Keep Fit Yoga

Yoga is an ancient tradition of self-realization through exercise and meditation. The word Yoga derives its meaning from the Sanskrit word of yuj which is defined as “to unite, control or integrate”.

Yoga’s origin dates back to over 4000 years ago and ancient Yogis, like the Indian sage Patanjali, believed that in order to achieve harmony one must be at peace with oneself and one’s surroundings. The process of Yoga is to help us achieve a harmonious balance between mind, body and spirit.

In order to achieve this balance, Yogis created techniques through breathing, exercise and meditation. These techniques make up the basic structures of Yoga.

According to Patanjali, the widely regarded founder of Yoga, there are 8 disciplines to Yoga that are necessary to find true self-enlightenment.

The 8 disciplines, also known as Ashtanga Yoga (Eight-Limbed Yoga) are:

1. Yama (5 abstentations) - Non-violence, being truthful, not being possessive, not envying others, and lack of sensuality.
2. Niyama (5 observances) - Purity, contentment, lack of comfort, study of self and surrendering to god.
3. Asana (Literal meaning is “seat”) - refers to a seated position during meditation
4. Pranayama – (Control of “Prana”) - Prana is interpreted as life force, particularly the breath, and “Ayama” is to extend, therefore Pranayama is breath control.
5. Pratyahara (To abstract) - separating your sensory organs from objects.
6. Dharana (To concentrate) - Focusing on one single object
7. Dhyana (To meditate) - Intense concentration on meditation
8. Samadhi (To Liberate) - This is where your consciousness merges with the focus of meditation

Influenced by the Eight Limbs of Yoga come 6 main branches of Yoga that have developed based upon these teachings.

Below you’ll discover the 6 main branches of Yoga:

1. Hatha Yoga - Known as the Yoga of postures, this is perhaps the branch of Yoga most people think of when you mention Yoga. It incorporates poses (Asana) with breathing techniques (Pranayama) as well as meditation to achieve better physical and spiritual well-being.
2. Karma Yoga – Because it is believed that your current situation in life is a result of your past actions, Yogis who follow Karma Yoga set to change their perspectives and actions toward the positive in life. Karma Yoga leads the practioner on a path of selfless service which helps change their soul and therefore their destiny.
3. Bhakti Yoga - This branch of Yoga is most commonly followed in India and is the path of devotion and the heart. Those who intensely study Yoga, also known as “Yogis”, see the Divine in all things that surround them.
4. Raja Yoga – Also known as the King of Yoga, this branch of Yoga is about self-control. It is most commonly followed by religious and spiritual members and is based on the teachings of the Eight Limbs of Yoga (see above).
5. Tantra Yoga – The path to find the sacred of everything we do is Tantra Yoga. This branch is typically misunderstood because of its correlation with sex however, Yogis must possess a number of qualities, including: devotion, humility, truthfulness, and purity.
6. Jnana Yoga – This branch deals with the mind. Jnana Yogis strive to merge wisdom and intellect on the path to knowing the spirit. This includes being open minded toward other people and religion.

The history and evolution of Yoga is a vast and fascinating story and is practiced by millions of people all over the world.

The primary focus of Yoga practitioners is to treat the body with care and respect. Through a process of physical stretching and posing, breathing techniques and meditation, Yoga exercises help to improve your body’s circulation and glandular systems for an overall improvement in health.