About Yoga

Union of mind, body and soul

There are four main types of yoga:

1. Gyan Yoga - the yoga of the intellect, science and knowledge

2. Bhakti Yoga - the yoga of love and devotion

3. Karma Yoga - the yoga of service and action

4. Raja Yoga - the yoga of meditation, physical poses and breathing practices.

Raja yoga is known as the ‘royal path to yoga’ because it focuses on practices to take our awareness inward and promote the union of the mind, body and spirit. The classic text on raja yoga is the Yoga Sutras, attributed to the legendary sage, Patanjali, which states that the true essence of yoga is the integration of all the layers of life - physical, emotional, and spiritual.

According to the Yoga Sutras, there are eight branches, or ‘limbs’ of yoga which provide guidelines for a meaningful and purposeful life. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct, and self-discipline. They direct attention to one’s health, and help us to acknowledge the spiritual aspects of nature. Each limb prepares us for the next:

1. Yama - behaviour and how we conduct ourselves in life

2. Niyama - self-discipline and spiritual observances

3. Asana - the postures practiced in yoga. Through asana we develop the habit of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both of which are necessary for meditation.

4. Pranayama - breathing techniques designed to bring awareness to the connection between the breath, the mind, and the emotions.

5. Pratyahara - withdrawal or sensory transcendence. While staying aware of the external world, we detach from our senses and direct our attention internally giving us the opportunity to take a step back and observe ourselves clearly.

6. Dharana - concentration. Having detached ourselves from external distractions, dharana is the practice of slowing down the thinking process to become self-observant, focusing on a single point. With prolonged practice, this naturally leads to meditation with prolonged practice.

7. Dhyana - meditation or contemplation is the uninterrupted flow of concentration.

8. Samadhi - state of ecstasy. This is the stage where, meditation, we reach the ultimate stage of yoga - enlightenment - which is an inter-connectedness with all living things. This completes the yogic path and is the reward for continual devotion and practice.

• It improves flexibility,

• betters bone health,

• builds muscle strength,

• perfects posture,

• prevents cartilage and joint breakdown,

• protects the spine, increases blood flow,

• drains the lymph and boosts immunity,

• lowers the blood pressure

• increases the heart rate

• regulates the adrenal glands

• heals depression

• kick starts a healthy lifestyle

• lowers blood sugar

• improves focus and concentration

• relaxes and maintains the nervous system

• improves balance

• helps with sleep problems