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What is Yoga?

Yoga is the spiritual science that is concerned with one’s quest for realizing one’s true nature. We are all essentially divine, perfect and infinite. We are embodied souls or Self ‘Atman’. The Atman is eternal, pure and perfect. However, when it is embodied in a human form with a body, mind and senses, the person is unaware of his true nature. One looks for happiness in worldly objects, desires and pleasures. We become bound by the effects of our selfish actions, for every action there is an equal reaction. Yoga helps us to throw off our ignorance and helps us to realize our true nature, the eternal Self. With this realization we attain liberation from sorrows and sufferings and from the effects of Karma (past actions). Therefore, Yoga is a means for Self-realization & Liberation.

The Sanskrit word ‘Yoga’ means ‘to join or unite’. What exactly is being joined together? Our embodied souls are united with our Supreme Selves. To summarize, Yoga refers to that enormous body of spiritual values, attitudes, precepts and techniques, that have evolved in India over thousands of years, which purify the mind and heart and enable a person to realize their true nature, or the ‘divinity within’.

The great sage Patanjali of ancient India defines yoga in the Yoga Sutras as, ‘…the stoppage of the modifications of the mind’. These modifications can be restrained by the persistent practice of yoga and dispassion, then the mind becomes pure and focussed on the higher Self.

In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says, ‘…Evenness of mind is called Yoga.’ Meaning a balanced state of mind and looking dispassionately at life without being upset by its ups & downs.

Yoga is not a religion.

Yoga is connection with the truth, not a religion. Although you could say that every religion in its essence is a kind of Yoga in so far as it helps people to realize God. Religions are different paths to the same goal. Unfortunately not everyone understands this and some people become fanatics and persecute those of different religions, building barriers and creating divisions in the name of God. On the contrary, yoga stands for spiritual oneness of all beings and it is a universal spiritual pursuit beyond all religions. Everyone can practice Yoga, whatever their faith. Yoga dispels ignorance, develops universal outlook and love in the mind and causes practitioners to see unity in the midst of diversity.

Karma Yoga consists of entirely selfless service, in which the Ego is given up to the desire to serve the divine in every thing. One looses his identity while working. There is non-attachment to the work while becoming the instrument of the divine. Karma means action.

Karma Yoga is also the path of doing the right thing, of following ones' personal Dharma and accepting destiny as it comes. If the Karma Yogi is a householder, they accept that role as much as they would accept the role of a servant to any in need, without seeking any payment in the shape of wealth, satisfaction or fame. Initially, the individual possesses a strong sense of ego and is attached to the fruits of his efforts or at least seeks praise and recognition, but by continuous involvement in the work and change in attitude, one can eventually disassociate from the ego. In this state the work becomes spiritual, while the individual becomes an expert. One achieves a stable mind in all circumstances and undisturbed in all situations. One becomes divine & actions represent God’s will.

Karma performed by right means does not harm anybody. To drop the doer from the action is karma yoga. To see oneself as a mere tool of the divine and to offer the fruit of our actions to the divine. Karma Yoga is an expression of divine love, of the unity of everything that is yoga. Karma Yoga means to help, heal, and share.

The only help one can truly give is in promoting truth and spiritual growth, which is the only real end to any suffering. Teaching is an integral part of karma yoga. The teacher should be aware that the results are out their hands and that the power of the teaching comes only from the divine. To teach means to let the divine word speak through you.

The essence of Karma Yoga as according to the ‘Bhagvad Gita’ says, ‘The world is confined in its own activity except when actions are preformed as worship of God. Therefore, one must perform every action sacramentally and be free of your attachments to the results’

Parivritti Janu Sirshasasana

Benefits:

• Helps to release physical body stress, which occurs through our adrenaline response to fight/flight, which tenses our muscles, increases the blood flow through constriction of blood vessels to vital organs.

• Helps to release mental body stress thereby relaxes the nervous system

• Tones the reproductive and digestive organs

• Balances the muscles and organs of the right and left side of the body.

• Organs in the chest area; lungs and heart function may improve especially with combining Kapalabhatti, bhramri and the Om Ma chant.

Chakra Focus

• Swadhishthana Chakra is detoxified and activated when bending towards the right, detoxifing the prana body releasing suppressed emotions like anger, jealousy, & fear.

• Manipura Chakra is detoxified and activated when bending towards the left, detoxifying the mental body, thus blockages due to failed plans, negative thinking, worrying and mental stress are released.

Prana Focus

• Apana Prana

• Samana Prana

*In Transformational Yoga this posture is working on the Swadhishthana chakra and the corresponding prana body (right side) and on the left side the Manipura chakra

corresponding to the mental body.

Contraindications:

Serious back complaints. Do not go deeply after 4th month of pregnancy.