Yoga: A Journey Beyond the Mat

Yama (Ethical Observances)

• Ahimsa ( Non Violence)
• Satya ( Truthfulness)
• Asteya ( Non – Stealing)
• Brahmacharya (Continence)
• Aparigraha ( Non – Covetousness)

Niyama (Internal Observances)

• Shaucha (Cleanliness)
• Santosha ( Contentment)
• Tapas ( Purification through discipline)
• Svadhyaya ( Self Study)
• Ishwara Pranidhana ( Surrender to the Divine)

Asana (Physical Postures)

• Aas’ is the sanskrit verbal root for asanas.
• Meaning –’ to sit ‘or ‘to be present’ or ‘state of existence’
• Purpose of Asanas - use the body to gain health and the mastery over the mind
• Key for the essence of ásanas - is to stretch and then relax.

Pranayama (Breathwork)

• Improvement in the quality of the blood due to its increased oxygenation
• Aids in the elimination of toxins from the system
• The digestive organs receive more oxygen and operate more efficiently
• The digestion is further enhanced by the fact that the food is more oxygenated

Pratyahara

• Pratyahara is two fold.
• It involves withdrawal from wrong food, wrong impressions and wrong associations.
• While simultaneously opening up to right food, right impressions and right associations.
• By with drawing our awareness from negative impressions, pratyahara strengthens the mind’s power of immunity.

Dharana (Concentration)

• Dharana – Desha bandha chittasya dharana (3.1)
• When the chitta or the mind stuff is confined to a certain place it is Dharana. Focusing on one single point that is Dharana
• It is the art of reducing the wanderings of the mind & eliminating them completely
• Fixing the consciousness on one point or region is concentration
• Balancing of all activities such as food, entertainment, work & sleep helps

Dhyana (Meditation)

• Tatra pratyaya ekatanata Dhyanam (PYS 3.2)
• Meditation is concentration on a noble thought, mantra, image or words; Involves Self Analysis; corrective measures for removing the impressions in the sub conscious mind;
• We have Rupa Dhyana, Guna Dhyana and Svarupa Dhyana ( feeling of Divine Consciousness)
• Values for meditation is Viveka and Vairagya
• Samadhi – complete absorbtion Five Features of Dhyana

Samadhi (Absorption)

• Dharana Dhyana Samadhi collectively known as Samyama.
• Dhyana – Process of meditation
• Dhyatru – Meditator
• Dhyeya – Object of Meditation
• All the three are merged together and that is the state of Samadhi