Monthly Archives: January 2018
The purpose of yoga. Ashtanga Yoga Patanjali (part 1)
In order to achieve any goal, you need to clearly see this goal in front of you. Therefore, in order for the practice of yoga to be fruitful, you need to understand exactly what we expect from the practice, what the result should be. The sage Patanjali has long described the 8 steps of classical yoga. These steps are also called ashtanga yoga (Ashta translates as eight from Sanskrit). These steps are as follows: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. That is, the ultimate goal of yoga is samadhi.
So what is samadhi? Samadhi is a state of direct comprehension of reality. This condition is also called enlightenment. Enlightenment from the word “light.” Light is what illuminates the darkness. So there must be darkness and light? What is this darkness and what is this light? Continue reading
Briefly about the main directions and types of yoga
Hatha Yoga is the yoga of the body. The word hatha consists of two syllables – ha and tha. The syllable ha means “the sun,” and the syllable tha means “the moon.” Hatha yoga is aimed at achieving harmony between the solar and lunar aspects of our existence – balancing Yin and Yang energy through work with the physical body and consciousness. This is a system of physical, respiratory and mental exercises, developed in ancient times by the sages of the Rishis as a means of rejuvenation, and for long practice in long meditations
Popular styles of hatha yoga today include:
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Founder of Sri Pattabhi Jois. This is a dynamic practice that will make you sweat with exert physical and mental strength. Asanas are performed in ligaments-sequences (vinyasas) together with breathing, energy locks (bandhas), concentration of sight and attention. Continue reading
