•  What Is Yoga?
•  The Eight-Fold Path
•  Attitudes and Practice Tips
•  Links

What is Yoga?

What is Yoga? Yoga is an ancient system of self care. It combines dynamic postures, breathing exercises and meditation in action. Yoga is great preventative medicine because it keeps all of your body, mind, attitude and immune system in top form. The postures tone, stretch and strengthen muscles, joints and the spine. They also stimulate glands, internal organs and nerves. Tension and stress are released and energy is increased. Yoga is a wonderful addition to any fitness program. Anyone at any level can benefit; the more you put into it the more you'll get out of it. Continuous and regular practice will allow the breath to flow evenly, promote discipline and concentration and allow you to focus on the present. Open the door to this calming yet profoundly rejuvenating body/mind system.

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The Eight-Fold Path of Ashtanga Yoga
According to the Sutras of Patanjali

Definition of the Eight-Fold Path

The eight-fold path encompasses the entire evolutionary process of the spiritual path. At the base of these guidelines are the yamas and niyamas. They are comprised of the basic, timeless, universal ethical code of behavior and some important guidelines for daily life, leading to individual discipline.

Purpose of the Eight-Fold Path

The eight-fold path is a practical, workable system of self-development that helps to control body and mind, to live a balanced lifestyle, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Through understanding the intricate connection between body and mind, what causes distractions and obstacles in life, comes the willingness to use these guidelines to achieve the balance of body and mind, eventually leading to self-realization.

Yamas

AHIMSA: Non-Violence
Awareness and gentleness in action, thought and speech. Violence rises out of fear, anger, ignorance, restlessness, selfishness. Practice: compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, worthiness.

SATYA: Truthfulness
Truthfulness of speech, thoughts, deeds. Practice: Honesty, owning feelings, loving communication, assertiveness, giving constructive feedback, forgiveness, nonjudging, letting go of masks. "The elf of the tongue needs the giant to control it." -Bapuji

ASTEYA: Non-Stealing
Not coveting, not being jealous, use objects the right way, proper time management. Cultivate sense of completeness, self-sufficiency, let go of cravings.

BRAHMACHARYA: Moderation, Channeling Emotions
No overindulgence of mind, intellect, speech, body; moderation on all levels concerning sex, food, all aspects of daily life including the environment. Not repression but control of sensual cravings.

APARIGRAHA: Non-Possessiveness
Fulfilling needs rather than wants. Cultivate: non-attachment to possessions, relationships.

Niyamas

SAUCHA: Purity
Purity of body, cleanliness, good health habits. Cultivate: fullness of mind, thoughts, speech, discrimination.

SANTOSHA: Contentment
Accept what is, make the best out of everything. Cultivate: gratitude and joyfulness, remain calm with success or failure. This state of mind does not depend on any external status.

TAPAS: Austerity
The willingness to do what is necessary to reach a goal with discipline. Cultivate: determination to pursue daily practices, enthusiasm for the spiritual path. Joyfulness with outer discipline will lead to inner discipline.

SWADHYAYA: Self-Education, Study
Expanding knowledge through reading, pondering to understand the scriptures, reflection, meditation, wanting to know the Truth.

ISHWARA-PRANIDHANA: Surrender to God
Cultivating faith, dedication, sincerity, patience to transcend the ego which is so resistant to surrender.

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Attitudes and Practice Tips (from Yoga at the Edge)

Attitudes:

1. Beginner's Mind: Be open to learn. See everything with fresh eyes. Don't let what you know get in the way of learning something new. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.

2. Non-judgmental Awareness: Witness consciousness. Awareness without judgment. Notice sensations in the body without judging. Be present with what is happening.

3. Acceptance: Seeing things as they actually are in the present. Be where you are. Practice compassionate self-awareness. Let go of comparing yourself to others or wishing you were different.

4. Patience: Accept the moment as it is, knowing that everything unfolds in its own time. Let go of trying to get to the next (better) moment because you don't like this moment.

5. Trust: Trust yourself, your body. Trust your inner knowing. Honor your limits. Honor your resistance. Listen to what your resistance says to you, that you may understand it better.

6. Non-forcing: Use effortless effort rather than force. Pushing yourself beyond your edge will not give you what you want. The body resists aggression. Relax into your edge.

7. Letting go: Non-attachement. This is about letting things be and accepting them as they are.

Practice Tips:

1. Ujjayi Breathing: Use continuous, deep ujjayi breathing in all the postures. This will keep the body warm, the mind focused, and the energy flowing.

2. Moola Bandha: Apply Moola Bandha (root lock) in all the postures. Moola Bandha, the gentle lifting of the pelvic floor (more specifically the perineum), stabilizes the spine and develops core strength.

3. Sensation: Immerse yourself in bodily sensations throughout the practice. Touch the sensations with your breath and your awareness. Explore the sensations. Sensation is the language of prana.

4. Edge: Go to the edge in each posture. The edge is defined as mild, tolerable discomfort. It's the place before intense or sharp pain. Keep the stretch in the belly of the muscle not at the joints or insertions. "Play the edge" with compassionate self-awareness.

5. Heat: Find the heat in each posture and reach into it with your awareness and your breath. When you're at the edge, breathe deeply, and be aware of heat, tingling, and other sensations.

6. Focus: Focus your awareness in the present moment. When the mind wanders bring it back to the breath, bodily sensations, and to whatever is happening now.

7. Honor the individual nature of each posture and absorb its wisdom. Each posture is a universe unto itself that stimulates different combinations of muscles, organs, glands, nerves, and energy. Be aware of postures you like and others you dislike. Treat both with equanimity.

8. It's okay to come out of the posture or modify any posture as needed.

Attitudes and Practice Tips (from Yoga at the Edge)
© Copyright 1997, Todd Norian, All Rights Reserved

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Links

The Hard and the Soft Astanga Yoga Institute.

The Omega Institute

www.thinkholistic.com

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