Copyright: VISHWA FOUNDATION Head Quarters: Vishwa Foundation, Shivpuri, Akkalkot. Dist.: Solapur, Maharashtra State Pin , Ph.

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2 Table of Content 1. Introduction 2. What is Yoga 3. History of Yoga 4. Benefits of Yoga 5. Who is Patanjali 6. What is Ashtang Yoga? 7. Six Systems of Yoga (Bhakti, Hatha, Karma, Raja, Dnyan, & Kriya Yog) 8. Conclusion

3 Introduction Hello Friends, A hearty welcome to Vishwa Foundations! And thank you for downloading Yoga for a Radiant Life. We hope that this first step sets you rolling on the path of a healthy and happy life. As we take the journey forward, we shall be revealing many interesting and amazing Yoga secrets along with secrets of life. Once you include Yoga in your daily life routine, life will change forever. Career, inner conflicts, relationships, struggles, success...everything will have a new meaning; as a result, quality of your life will go a few notches higher. Other than ebooks we also have an active Help Desk, where you can write to us about your problems or ask questions related to health and life; we shall revert with an answer/ solution as soon as we can. Just like downloading this ebook, conversations too are free here. Talk to us anytime.

4 What is Yoga? Yoga is one of the most diversified Indian spiritual philosophies having sweept over cultures like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, to the Western world. Yogic literature is available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Tibetan, Bengali, Sanskrit, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit etc. Yoga s message of healing through spirituality, unity with God, leading a simple life... and that it s offered in a nondogmatic format, has helped it to gain much popularity from various sections of society and personal beliefs. Human being is awake at three levels - physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga balances development of all three. There are many types of physical exercises that assure physical well-being, however, none impact at spiritual level like Yoga. The ultimate goal of yoga is to rise above self and attain Cosmic Consciousness. Yoga deals with a series of poses & exercises which can be performed by anyone regardless of gender, age, religious belief, body type etc. Though it s a systematic philosophical approach, it is not a religion, but a way of life which goes well with most spiritual paths. Different places teach you Yoga or facilitate environment for it, like Gyms, Yoga Classes, Ashrams, yoga instructors & trainers etc. However, you don t have to be attached to any of these on a permanent basis. You can learn it and practice it at your home, office, wherever. While the physical aspect of the exercise works on your muscles, aligns bones, teaches deep breathing and oxygenates lungs & blood; at mind level, it helps you to relax and develop a mind-body connect, facilitating a deep sense of relaxation. Thus Yoga offers solutions for a range of problems, from headache, backache, menstrual cramps, to conquering stress, restoring the inner peace, spiritual awaking, and so on. Research and studies being conducted the world over always have something new and interesting to reveal about benefit of Yoga. And thus it s fast catching on as the new fitness mantra for people who believe in fitness of the body as well as mind.

5 History of Yoga Yoga is more than 5000 years old tradition. Earliest archaeological evidences of Yoga have been found at around 200 BC, in stone seals in the form of scriptures of Yoga poses. Yoga is believed to been in existence from much earlier though, belonging to the times of oral tradition. History of Yoga can be divided into four periods: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period. In the Vedic period, Vedic Yoga was being practiced through rituals and ceremonies that guided people to work towards surpassing the limitations of the mind. In the Pre-classical period, yoga finds a mention in Upanishads; Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta being the oldest known Yoga scripture of the era. In the classical period Yoga Sutra was compiled by Maharishi Patanjali in an attempt to standardize and define Yoga. Post-classical period being the most recent is where we get to witness a proliferation of literature along with Yoga being practiced. Post-classical Yoga is unique compared to the initial three in the sense that it emphasizes more on the present. It doesn t struggle to liberate a person from reality anymore; on the contrary it teaches us to accept the present and live the moment.

6 Benefits of Yoga Sometimes it isn t just physical illness, but also mental and emotional illness that needs to be dealt with. In fact research has proved that your physical illness many a times is a reflection of your mental and emotional illness. And this is where Yoga helps. It gives you power to take control of your emotions at various levels and deal with signs of insecurity, low self esteem, anger, lust, greed, jealousy etc in time. Yoga, practiced in the correct manner or under expert guidance will help you to control and connect your mind, body and soul with much ease. Physical exercise & the practice of right breathing enhance your sense of physical and mental discipline and you experience peace in body and mind. Following regular Yoga routine empowers you to manage your stress and anxiety with a lot of ease and you can learn to relax in the most difficult and awkward situations. The physical poses of Yoga, called the asanas increase your muscle flexibility & strength, and tone the body. Breathing mechanism taught through Yoga improves respiration and the energy reservoir. To some beginners, practicing yoga may seem like slow, stretching routine; but the fact is that it works wonder for your body and changes the way you feel, look, move, and face life. Other than the above following benefits are also worth noting: Flow of cosmic energy in the body, created through Yoga harmonizes mind-body equilibrium Yoga enables you to do self- healing and feel energized Removes negative blocks from mind and toxins from body Creates positive vibrations in your personality Improves focus and concentration Brings down stress & tension by activating the parasympathetic nervous system

7 Who is Patanjali? Yog is amongst the most unique contributions India has made to the world; and Maharishi Patanjali, a revered 200 BC Vedic Maharishi is considered the Father of Yogic Science. Anonymity being the typical of all great sages of India, there are no authentic records to prove his birth, or time during which he compiled the Yoga Sutra. His life history is full of legends & contradictions. His Yog Sutras demonstrate techniques (and importance) to control Prana (life breath) as a means to control one s mind, body, and soul to lead a physically, emotionally, & spiritually health life. Acharya Patanjali has prescribed 84 Yogic postures; which, when practiced as prescribed improve efficiency of respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, endocrine systems, and impacting other organs of body. In all, Patanjali muni compiled 195 sutras, which was a framework to integrate Yoga into one s daily routine to improve the quality of one s life. The core of Patanjali Sutra is in the eightfold path of yoga called the Ashtanga Yog. Ashtanga yog takes the disciple on a path to an evolved and healthy life.

8 What is Ashtanga Yoga The eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga are eight regulations, to conquer eight phases of growth in yoga and meditation. It s also known as the eightfold Path, and is compiled by Maharishi Patanjali. It is an extremely powerful Yog tradition, encompassing various aspects of Jnana, Bhakti, and Karma Yog. Ashtanga Yog, through its eight methodical steps, teaches disciples to control their mind. Each step works towards removing obstacles one at a time, diverting energies inwards, to attain the state of effortless meditation. Through Ashtanga Yog, which is a science of becoming one with God, Maharishi Patanjali explains philosophy of uniting the soul with the undifferentiated Spirit, awakening disciples to God-realization. The Ashtanga Yoga (also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga) comprises: Yama (social restraints or ethical values): Disciple is taken through a series of don'ts vis-à-vis contacts with outside world, with an aim to harmonize his energy and relationships; this will create an environment for deep meditation. The disciple is expected to adhere to, and adopt a life of nonviolence, kindness, forbearance, resilience, truthfulness, moderate diet & remaining pure in the body. Niyama: Disciple adopts a way of life comprising austerity, contentment, trust in God, charity, awakening of mind through teachings/scriptures, modesty, Japa, observance of vows, sacrifice etc. All these will create an environment of detachment from the worldly pleasures & ego, as well as an environment for deep meditation. Asana (Postures): Comprise a number of postures as described by Maharishi Patanjali, which must be practiced by the disciple, and at least one (sitting posture) be mastered in order to achieve a state of physical motionlessness for an extended period of time, which will quiet the mind, creating an environment for deep meditation. Pranayama (technique to control breathing): The disciple learns to control breathing in order to control the mind. The aim is to create a reservoir of energy for the time when one is in deep meditation. The aim of pranayama thus is to achieve a state of rest and wellness during meditation when both the mind and body are still for an extended period of time, and there s no breathing.

9 Pratyahara (sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation): Disciple is taught techniques to take attention off the sensory input which are likely to create disturbance in meditation. The final objective is to shut down sensory input completely before going into deep meditation. Dharana (concentration): By practicing one-point concentration, the disciple achieves a state wherein his mind becomes so motionless and quiet that he begins to experience oneness with himself. Dhyana (Meditation): Disciple takes a journey where he experiences an extended and uninterrupted concentration, without a single distracting thought. The aim is to attain a state of uninterrupted stillness and remaining entirely one-pointed absolutely effortlessly, like second nature. This will take his meditation and its outcome at a different level. Samadhi (Effortless meditation, absorption, equilibrium): To achieve a state where one is entirely absorbed in cosmic consciousness, the answer lies in Samadi, an effortless meditation. While in Samadhi, the disciple disappears from consciousness. Here, individual consciousness is dissolved in pure cosmic consciousness. Once permanent cosmic connection is achieved, it leads to enlightenment. The disciple is required to master each of the eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga to a certain degree before he goes to the next.

10 What are Bhakti, Dnyan, Karma type of Yoga? There are in all six types of Yoga Traditions, viz. Hatha Yog, Bhakti Yog, Karma Yog, Dnyan Yog, Raj Yog, & Kriya Yog. It is believed that two opposite currents regulate all processes in our body and that everything in the universe exists because of a positive and negative charge. Out of the six systems mentioned above, three namely, Hatha, Raja, and Kriya Yoga help you gain control over the flow of life-currents. Hatha Yog: Hatha Yog comprises Asanas, Shat Karmas, which comprise six cleansing techniques, Pranayama (breathing technique), Bandha (locks) and Mudras (seals) which help to regulate Prana (life-force) and Kundalini; & lastly Samadhi (Union with God, discovering oneself, ecstasy, nirvana). Hatha Yoga helps your body to attain & retain perfect health, awakening of Kundalini (dormant energy) upwards along the spine, preparing the body for yogic awakening. Individuals doing Hatha Yog enjoy a good health and strong nervous system. Expert Hatha Yogis demonstrate control over blood flow, and breathing and some can even stop breathing and heart beat for some time. Raja Yoga: Raja Yoga is also referred to as the crown of Hatha Yoga. Once mind and body are clean and fit through Hatha Yoga, Raja trains the mind to stay calm and awake. Our improved concentration directs our attention inwards, to become one with our Being. Raja Yoga is a complete system, and its Ashta-anga (Eight Limbs) have already been discussed elsewhere in this book Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti Yoga It is about attaining union with God, or finding a connect with higher energies through love and devotion. Bhakti Yog focuses on selfless love, kindness, humility, purity and a sincere desire to merge with God. Dnyan Yoga: This is the Yoga directing us towards enlightenment through Knowledge. It s both theory & practice i.e. practical Philosophy/Metaphysics. Dnyan Yog is deep and complex, and makes us aware through our intellect that our true Self is above and beyond our mind. Dnyan Yog is a quest for knowing who we really are. It is, like Bhakti yog, amongst the best approaches for becoming aware of the eternal Self (God).

11 Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga It is a system comprising mantras, meditation, and other techniques through which we can attain control over life-force and make body and mind calm. Objective of Kriya Yog is to unite us with self or pure Awareness (God). Karma Yoga: This is the yoga of Service or self-transcending Action, whereby all the actions of yogi or disciple are directed towards God. Serving God and humanity with selfless intention, ego fades, one becomes pure, and with passage of time or several lifetimes, one develops connection with God and feels increasingly in tune and unified with Him. Yogi attains Samadhi or nirvana through Karma yoga with much ease.

12 Conclusion We at Vishwa have been teaching Yoga for many years. We guide disciples to achieve Anand and Eternal Bliss through Yoga techniques described by Shree. The positive results we ve seen in ourselves as well as our students don t stop to amaze us. We ve had people coming to us with chronic backaches, insomnia, depression, and other complex issues. They developed the conditions while dealing with some very stressful professional and personal situations. Practicing Yoga not only helped them to overcome their physical pain but also gave them a renewed perspective to deal with similar situations in future, more effectively. Yoga transformed their lives 360 degree. Though Yoga they experienced secret to the inner peace that they had never before. If you open your heart and allow yoga in to your soul, it will affect every aspect of your life. We invite you to take an online journey to our retreat in Shivpuri in Akkalkot, India and check out various residential health & wellbeing programs we offer.

13 Thank You