Blog-GL! Curiosities about Yoga.
Yoga is a philosophy of millenary life, originally from India. The word Yoga is Sanskrit and means yoke, union. And in that meaning is defined what is Yoga, is the union of body, mind and spirit, a way of life, that those who practice it, try to follow and adapt to their lives. To achieve this, there are a series of practices and exercises, both physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga is not a religion, but a philosophy of Life, which can be adopted by people of different religions, because it does not conflict with any of them.
- History.
Yoga comes from India, where it is believed to be more than 5,000 years old, the Hindus, maintain that Yoga is eternal, "anadi" = no beginning, that always existed. The British archaeologist Sir John Marshall, discovered in Mohenjo-Daro a stamp with figures, dating to the seventeenth century BC. C., of the Indus Valley culture, publishing in 1931 his interpretation of an anthropomorphic figure, sitting cross-legged in a Yoga posture, surrounded by animals, which could be the Hindu god Shiva, as lord of the beasts, practicing meditation in a yogic posture, so that Yoga, would have at least an antiquity of 37 centuries.
Since there is historical knowledge, it has been practiced in India and not long ago in the whole world.
- Types of Yoga.
There are many types of Yoga, but they all lead to the same end. The types of Yoga that are considered fundamental are: Raja Yoga or Royal Yoga, is usually identified with the Astanga Yoga described by Patanyali. The Gñana Yoga or Yoga of knowledge. And the Karma Yoga or Yoga of action, or Yoga of service.
There are other types, associated with these fundamentals, but they should not be confused with these. We have: The Hatha Yoga or physical Yoga, is more widespread, it is the Yoga of the asanas or postures, which is aimed at preparing the body for meditation. Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of devotion, whose practices are directed towards the Absolute. Ashtanga Viniasa Yoga, Yoga of breathing. Kriya Yoga, is the union with the divinity, through the daily duties, was popularized in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda, with his famous book, "Autobiography of a Yogi". Kundalini Yoga, movements and breathing. Yoga Nidra, dream state in which one falls during meditation, the yogic dream.
There are more types of Yoga and every little bit in these modern times, a new one appears, but the fundamental and true Yoga is already invented many centuries ago.
- Fundamental texts of Yoga.
The Bhagavad Gita is considered a brief summary of the Hindu doctrines. Establish the main currents of Yoga.
The Yoga-Sutra of Patanyali, are the ancient foundational texts of Yoga, written by the wise Patañyali in the 3rd century BC. Although it is a short text, it has had a great influence on the beliefs and practices of Yoga.
The Hatha-Yoga-pradypika, written by Suami Suatarama, is said to be the oldest surviving text on Hatha-ioga.
- Famous yogis.
There are many notable and famous yogis throughout time, among others we have: Patanjali, who established the foundations of Yoga. Ramakrishna, with him, Yoga was reborn in India. Swami Vivekananda, known for introducing the Yoga technique in the West. Swami Sivananda, one of the best known in the West. Sri Aurobindo, translated the yogic writings, such as the Upanishad and the Bhagavad-Ghita, there is a modern city in India, where his teachings are practiced, Auroville, where people from all over the world come to practice Yoga. Paramahansa Yogananda, who taught Kriya Yoga in the West and created in the United States the Self Relization Fellowship in Los Angeles, his book "Autobiography of a Yogi", is still a bestseller.
There are many other famous yogis, for various reasons, among others Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who became famous because the Beatles studied with him a few days in India Transcendental Meditation. It is logical that there are many famous yogis, because Yoga has a long time and a lot of strength of roots.
- Yogic food.
Most Yoga practitioners care about their diet, becoming aware of it. Reduce the amount of food we eat, as well as try to be organic, Mediterranean diet, to maintain an adequate weight, which results in a general well-being, both physical and mental. We are what we eat. With the practice of Yoga many become vegetarians, or a nearby diet, eliminating meat and other foods not suitable for the human organism.
- Yoga practitioners.
Millions of people practice it around the world, an estimated 500 million or so. And it is that Yoga practitioners, understand from the first class, that they have connected with something really good.
Something good for your health, both physical, psychic and spiritual. And it is that for a century in which Swami Vivekananda and Paramanhansa Yogananda, introduced him in the West, has not stopped growing in popularity and in number of practitioners.
- Modern schools.
Apart from the classical schools, new forms or schools of Yoga are appearing from time to time, well, they are modern times. So we have: Mimansa Yoga. Natha Yoga, Dance Yoga. Purna Yoga, or complete Yoga, integration of various Yoga methods. Sajayá Yoga. Sarva Yoga, Yoga of the whole. Swasthya Yoga. Also Yoga for Children, Yoga for Pregnant, Yoga for Animals, etc ... In short, this is so, it is the Human condition and of modern times, but Yoga there is only one, which is classical Yoga and the rest are mere variations or adaptations
- Life philosophy.
Yoga is not just a physical discipline to do postures or breathing exercises, behind the concept of Yoga there is a thousand-year-old philosophy. Through the techniques of Yoga, you can understand the purpose of life and live in a
state of compassion and openness both psychic and spiritual.
In the practice of Yoga, everything is integrated, nutrition, cleanliness of the body, moral integrity, help and compassion towards others, nature and animals, spiritual life, whatever the beliefs, since Yoga integrates them all. In short, Yoga is a way of living life, a philosophy of Life.
Integral Health.
The practice of Yoga helps us to move towards an integral health, towards a balanced life and fills us with energy and happiness.
Although Yoga is more than physical exercise, having a healthy body and full of energy, is the way to achieve the rest of goals. In Yoga, some steps are proposed to achieve this integral health, such as:Physical Exercise, especially directed to the health of our spine.
Breathing, increases energy, recharges the body and facilitates the control of emotions and the mind.
Relaxation, an adequate relaxation, frees us from tension and stress.
Diet, a light diet, based on natural foods, keeps the body light and flexible and the mind calm and makes us more resistant to the disease.
Positive Thinking and Meditation, it is about making negative thoughts disappear and silencing the mind with meditation. All this will take us towards an integral health.
- World Yoga Day.
In recognition of the universal popularity of Yoga, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, with Resolution 69/131. This Day wants to make the world population aware of the importance of this millenary practice and the benefits for the integral health of the population.