As we discussed in my last post, Ashtanga Yoga is divided in to three main streams or groups of spiritual exercises. All the streams of Ashtanga Yoga are designed to help purify the body and the mind. This in turn allows the Yogi to focus on the inner spirit.
The first group of spiritual exercises are Yama and Niyama. We learnt about these principles in my last post about Ashtanga Yoga. They provide a moral code of conduct for the Yoga aspirant. Yama and Niyama are common sense guidelines that will help you live a better, healthier life besides bringing in spirituality in you social life. While observing these rules, it is important to realize that these rules need not be followed blindly or mindlessly. The practice of these principles will help you find truth for yourself and it will help you live according to that truth. Yama and Niyama help us in managing our energy in an integrative manner which helps complement our outer life to our inner development.
The second group of principles is called as the Bahirangs or external practices which consist of asan, pranayama and pratayahara. This group is called as Hathayoga. These practices help an individual focus primarily on physical discipline. They strengthen the body, quieten the mind and help increase the vital force. Hatha Yoga is a stage of physical preparation which prepares the body for higher meditation. ”Hatha” is a Sanskrit word which means forceful. Hence the exercises that are conducted with such a forceful intent are all called as Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is what most people in the West associate with when they speak of Yoga.
The third group of principles is called as “Raja Yoga”. This consists of antarangs, or internal practices of dharana, dhyana and samadhi.
It is believe that Samadhi leads to a state which is called as the “Nirbija” or “seedless“state. In this state the mind will be free of all thoughts. Samadhi is the state of supreme consciousness and dharana and dhyana are the steps to reaching there. This is the reason why “Raja Yoga” is considered to be the King of Yoga.
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November 29th, 2009 | Tags: 
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