The Meaning of Yoga

The meaning of Yoga is different from person to person in view of varied nature of an individual's feelings & experiences. For some it is a way of life and for others it is a way to keep the body free from different ailments. For many it involves the practice of Relaxation and Meditation. However, according to my own experience, Yoga is a way of unfolding our hidden qualities and awakening our dormant faculties. The word "Yoga" literally means "to unite", and people interpret this unity in different ways. Some say it is the uniting of individual consciousness with higher consciousness, others believe it to be a state of realisation. However, practically speaking it is a state of unity, balance and equilibrium between body and brain, brain and mind, mind and spirit. When all the aspects of personality are in balance our personality expresses itself in a different way.

YOGA AND THE ALTERED STATE OF THE CONSICIOUSNESS

There are three aspects of Yoga- Physical, Mental and Spiritual.

THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF YOGA

Physical aspect of Yoga is where we try to harmonise the body and become aware of the different types of imbalance within the physical structure which cause various types of stress and tension. Due to muscular and physical stress, a state of imbalance occurs which becomes the cause of different aches and pains, psychosomatic and somopsychic disorders, where the harmony of the body is distorted. Let’s see, how many types of physical movements we go through during the day:Just try to imagine. We sit in a chair; our body is bent. We sit on the floor; our body is bent. We sit on the bed; our body is bent. Most of the movements that the body experiences in the hours of our waking state create a lot of physical tension. How many times do we actually stretch our body? How many times do we actually provide traction to the body during the day? Very few times. How many times do we twist our body in a controlled way without any jerk? Again very few times. How many times do we make a conscious effort to curve the body backward? Very rarely. We can say that, apart from sleeping flat in bed, most of the time we spend is in a forward bend posture. Right now you are bending forward. Your spine may be straight and upright but your legs are bent. This type of posture creates some type of tension. This imbalance creates a definite distortion in the functioning of the internal organs and systems. The digestive system is affected without doubt, unless we have a very powerful digestive tract.

The physical aspect of Yoga aims to eliminate this imbalance by prescribing various postures or Asanas. Asanas are smooth, controlled movements which are done slowly and with awareness, to provide the maximum stretch to the body in every direction. When we begin Yoga we do not start with difficult practices like the Headstand, but with very simple practices like moving the fingers and toes, the hands, wrists and arms, just to gain a deeper understanding about the state of our body, about our muscular, nervous and skeletal systems.

Thus we become aware of where we are stiff, where we are tight and how best we can remove that stiffness and tightness. It is this gradual working with the body that leads to the discovery of the body, which is the main object in the physical aspect of Yoga.

Apart from the physical structure, within our body we experience levels of energy. When we wake up we feel fresh, energetic but by the end of the day we are feeling down, low in energy, tired. If we again relax for some time and the body is able to recuperate, again the level of energy rises and we feel okay. The stale of tiredness decreases. The level of energy also increases with the state of physical relaxation and decreases when the body is in a state of tension.

The Meaning of Yoga

Any change in the normal behaviour of the mind can be an altered state. When we get angry it is an altered state of consciousness, when we go to sleep it is another altered state, and when we express ourselves we create altered states. There are some experiences which bring the mind down towards the gross, instinctive and rational plane, and other experiences that go beyond the instinctive and rational level, which are probably best expressed by the term "intuitive states of mind.

Yoga helps us with the different situations and experiences with which we are confronted. Some are very pleasing and we feel elated, but when we are confronted with depressing situations we let them get us down. During our whole life from birth till death, our mind fluctuates between these two extremes. One such extreme is of happiness, satisfaction, joy

The other extreme is of sadness and frustration- Our thoughts, emotions, feelings, behaviour and attitudes are always fluctuating, moving from one side of the scale to the other, and during these fluctuations our energies become unbalanced.

Unbalanced means that we are unable to harness the potential of our personality, and our mind stays in a state of dissipation, unable to concentrate, unable to become one-pointed or focused. It is at this time that, by practising Yoga we are able to gain a better control over our intellect, emotion and behaviour

ASPECTS OF YOGA

ll-being. Sage Patanjali is considered as the Father of Yoga. He formulated the Astanga Yoga – the Yoga with 8 paths which is widely practised today.

Yoga is particularly of importance in today’s life to prevent and cure diseases – the so-called psychosomatic diseases – the cause of which is mainly from the mind. In today’s life of Stress, Yoga thus acquires an imminent role.

Helps maintain the suppleness and flexibility of the muscles and joints

Has a deeper effect on the tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, lymphatics and the nerves

Brings about a co-ordination of mind and body movements

Helps create an appreciation of the finer movements

Improves the sharpness of the senses

Helps us be aware and improve our breathing

Helps us have a positive attitude and lighter approach

Helps regulate digestion, respiratory rate and heart rate

Improves memory, concentration and intelligence through Pranayamas and Meditation

Helps cleanse our nostrils, upper respiratory passages, eyes through Kriyas

Got a Query?