Yoga is an ancient Eastern philosophy, art and science that has been practised and developed over many thousands of years. Since it’s introduction to the Western world, it has come to be seen as more than an esoteric and mystical practice. It is a spiritual ethos for unifying the mind, body and soul and all the teachings of Yoga can have profound and life changing dimensions. Asana practice can to help to alleviate many contemporary ills by reducing stress levels and helping to maintain a sense of balance and calm.
Image: Sage Patanjali
Part historical and part mythical figure Sage Patanjali is represented in Indian legend as having the torso of a man and the tail of a serpent. He is estimated to have lived around 200-500 BC and is traditionally said to be the author of numerous works on medicine, grammar and Yoga. One of these, the 'Yoga Sutras' was a summery of all the various aspects practised in Yoga. It stated that Yoga consists of ‘Eight Limbs’ and that each ‘limb’ is of equal importance on the path to Self-Realisation (Samadhi). The 'Yoga Sutras' is still considered as one of the seminal works on Hatha Yoga.
yogena cittasya padena vacam
malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena
yopakarottam pravaram muninam
patanjalim pranajaliranato'smi
abahu purusakaram
sankha cakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim
Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind,
grammar for clarity and purity of speech and medicine for perfection of health.
Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, whose upper body has a human form,
whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra.
The Eight Aspects (or 'limbs',) of Yoga According to Sage Patanjali
i) Ahimsa: Non-Violence, Non-Harming
ii) Satya: Truthfulness, Honesty
iii) Asteya: Non-Stealing, Non Covetousness
iv) Brahmacharya: Continence, Sexual Restraint
v) Aparigraha: Freedom from Greed and the Desire for Possessions Beyond Ones Needs
i) Saucha: Cleanliness, Purity
ii) Santosa: Contentment, Tranquillity
iii) Tapas: Burning Desire to Purify the Body, Senses and the Mind, Self Discipline, Austerity
iv) Svadhyaya: Self-Study, Study of Sacred Texts
v) Isvara-Pranidhana: Devotion to God
GENERAL & ASANA PRACTICE:
"Light on Yoga": B.K.S. Iyengar
"Yoga the Path to Holistic Health": B.K.S. Iyengar
"Yoga a Gem for Women" Geeta Iyengar
"Yoga the Iyengar Way": Silva, Mira & Shyam Mehta
"Yoga Explained" Mira Mehta with Krishna S Arjunwadkar
BEGINNERS:
(New) "Iyengar Yoga for Beginners": B.K.S. Iyengar
"Iyengar Yoga" Judy Smith
"Yoga in Action, Preliminary Course" Geeta Iyengar
"How to use Yoga": Mira Mehta
FURTHER READING:
"Light On Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness,
Inner Peace & Ultimate Freedom" B.K.S. Iyengar, Douglas Abrams & John J. Evans
"The Tree of Yoga" B.K.S. Iyengar
"Light on Pranayama" B.K.S. Iyengar
"Astadala Yogamala Vols." B.K.S. Iyengar
"The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga" Mark Forstater & Jo Manuel
CLASSICAL YOGA LITERATURE:
"The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali"
"The Hatha Yoga Pradipika"
"The Bhagavad Gita"
"The Upanishads"
Image: om symbol
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