (physical postures) to promote bodily and mental control and well-being.

• The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root "yuj" which means "to bind or join together".
• A 2008 market study showed that about 16 million people in the United States practice it.
• Most commonly practiced in Western culture is hatha yoga. "Ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon".
• There are many styles. The kind practiced should depend on the individual level physical training.
• Many yoga practitioners suffer injuries, among which the most common are sprains of the neck, shoulders, back, legs and knees.
• The American Academy of Orthopedics believes that the benefits of exercise outweigh the potential physical risks.
• It has eight levels or steps: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
• The system has many potential health benefits, including easing low back pain, helping control stress, and increasing balance and flexibility.
• There is some evidence that pregnant women who practice yoga are less likely to develop problems on their later dates and childbirth.

What is yoga?

Story

There is no written mention of its inventor. Yogis (yoga practitioners) practiced it long before there was any written mention of it. Masters have passed on knowledge to their students for thousands of years. Since yoga spread and gained global popularity, many schools of yoga have developed.

The postures currently practiced were not originally the dominant component traditional yoga in India. Fitness has not traditionally been the main focus of the practice.

The Yoga Sutra, a 2,000-year-old treatise on yoga philosophy by the Indian sage Patanjali, is a book that provides guidance on how to gain mastery over the mind and emotions and tips for spiritual growth, providing the foundation on which all modern practices are based. It is the earliest written record and one of the most ancient texts in existence.

The postures that are now an integral part of practice in many centers around the world were not originally the dominant component of yoga in India. Fitness was not the main goal; emphasis was placed on other practices such as pranayama (expansion of vital energy through breathing), dharana (focusing the mental faculties) and nada (sound).

It began to gain popularity in the West at the end of the 19th century, with an explosion of interest in postural yoga in the 1920s and 1930s, first in India and then in Western countries.

Philosophy

Yoga in ancient times was often expressed in terms of a tree with roots, trunk, branches, flowers and fruits. Each branch has unique characteristics and represents special approach to life. Six branches of yoga:

• Hatha yoga - the physical and mental branch - includes the practice of asana and pranayama - the preparation of the body and mind.
• Raja yoga - meditation and strict adherence to the "eight steps".
• Karma yoga is a path of service to the conscious creation of a future free from negativity and selfishness caused by our actions.
• Bhatki yoga - the path of devotion - is a positive way to channel your emotions and develop acceptance and tolerance.
• Jnana Yoga is wisdom, the path of knowledge and intelligence through exploration.
• Tantra yoga is a path of ritual, ceremonial relationships.

eight degrees

Raja Yoga is traditionally called Ashtanga Yoga (eight-pointed) because there are 8 aspects of the path to be traversed. Eight limbs of yoga:

• Yama - ethical standards and a sense of integrity. The five yamas are: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (abstinence) and aparigraha (non-greed).
• Niyama - self-discipline and spiritual rituals, meditative practices, contemplative walks. The five niyama are: shaucha (purity), samtosha (harmony), tapas (warmth, spiritual rigor), svadhyaya (study of sacred texts and oneself) and isvara pranidhana (worship of God).
• Asana is the union of mind and body through physical activity.
• Pranayama is the control of the breath, which leads to the unification of the mind and body.
• Pratyahara is the renunciation of the senses of perception, the external world and external stimuli.
• Dharana is concentration, purposefulness of the mind.
• Dhyana - meditation and contemplation - a continuous flow of concentration.
• Samadhi is a quiet state of blissful awareness.

Chakras

The word chakra means "revolving wheel". From a yoga perspective, chakras are the convergence of energy, thoughts, feelings, and the physical body. They determine the perception of reality from our emotional reactions, our desires and aversions, our level of trust or fear, even the manifestation of physical symptoms.

Chakras determine the perception of reality from our emotional responses, our desires and aversions, our level of trust or fear, even the manifestation of physical symptoms.

When energy is blocked in a chakra, it triggers physical, mental, or emotional imbalances, resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion. The theory is to use asanas to release energy and stimulate an imbalanced chakra.

There are seven main chakras, each with its own associations:

1. Sahasrara: The "thousand petals" or "crown chakra" represents a state of pure consciousness. This chakra is located at the top of the head and is indicated by white or purple. The Sahasrara includes matters of inner wisdom and the death of the body.
2. Ajna: The "command" or "third eye chakra" represents the point of contact between two important energy flows in organism. Ajna corresponds to purple, dark blue or indigo, although it is traditionally described as white. The chakra is associated with the pituitary gland, growth and development.
3. Vishuddha: "very pure" or "throat chakra" is symbolized in red or blue. This chakra represents the home of hearing and speech, the endocrine glands that control metabolism.
4. Anahata: The "unaffected" or "heart chakra" is associated with the color green or pink. The main issues associated with anahata include complex emotions, compassion, tenderness, unconditional love, balance, rejection and well-being.
5. Manipura: The "city of pearl" or "navel chakra" is symbolized by the color yellow. This chakra is associated with digestive system, along with personal power, fear, anxiety, opinion formation, and self-centeredness.
6. Svadhisthana: The "pelvic chakra" is the home of the reproductive organs, the genitourinary system, and the adrenal glands.
7. Muladhara: The "root chakra" is located at the base of the spine in the coccygeal region. It supports our instinctive desires for food, sleep, sex and survival.

Types

Modern forms of yoga have evolved into exercises focusing on strength, flexibility and breathing in order to increase physical and mental well-being. There are many styles, none of which is superior to the other. The choice of type depends on your fitness level.

A yoga class should be chosen based on your fitness level and experience.

Types and styles may include:

• Ashtanga yoga: based on ancient teachings, but popularized in the 1970s; each of the six established sequences of postures quickly associates any movement with the breath.
• Bikram yoga: held in artificially heated to 38-40 ° C rooms with a relative humidity of 40%; bikram is a series of 26 roses and a sequence of two breathing exercises
• Hatha yoga: general term for any type of yoga that teaches physical postures; as a rule, this is a cautious introduction to the main provisions.
• Iyengar yoga: focuses on finding the right alignment in every posture; for this he uses blocks, belts, chairs and rollers.
• Jivamukti yoga: "liberation in life". Jivamukti originated in 1984 incorporating spiritual techniques and the practice of the vinyasa style. Each class has a theme which is taught through scripture, chanting, meditation, asana, pranayama and music.
• Kripalu Yoga: Teaches practitioners to recognize, accept and explore the body. Each student discovers their own level of practice. Classes usually begin with breathing exercises and gentle stretches, followed by a series of individual positions and final relaxation.
• Kundalini Yoga: The word "kundalini" in Sanskrit means "flexible like a snake." This is a system of meditation aimed at releasing the energy of the kundalini. The session usually begins and ends with singing, and in between are asana, pranayama and meditation, designed to achieve a certain result.
• Power yoga: an active and athletic style adapted from traditional system ashtanga in the late 1980s.
• Prenatal yoga: positions carefully adapted for expectant mothers. Prenatal yoga is designed to help women through all stages of pregnancy or to help get back in shape after giving birth.
• Restorative yoga: relaxing method; The class uses 4-5 positions using blankets and bolsters to get you into deep relaxation without any effort to maintain the posture.
• Sivananda: A system based on the five-point philosophy that proper breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise and positive thinking work together to form healthy lifestyle life. Usually 12 basic asanas are used.
• Vinyasa yoga: Vinyasa classes are known for their fluid practices with intense movements. Classes are often accompanied by choreography to smoothly transition from one pose to another.
• Viniyoga: designed to be adapted to every individual, regardless of physical ability; Viniyoga teachers are well trained and experts in anatomy and yoga therapy.
• Yin: A calm, meditative practice also called Taoist yoga. Yin yoga allows you to release tension in key joints: ankles, knees, hips, spine, neck and shoulders. Yin postures are passive, meaning the muscles are relaxed and allow gravity to do its work.

Benefit for health

Scientific studies of varying quality have been published on the health benefits of yoga and its medical applications. Studies have shown that it is safe and effective method increase physical capabilities, especially strength, flexibility and balance. However, can the practice of yoga be useful in diseases? Below are the medical evidence and the results of modern scientific research.

Scientists and physicians conducting research related to yoga are focusing on its potential ability to prevent, treat or alleviate certain diseases, such as heart disease, increased arterial pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, diabetes mellitus and menopausal symptoms, and its benefits in relieving stress and combating chronic disease or disability.

Anxiety and depression

Yoga is one of the most common ways used to deal with depression.

A 9-week course in veterans significantly reduced anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Functional mental status scores also improved, although pain intensity and physical health showed no positive developments.

Yoga can be an effective way to reduce anxiety and even prevent future anxiety.

An increase in blood cortisol levels is well known in depression, and yoga has been shown to reduce stress parameters, including them. Research has shown that it can act at the level of the hypothalamus to lower cortisol levels and alleviate depression.

Scientific evidence suggests that yoga can be recommended as an adjunct treatment for patients with depressive disorders and people with elevated levels depression.

Professional musicians often suffer from high levels stress, anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders. Considering the fact that most of them started playing music before the age of 12, it is important to identify methods that will be aimed at solving these problems from a very young age.

Research has shown that yoga can be an effective way to reduce anxiety, and even prevent it in the future, in teenagers. These results also point to new methodology treatment that could potentially ease anxiety and prevent the end of a musical career.

Arthritis

Scientific research has discovered positive changes psychological and physiological treatment outcomes associated with arthritis.

Asthma

Asthmatics who practice yoga have improvements in the proportion of hemoglobin and the antioxidant superoxide and a decrease in total white blood cell count. They have better biochemical parameters. Research results have shown that it can be practiced as an adjunctive treatment in combination with standard inhalation therapy in order to improve outcomes.

Balance and falls

In the elderly, falls are a global problem. Although it is not a necessary part of aging, older people are more prone to falls, which are one of the leading causes of death and disability.

Yoga helps improve coordination and prevent falls in the elderly.

Yoga and tai chi have been shown to be effective in improving coordination and preventing falls in the elderly. They can also relieve pain and improve quality of life.

Bipolar disorder

In patients with bipolar disorder, it has a positive emotional impact, reduces anxiety, and has positive cognitive and physical effects. The most common effect of yoga was physical damage or pain.

Cognitive problems in breast cancer

Cancer patients often have cognitive problems. In addition, a decrease in physical activity usually occurs during cancer treatment.

Yoga can effectively reduce cognitive problems in patients with breast cancer.

Disability in breast cancer

Secondary arm lymphedema continues to develop in at least 20% of women after breast cancer treatment. It is characterized by pain and limitation of movement, which requires lifelong professional therapy and self-treatment.

An eight-week course of yoga reduced the hardening of the tissues of the affected arm and reduced the intensity of the symptoms. The volume of the arm with lymphedema and extracellular fluid did not increase. These benefits did not last after the sessions were discontinued.

Fatigue associated with cancer

Research has shown that yoga may be helpful in reducing cancer-related fatigue in women with breast cancer.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms seen in cancer survivors. It often has pronounced long-term consequences. Research shows that yoga can have an invigorating effect on physical and mental energy and can improve fatigue levels through this.

Cardiovascular diseases

A sedentary lifestyle and stress are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Since yoga consists of exercise and a mindset that helps reduce stress, it may be effective for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. It can be used as an additional method of prevention in the general population and in patients at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Chronic neck pain

Yoga classes for 9 weeks for chronic non-specific neck pain led to an improvement in the condition for at least 12 months after the end of the program.

Chronic heart failure

There is an assumption that yoga classes have a positive effect on oxygen uptake and the quality of life of patients.

Yoga can be included in a cardiac rehabilitation program. The study showed that adding exercise to standard medical care in patients with heart failure improved cardiac function and reduced myocardial stress in patients with stable heart failure.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Yoga classes have a positive effect on improving lung function and exercise tolerance and can be used as an adjunct to a pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Flexibility

Yoga classes significantly increase the flexibility of the erector spinae and hamstring muscles.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Regular and right occupation yoga combined with antisecretory drugs (proton pump inhibitors) can control severe symptoms of GERD and avoid or delay the need for surgery.

Hypertonic disease

Yoga can be part of physical activity in the treatment and prevention of hypertension, showing encouraging results.

Lower back pain

Some research suggests that yoga may be effective for chronic low back pain and that yoga may be helpful in reducing pain and using medications.

Studies have shown that a six-week yoga course is an effective early treatment for non-specific low back pain.

Researchers suggest that one of the main factors mediating yoga's positive effects on chronic low back pain is brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

The results of comparative studies show that yoga classes provide more significant relaxation pain and improved quality of life than a conventional exercise program.

Scientists agree that yoga can be an effective complementary therapy for chronic low back pain.

Menopause

Researchers believe yoga is an effective complementary therapy for women suffering from menopausal symptoms.

mental health

Physical activity has a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Yoga improves self-esteem and body image, reduces fatigue and symptoms of depression.

metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is the medical term for a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Regular classes yoga can mitigate the effects of metabolic syndrome.

Migraine

Classes lead to a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of migraines. Scientists believe that they can be effectively included in the treatment of migraine. Yoga, in combination with pharmacological treatment, is an effective way to improve vascular function in these patients.

mother and child

Yoga classes for mother and child are becoming increasingly popular in the postpartum period. With their help, the mother connects with her child and relaxes.

Postpartum classes help strengthen muscles pelvic floor and abdomen, as well as relieve pain in the neck and back, strengthen the connection with the child.

Postpartum yoga can bring calm and a sense of well-being by helping moms improve and stabilize their emotional health and bond with their baby. In addition, mothers can focus on their relationship with their baby, repair weakened pelvic muscles, strengthen abdominal muscles, and even relieve neck and back pain. In infants, activities can aid digestion and relieve colic, help strengthen tiny limbs, improve sleep, and enhance their ability to interact with mom and others.

oxidative stress

Hypertension, especially in the elderly, is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress contributes to the development of hypertension.

Yoga is an effective way to reduce oxidative stress and improve antioxidant defenses in elderly people with hypertension.

post-traumatic stress

It significantly reduces the intensity of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and improves the functionality of traumatized people.

Pregnancy

Exercises are used for various immunological, neuromuscular, psychological and pain conditions. Recent studies have shown that it may be effective method improving the course of pregnancy, childbirth and birth outcomes.

It can help reduce stress levels, improve quality of life, and improve childbirth parameters such as comfort, intensity, and duration of pain.

Breathing and meditation techniques contribute to the health and relaxation of expectant mothers, maintain focus on helping childbirth. In order to help optimal placement of the fetus, certain postures are chosen.

The results of a survey on the effectiveness of physical exercises, including yoga, during pregnancy:

• 86% of women answered that exercise during pregnancy is beneficial;
• 83% think it's good to start exercising before pregnancy
• 62% believe that walking is the most beneficial form of exercise;
• 64% reported that they did exercise during pregnancy;
• 51% exercised 2-3 times a week;
• 65% believe that yoga is beneficial;
• 40% tried yoga before pregnancy.

Yoga reduces the physical and physiological symptoms of anxiety. Prenatal classes are useful in reducing women's fears of childbirth and preventing depressive symptoms from worsening.

Prenatal yoga can improve mood and reduce postpartum symptoms of depression.

Scientists believe that exercise can reduce stress levels, the intensity and duration of labor pain, improve quality of life, interpersonal relationships, autonomic function nervous system and comfort.

restless leg syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is a common and very distressing sleep disorder.

When practicing yoga, there is a decrease in the severity of the symptoms of this syndrome. People also experienced significant improvements in sleep, stress perception, and mood.

Dream

The increase in age is associated with physiological changes that affect sleep. In the elderly, undiagnosed and untreated insomnia can lead to worsening daily activities and reduce the quality of life. Insomnia is also a risk factor for accidents and falls, which are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the elderly.

Yoga classes improved a number of subjective factors, including:

• Overall sleep quality
• Sleep efficiency;
• sleep duration;
• Own assessment of sleep quality;
• Fatigue;
• General well-being;
• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Stress;
• tension;
• Anger;
• Viability;
• Physical, emotional and social state.

Yoga safely improves sleep and quality of life in older adults with insomnia.

stress management

Exercise can be helpful for managing stress.

Research shows that yoga classes at school can help manage stress and improve children's behavior.

Children and young people in today's world face many expectations and constant stimulation through the Internet and other media and communication technologies. One of the reasons why children are stressed and have mental health reasons is that globalization is exposing the youth of the world to various new demands, standards and options. Scientists have found that yoga can help children and young people manage stress and promote life balance, well-being and mental health.

Urinary incontinence

Yoga reduces inflammation and may help improve urinary incontinence symptoms, improving quality of life.

Body weight control

Both yoga and walking significantly reduce body mass index, waist and hip circumference, improve muscle mass and fluid content in the body, reduce the level of total cholesterol in the blood. Improve anthropometric data and blood lipid profile in overweight and obese people.

Risks and side effects

Yoga is generally safe for healthy people when done properly under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

Injuries are an infrequent obstacle to continuing activities, and severe injuries are rare.

Yoga should never replace traditional medical treatment. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting classes.

Pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, glaucoma, and sciatica, should modify or avoid certain yoga postures.

Beginners should avoid some difficult activities such as headstands, lotus posture, and power breathing.

People with medical conditions should consult with their doctor and yoga teacher in order to properly adapt postures; patients with glaucoma should avoid inverted positions, and patients with weakened bones should avoid strength exercises.

Do not replace traditional medical treatment with yoga or postpone a visit to the doctor. If you have an illness, please consult with your specialist before starting classes.

Publication date: 2015-10-23
Last modified: 2020-01-31

Dear visitors of the site Farmamir. This article is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a physician.

Today, the teachings of yoga filled the minds of all mankind. It is safe to say that this ancient knowledge covers the entire planet - new yoga schools, ashrams are appearing everywhere, aimed not only at working with the body, but also specialized meditation centers

The legend of the origin of yoga

Shri Matsyendra was a fisherman, and one day he was swallowed by a huge fish that hid at the bottom of the ocean, near the place where the Great God Shiva intended to reveal the innermost secret teachings of yoga to his wife Parvati. During the transmission of special instructions, Parvati fell asleep, and when Shiva asked if she had received the transmission of the Teaching, Matsyendra sang from the belly of the fish: "Om." It turned out that he received initiation before the wife of Lord Shiva herself!
Matsyendra was fascinated by the teachings of yoga. After spending 12 years in a fish belly and studying the spiritual practices of yoga all this time, he became liberated (achieved enlightenment). Being already an enlightened Master, Matsyendra transmitted this teaching (Dharma) to many living beings for another five hundred years, after which he completely dissolved the elements of his material body in the Clear Light and disappeared.
One way or another, but in one of the most important treatises "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" in the line of transmission of knowledge, Matsyendra is named the first after Shiva. One of the most popular hatha yoga asanas, matsyendrasana, is dedicated to him.

A tablet found during excavations in Harappa with a yogi in a butterfly pose (baddha konasana) - on the right, 3500-2700. BC e.

Historical facts and archaeological evidence

A tablet found during excavations in Harappa with a yogi in a butterfly pose (baddha konasana), 3500-2700. BC e.

Yoga as a system originated in India in ancient times. This is evidenced by the oldest written monuments of Indian culture that have come down to us, namely the Vedas - a collection of the most ancient scriptures in Sanskrit. The Vedas consist of four parts:

Rig Veda(Veda of hymns);
Samaveda(Veda of chants);
Yajurveda(Veda of sacrificial formulas);
Atharvavaeda(Veda of spells).

A number of scientists trace the origin of yoga to the III-II millennium BC, based on the fact that during the excavations of the cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa in the Indus Valley, seals were found depicting people who were in various yoga poses. The first written monuments - the Vedas - appeared, as is commonly believed, after the invasion of Hindustan by the Aryan tribes. If the indigenous culture was destroyed by them, then in the ten centuries that have passed from this event to the emergence of the Vedas, yoga, as its element, was assimilated by the conquerors. However, there is an alternative point of view, according to which Yoga was brought to India by the Aryans.

Seal from Mohenjo Daro, III-II millennium BC.

The first and most revered to this day systematic manual on classical yoga that has come down to us are the Yoga Sutras, their authorship is attributed to the sage Patanjali, who was not only a well-known theorist and practitioner of yoga, but also an Ayurvedic physician. The philosophical principles of yoga and its worldview are described in detail in the ancient treatise "Bhagavad Gita" (there is no exact dating, presumably III-I millennium BC). The text of the Gita is a conversation between the god Krishna and the warrior Arjuna before the battle of Kurukshetra, where Krishna teaches Arjuna the science of life.
According to the Bhagavad Gita, "yoga is balance." The ideal of the Gita is not an ascetic from a cave, immersed in deep meditation, but an ordinary person. The yogi should not leave the world, on the contrary, he should remain in it, not deviating from the natural conditions of life and life. It is easy to be enlightened by protecting yourself from the influence of the outside world, but maintaining harmony without succumbing to external temptations is much more difficult. The main conditions: systematic practice and non-attachment to the material. It was this interpretation that made yoga extremely popular in Indian society, and the idea that only selfless activity leads to liberation has survived to this day.

Yoga Sutras, 2nd century BC

There are other yogic texts, the most famous of which are the popular medieval Tantric texts on Hatha Yoga written by plain language understandable to the masses. These are Shiva Samhita and Gheranda Samhita, as well as Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Before the appearance of the mentioned texts (in the 12th century), yoga was known, attributed to a certain Gorakh-nath, who, according to legend, compiled the Goraksha-shataka, a thesis on Hatha yoga.

Yoga and other spiritual teachings of the East

Buddhism never denied yoga, but modified its technology to suit its needs. At the same time, Buddhists equally rejected both the teachings of the Vedas and the yogic philosophical "decoration", but they took a lot from yoga for their spiritual practices.

The most radical change classical yoga Patanjali Tantrism, which assimilated a lot of popular cults and superstitions. Beginning around the 6th century CE, he took a leading position in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism.
Tantrism claims that in the era of the dark times of the Kali Yuga in which we live, all previous traditions, including the Vedas, could not provide enlightenment, in fact, it can only be achieved by turning any daily activities into a yogic ritual. And today, yoga teachers often say that the real practice begins the moment you roll up the mat after class.

Tantra believes that perfection can only be achieved in the "divine body", and therefore one should maintain pristine health as long as possible. Without absolutely healthy body it is impossible to achieve bliss, so tantrikas also practice yoga asanas. If the tantric sadhana (realization of the teaching) implies the rise of the Kundalini, then the Nath sect has made asanas its religion. Nathas and Sahaja Vaishnavas united countless sects of "folk yoga".
In some sects, yoga has completely degraded, which is an example of Shaivite ascetics. Unthinkable modifications of it also arose in Tibetan tantric societies, for example, the chhod rite, a ritual of a yogi sacrificing his mental essence to be devoured by demons. Himalayan ascetics worked with internal heat, called "tumo", are also known running yoga. In Tibet, the yogic tradition fell under the influence of local cults, which gave rise to many variations, the most significant of which are the six doctrines of Naropa.

Figurine depicting the sage Patanjali, the creator of the yoga sutras

Indian yogic practices had a significant impact on the development of Sufism. The ancient Indian text on yoga, "Amritakunda" ("Lake of Nectar"), was translated into Arabic and Persian back in the 11th century. After the Muslim conquest of India, the cultural mixing of Islam with Indian traditions gave rise to the yoga of Sufism. Initially, Muslim yogis were called fakirs to distinguish them from Hindu yogis, Buddhists and followers of Patanjali, then magicians and sorcerers, lone yogis who earned their living by demonstrating "miracles" were called this word. Although in the West the concepts of “fakir” and “yogi” are confused, but this is not true, the difference between them is about the same as between wandering ascetic monks and wandering acrobats in the cities of medieval Europe.
An even stronger difference still exists in India between yogis and "sadhus" - "God's people", many of whom only pretend to be yogis. In fact, most often a sadhu is an analogue of our beggars begging for alms.
Now in India and beyond there are a huge number of centers, institutes, schools and ashrams.
In addition to spiritual practice, there is also yoga sports (yoga competitions created to popularize it) and yoga therapy (treatment of diseases with the help of asanas, correct breathing and correct concentration).

Almost everyone has heard something about yoga. Indeed, today it has become very popular in many countries, and has successfully spread throughout the world. People have experienced the beneficial effects of yoga on their body. But, unfortunately, few people still know and understand the true essence of yoga. In this article, I want to fill this gap and tell you what yoga really is, why modern man needs it at all.

The fact is that in modern society yoga begins to acquire new facets, change beyond recognition, lose the true essence that was present in antiquity.

This trend can be traced even in the birthplace of yoga - India. Even there today you can find many schools that have nothing to do with real yoga. And then what about other countries.

So, yoga, mysterious and incomprehensible, what is it and why do we need it.

Let's look into this issue and reveal the true truth.

modern yoga

First I want to tell you what yoga has become today, and also why it happened.

If you see an advertisement for yoga courses in your city, start going there, then what will they teach you there?

Most likely, you will be shown the so-called asanas, they will tell you that yoga is their performance. What you need to stretch in asanas, develop flexibility. In more advanced schools, they may even show breathing exercises- pranayama, cleansing procedures. They will tell you that it is good for health, that after mastering them, you can call yourself a yogi.

This is the most popular distortion of yoga today, even boldly, one might say - degeneration.

It has simply become a physical practice. The only difference from ordinary physical education is that the practitioner tries to accept complex poses- asanas, linger in them, doing stretching. And so it is a banal gymnastics.

Firstly, these schools took only a small part of yoga, the so-called hatha yoga. And secondly, even having pulled out a small piece from a coherent system, it is still interpreted, understood and taught incorrectly.

There are also many other directions of modern and incorrect yoga. Some sincerely try to get closer to the true essence, others simply ugly distort the meaning of real yoga, others use high-profile names for their enrichment.

These are the prefixes to the word yoga that can be found today: power, tri, ishvara, acro, fly, naked, Pilates, steam room, classical, etc. Human fantasy has no limits. Or add your last name, the name of the school to the name. Or they disguise themselves as primordially ancient, Indian names: tantra, kundalini, ashtanga, etc.

Yes, of course, there are schools that teach for real. But there are very few such schools. It is difficult for a person to understand all this diversity. Yes, he just has no time to do it. In an effort to get rid of any illness or psychological problem, he finds information about the beneficial effects of yoga, in desperation he enrolls in the first school that caught his eye, and then, in hope, he waits for getting rid of his problems.

That is, we do yoga only if we stop this internal dialogue and it doesn’t matter what you do and what kind of yoga you use. Whether you are doing asana, breathing pranayama or anything else. Above, I said that yoga is practiced by those who follow the spiritual path.

Exactly. Because stopping the internal dialogue is a mysterious universal mechanism or algorithm for revealing the spirit, soul in oneself, which means following the spiritual path. Why is that?

Let's go back to Patanjali.

He writes that when the uncontrolled states of consciousness cease, "The seer remains in his essence."

"Seeing" is our true essence, the soul, which connects with the spirit, God, the Universe, all nature. Yogis say that everyone has it inside of us, we just don’t notice it because of the constantly turned on mental noise, that is, it is hidden under the cover of the ego.

They turned out to be right.

The fact is that our consciousness consists of two main parts: the psyche or else they say, the mind, which is always on the surface and true awareness. It is the last real awareness, or else they say the soul, the real I is hidden deep inside, but it is precisely this that is the main consciousness that determines everything that happens to a person.

These are the roots of his character, deep and incomprehensible to the mind, spiritual impulses, inner aspirations. A person who was able to get to the depths of his consciousness, that is, by opening his soul, is capable of incredible things. It is there that Love lives, lofty feelings, the ability to understand everything without words, intuition, paranormal abilities, craving for exploits, where we are driven by something that is stronger than death.

It is true awareness, the soul connects with the spirit. The discovery of the soul in oneself is the path to the spirit, spiritual development. And how to come to the spirit. Yes, very simple, because Patanjali wrote it in just two sentences. Stop the uncontrollable mental noise, then the "Seer" will come to the surface.

The noise of the mind or internal dialogue is the work of our psyche, and when it stops, we come to real awareness, which means we develop spiritually. Only by stopping the work of the lower consciousness, the higher consciousness comes to the surface.

And doing yoga means stopping your inner dialogue, striving to open your soul, come to the spirit. Many methods are used for this. All directions, branches of yoga strive for this goal, only then it real yoga.

A the best remedy gaining silence of the mind, stopping the internal dialogue that yogis came up with, of course. It is she who should occupy the main time of classes. Only then can you come to the spirit, which means telling yourself that now you are doing yoga, and nothing else.

In one of the most ancient excavations in India, they found an image of a human deity who simply sits and meditates. He does not perform difficult asanas, does not stretch, does not develop flexibility, he simply sits, trying to stop his mind. Thus he attains the Highest.

Yoga is divided into steps and directions. All of them serve the main purpose, that is, they help to come to the spirit. Let's take a look at them. But you will also learn how to distinguish the real step or direction from its parody or misunderstanding, in order not to end up in some school where yoga is taught by the unknown.

Types of yoga

Hatha yoga

Perhaps this is the most famous and popular type of yoga, but also the most monstrous today in terms of distortion of the ancient teachings.

Due to this misinterpretation of ancient knowledge, most people think that doing yoga means twisting yourself into some kind of complex postures called asanas.

Many schools teach hatha as a set of asanas, ostensibly to achieve perfect health.

You need to understand: firstly, the miraculous effects of healing the body and psyche arise precisely from that universal mechanism for opening the spirit, which was mentioned above, that is, from stopping the internal dialogue, and not from the fact that you take some postures. To understand this fact, I suggest you read with, and this is also mentioned in other articles on this blog.

And secondly, hatha is an auxiliary method of gaining the spirit, one of the steps of an integral system. This means that in order to achieve the main goal, yoga should take only a small percentage of the total time of classes. And most of the time should be spent on the main method-meditation. It is in it that it turns out to qualitatively come to the silence of the mind, which means moving towards the main goal of yoga.

And then why do you need to perform asanas in yoga. Everything is simple.

Performing a set of asanas helps the practitioner move along the spiritual path. So that the body does not interfere with the yoga to comprehend the Higher, it must be perfectly healthy. Meditation itself gives perfect health.

But, firstly, with the help of asanas, this is achieved much faster, and secondly, to get rid of some diseases, you need to work with the body: do massage internal organs, affect the spine, change the position of the body relative to the gravity of the earth, stretch the muscles.

Thirdly, for many people, as well as with large volumes of meditation practice, strong relaxation or low pressure can occur. This can be compensated by either physical activity, or a well-chosen complex of asanas.

But performing asanas incorrectly, instead of health, on the contrary, one can cause great harm to oneself.

You correctly perform hatha yoga exercises only if:

• do them not through pain;
• do not just do exercises, but work with consciousness (distract from the outside world, transfer attention to the body, deconcentrate);
• even here you apply the universal mechanism of the path to the spirit, that is, you try to stop the internal dialogue, come to the silence of the mind.

Remember what Patanjali said: Yoga is stopping the mind.

So if you are just bending into difficult poses for the sake of stretching, maintaining physical form or it is not known for the sake of something else, you are not doing yoga, but ordinary physical education, acrobatics or something else.

Only a combination of stopping the psyche and performing asanas does wonders. We can say that you should meditate in asanas.

Now you can understand when you come to any school of hatha yoga, whether they teach you correctly.

If you are forced to simply perform asanas, supposedly to increase health, then this is not yoga. Without stopping the mind, the effect of acquiring health will be negligible, or you will simply waste time or even harm yourself.

Some schools, for example, the well-known school of Viktor Boyko teach to relax in asanas. this, in fact, is the acquisition of the silence of the mind, which means it is the correct performance of asanas. Many miraculous healings in this school arise from the fact that by relaxing in asanas, people turn off the internal dialogue.

But remember, all these schools are precisely hatha, one of the varieties of an integral system. If you want to really practice yoga, meditation should be the bulk of your practice.

And hatha only helps you to follow the spiritual path. Of course, you can do one hatha yoga, but it will not be a full-fledged yoga, and you simply will not get many effects. Then why spend a lot of time on it, as they do in many schools. In modern society, we already have little time, a lot of work and responsibilities. Better take up meditation, it will bring you much more benefits. And let the asanas go as a small warm-up, introduction, preparation for meditation.

Tantra yoga

For many, when pronouncing the word tantra, there is an association with sexual practices. This is also a big distortion, a misunderstanding of the ancient teachings. Yes, indeed, in some practices of tantra sex is used, but it is used again to achieve the main goal - to comprehend the spirit, to open the soul. And the tantra itself is large and multifaceted. Tantra is not only sexual practices, so it is wrong to put an identity sign between these concepts. This teaching contains many methods of following the spiritual path, such as the method of raising the kundalini energy.

Kundalini yoga

Also today a very popular offshoot of the ancient teachings.

Kundalini yoga is a work with subtle energy in the body, with chakras and energy channels.

At right meditation or with the correct performance of asanas, that is, during the silence of the mind, the practitioner sooner or later begins to feel within himself manifestations of the internal subtle energy of the body, or else they say bioenergy.

If you manage it, you can achieve a lot, including reaching the spirit faster. It can also be said that any spiritual seeker is faced with the fact that he begins to feel the inner energy, to understand that there is a temptation to control it. But this is a subtle game that requires high skill.

Many kundalini yoga techniques can be simply dangerous without a good mentor, and there are very few of them now.

Therefore, I would not advise you to play with kundalini on your own without a good teacher.

raja yoga

Raja or they also say "royal yoga" is the highest yoga of consciousness, when we are engaged in the main practice - meditation. It includes both ordinary, but also various, light, as well as complex psychotechnics: concentration, deconcentration and others. Unfortunately, few people teach real meditation, a good teacher is hard to find.

People have no choice but to search for information on the Internet. But there is a lot of garbage on the Internet, in order to get to the bottom of the matter, you have to figure it out, waste time. Readers of this blog can be said to be lucky. You can download mine and practice it correctly.

There are other areas of yoga, but these are the most popular of the ancients. About newfangled names, from which there is little sense and I don’t want to talk.

yoga steps

Let's now figure out what are the steps of yoga. But you need to understand that they are called so only conditionally. Such a name is actually confusing, also leads to misunderstanding.

For example, there is an opinion that before proceeding to raja, supposedly the highest level of yoga, one needs to prepare the body for several years and practice hatha yoga. This is not true. Thus, one can prepare for meditation all his life and never touch such a wonderful opportunity. Meditation itself already heals the body by stopping the psyche. The psyche and the body are closely interconnected, just stopping the mind has a beneficial effect on the entire body.

So don't put off meditation until later. All steps of yoga should be practiced at once, only in this way you will achieve results. They are closely interconnected, one simply does not exist without the other. Why so, now you will understand everything.

Yama and Niyama

The first two steps at first glance are similar to moral principles: for example, not causing harm, truthfulness, generosity, as well as a tendency to abstinence, limitation. But if you look deeper, the global meaning of these prescriptions becomes clear.

After all, following yogic morality is the same as curbing sinful passions in oneself: jealousy, envy, selfishness, gluttony, lust, and others.

And this is the primary curbing of one's psyche, the initial suspension of the internal dialogue, skills, skills, development. After all, negative thoughts, emotions are generated by our lower ego consciousness, through its egoistic mechanisms: a sense of self-importance, all kinds of fears, passions and desires.

For many people, the psyche is so out of control, giving rise to negative feelings, that they simply cannot even sit down in meditation to observe their thoughts.

They are simply taken out of the correct state, and they usually do not understand why they should do this at all.

That is why any spiritual path begins with the control of one's psyche, not only during meditation, but everywhere and always. Not only begins, but is also constantly present throughout life. So we come to Everyday life, to impeccability, to the best, from the point of view of evolution, the state of man.

It can be said that adhering to the principles of yama and niyama, we practice yoga everywhere and always, as it should be, and not only when we sit on the mat.

Asana

This step is dedicated specifically to hatha yoga. She is mentioned above. The one who practices raja yoga does not forget about hatha. And hatha is impossible without a raja. And not so that you first need to perform asanas for several years in order to prepare the body for the highest levels of teaching.

Pranayama

Pranayama is not breath control, as many mistakenly think.

Breath control is very dangerous. This is, first of all, the exit of consciousness to subtle levels through breathing.

Yes, there are breath manipulation techniques in pranayama. But basically, certain conditions are created in them, when breathing naturally changes its pattern or pace as a result of the restructuring of the body. Pranayama also helps to stop the inner dialogue deeper, and therefore move towards the main goal.

Pratyahara, dharana, dhyana

The next steps are the meditation itself. It begins with pratyahara - diverting attention from external stimuli, transferring it inside oneself. And during meditation, dharana-concentration is often replaced by dhyana - contemplation, deconcentration.

All three steps are interdependent and are often mixed in meditation. True contemplation leads to concentration and vice versa. Concentration also often changes to deconcentration, contemplation. All these words will be clear to you after you learn how to meditate correctly.

Samadhi is already the ultimate goal, when the practitioner achieves unity, the highest, the spirit. Becomes enlightened.

But in fact, having achieved samadhi, the yogi understands that this is not the end, but only the beginning of a new road. There is no limit to perfection and that's good.

The spiritual path is always a path in which, having reached a new turn, we discover new endless distances of the unknown universe.

Each stage, many types of yoga are closely interconnected and represent a harmonious, deep system of human self-improvement. Unfortunately, people pull out a small piece from a holistic beautiful picture and try to consider something in it. The result is a flawed, distorted observation. And often they just hurt themselves.

For example, they practice asanas, forgetting about the silence of the mind. Or, on the contrary, they meditate a lot, not paying attention to the body, not interacting with the outside world with the help of a pit.

Or they completely forget that yoga is a spiritual path. It's sad to watch. I hope this article will somehow correct this ignorance, illiteracy, distortion of the great teaching.

Of course, you can take some part of yoga and practice it.

But, firstly, it will not be a full-fledged yoga, and secondly, the benefits that yoga is so famous for will only be if you apply a psychic stop, come to the silence of the mind. And if you already undertake to practice a part of yoga, and not yoga itself, in order to achieve some of your goals, then at least do it correctly, otherwise you don’t need to say that you are doing yoga.

That's all for today.

See you soon friends.

And to understand what real yoga can lead to, I suggest you watch this video:

Sincerely, Sergey Tigrov

Yoga is a practical ancient system of self-knowledge. In India (approximately 2500-1800 BC), the first images of yogis are found. Approximately 500-100 BC the Vedas (Hymns of "knowledge") were written down, from which the main directions were formed - Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda. These sections contained knowledge about the world order, science, arts, medicine, family and many other aspects of knowledge. Subsequently, shastras were written, directly and practically explaining the texts on Yoga.

To understand and decipher this knowledge, the keys of tradition and personal experience practices, as well as knowledge of the Orthodox language. As you understand, this is not a completely feasible task for a beginner. But over time, later authoritative more understandable texts appeared.

The main later yoga tests are Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shivasamhita and Gherandasamhita, which appeared in the 11th-17th centuries. AD

Yoga is based on cosmology, according to which, every deed, every action (karma), in addition to its natural meaning, has another meaning, which, regardless of space and time, but only based on the relationship of circumstances, can naturally cause new circumstances and affect them influence.

Therefore, yoga requires a correct understanding of cause-and-effect relationships and the right way of life. From these recommendations stand the main methods of Yoga, including Hatha, Pranayama, Mantra Yoga and others.

The basis of yoga practices should be the harmonious development of the physical body, the mental-emotional level ( subtle body), logical and intellectual mind. This allows you to get rid of not only physical and mental disorders, but also opens an unlimited internal source of energy and self-development, spiritual self-improvement.

Let's go directly to practice.

Why do Yoga, or what does Yoga give?

Yoga does not give or bring anything. Yoga helps you discover what you already have! On the other hand, if you don’t really believe in yourself, you will realize the power of your Self.

In Yoga it is believed that our natural state is harmony, health, inspiration.

Using the methods and exercises of yoga, we reveal this state in ourselves, something that is already inherent in us.

Why don't we always feel it?

We manifest through our physical body, thoughts, emotions, and the body often gets sick, negative thoughts, emotions too. Why? Because there is negative karma, that is, in the past we used our freedom incorrectly and reduced it in the future.

Using Yoga exercises, we get an influx of vitality, energy, Prana, get rid of negative consequences. Since Prana is a resource for creating what you want or eradicating what you don't want in your life, you decide how to use it.

How does it manifest itself? Feeling of strength, creativity, desire to do, good mood, well-being, awareness of yourself and your capabilities, understanding that the real treasure is you, your essence, and Yoga exercises are a tool that consistently brings you closer to this.

Now we will consider the basic methods of Yoga.

There are 2 main methods: the method of Energy and the method of Consciousness, these methods are needed only in order to come to an understanding of harmony, the ability to find your own rhythm. Combining where and when you need to force yourself, and where and when you can afford . They are universal, their application extends to any sphere of life, to any activity.

M. Energy implies that we take the time, do it without effort, allow ourselves, find the most pleasant way of doing it.

M. Consciousness - we take an active position, we see ourselves already perfect in a pose, we make efforts, we take the situation into our own hands.

There is a 3 method, it rather explains the use of the first two.

M. Scalability. Whatever exercise you would not perform, do it in such a volume, for such a number of approaches that are harmonious for you.

Whichever method you use, you should experience joy. Violence, discomfort is not allowed in Yoga!

The combination of these 3 methods leads to understanding, the ability to find harmony or your own rhythm.

How does it all start?

The first steps in Yoga are a huge number of questions and the desire to verify everything and do it right! It is hard to believe that an instructor, a teacher, is just a signpost where to go, and not a form to be copied. Spending a huge amount of time trying to develop independence from external conditions and autonomy in practice. In order for this to happen faster, you need to understand the difference between Yoga and other physical cultures.

What is the difference?

Difference between yoga and physical cultures.

1. Everything starts with yourself.

The task is not to copy other people, the teacher, not to achieve at any cost the greatest number of approaches or execution time. The task is to find harmony in oneself, one's own rhythm of execution.

1. The number of types of yogas is huge. They are not limited to working with the physical body or the breath.
2. Yoga methods are universal, they are applicable to any field of activity.

Thus, Yoga is a universal method, embodied in a variety of exercises aimed at various goals. The main thing in practice is to learn how to work with your feelings and practice regularly, then the result will not keep you waiting.

Harmony in everything!

Reading 6 min. Views 2.9k. Published on 29.10.2015

Yoga as a philosophical doctrine originates from the time of the existence of the Aryan civilization. It contains the basics of interpretation of the origin of the world and understanding of human nature, methods of spiritual self-improvement.

The concept of this doctrine has a huge number of admirers. As a special system of ancient Indian wisdom, yoga consists of theoretical and practical foundations, some sections, methods and directions. She is one of six known orthodox philosophical schools India and one of the darshans.

Philosophy of classical yoga

To understand the philosophy of yoga, you must first understand its origins and theoretical foundations.

Yoga is the philosophy of ancient India, the foundations of which are set forth in the main work of this school, called the Yoga Sutra, and comments on it. Its author is Patanajali, about whom very little is known. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with.

It was previously believed that the great teacher, philosopher and yogi lived in India in the 2nd century BC. But now the opinion has become stronger that it was several centuries later - in the 2nd century AD. Patanajali is only the author of the work, and not the whole philosophy, since the mention of the principles of yogic practice is mentioned in the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata (in part of the Bhagavad Gita). The very term "yoga" can be found in the early Upanishads, which are commentaries on the Vedas.

Let's start with the fundamental concepts of the philosophy of classical yoga.

So, all being includes two substances Prakriti and Purusha. Prakriti represents everything material in the existing world. This is something that can be seen, heard or felt in some other way, registered with high-precision instruments. We recommend that you read the information about.

Under the concept of "Purusha" lies the spiritual principle, the so-called eternal Spirit. Ishvara - God among all spiritual beings - is the manifestation of Purusha. He did not create the world and does not control it, but he is able to unite and separate the spiritual from the material. If Prakriti cannot be realized, then Purusha has consciousness.

If Prakriti is constantly changing, then Purusha is not subject to change, therefore it is outside of time and space. He is like an observer of the changing picture of the world.