What is Yoga? Yoga?? What is Yoga? 4/4/15. Yoga s Spiritual Roots. Yoga is 90% waste removal!

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1 Yoga?? Yoga is 90% waste removal! Desikachar via Kaminoff Either the goal of yoga is to be free, or the goal of yoga is to get it right. You can't really have it both ways. Because if you choose freedom, you have to divest yourself of that crazy idea that you have to get it right Yoga s Spiritual Roots YOGA means to yoke, unite, join, harness,or bring together in Sanskrit Believed to have existed as a way of life(not a religion) for thousands of years YS I:2 Yoga is the stilling of the waves of the mind BG 2:50 Yoga is skillful action Founded in ancient spiritual texts (Vedas/Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras) 1

2 You can t unring the bell! This is how we could respond This is how we respond!!! Emotions, stress, anxiety.elicits FEAR! Instead Let emotions, stress and anxiety inform us! Matt@dynamicsystemsrehab.com 2

3 And then we.. Practices to yield internal steadiness; transcend the suffering of the body Pain (stress) and suffering is resistance to change! 3

4 5 Schools of Yoga Bhakti Devotion/Love & Relationships Jnana Study/Realized Knowledge Raja Meditation/Psychology Freedom through the Eight-Fold Path of Yoga Karma Work/Attitude of Work Tantra Hatha/Asanas/Health and Well Being Eight Fold Path Asana (Mind-Body Postures) Yamas(Restraints) Niyamas (Observances) Asana (Mind-Body Postures) Pranayama (Breath Control) Pratyahara (Sensory Withdrawal) Dharana (Concentration) Dhyana (Meditation) Samadhi (Pure Awareness) Extended comfort of body and steadiness of mind while maintaining a physical posture Asanas may be structured for external results or internal results. Breath links internal and external External Yoga Asana Internal Learning via Asana Physical alignment Muscular engagement Muscular relaxation/neuromuscular control Proprioception Physical sensations in pose Observation of mental attitude. Ability to examine one s emotions. Openness to sense that beyond the physical. Ability to listen openly to feelings while Learning. 4

5 Stress relieving or stress inducing Asanas Child s Pose Child s Pose Body as inquiry Forward Fold Wide Angle Warrior Backward bend Forward Fold Wide Angle Warrior Backward bend I don t paint things. I only paint the difference between things. Henri Matisse Remember!!!!! YOGA means to yoke, unite, join, harness,or bring together in Sanskrit For YOGA(Union/Yoke) to happen we must distinguish between differences?!? We break things apart to show differences between this and that, so that we can unite this and that!..because we have to explore differences and sense where to go next!..and then we have a choice! 5

6 To explore we set up a framework The Framework is set up in class Paris Subway The Inquiry/Exploration/Real Yoga(Iyengar) takes place outside of class. Pruned Try a new subway! 6

7 Breath Control Yes! Pranayama But also. Freeing of breath! Breath: Connect internal and external?? The Bible claims that God breathed life into Adam. Merely controlling the breath does not control the patterns (breathing/posture), it merely deepens the habitual existing patterns.. We must also give flexibility and freedom to the breath The Hindus talked about Atman. The Greeks talked about Pneuma. The Romans talked about Spiritus. The Hebrews talked about Ruach. The Lakota Sioux talked about Neyatneyah. The Chinese talked about Chi/Oi. All these terms talk about a life force that is related to the breath. So breathing is also important from a spiritual standpoint throughout history Breathing can also include community. In Hawaii the natives called themselves Ohana, old people who breathe together. The whites were called Haoles, people without breath. Posture, Movement Breathing Awareness What to do? (Passion, excitement, joy) 7

8 Lifestyle choices Health is a factor of ongoing lifestyle choices Consider whole person health Nutrition, sleep, exercise, hygiene, emotions Many understand healthy living, yet struggle to Practice Junk food, sweets, alcohol, and cigarettes are detrimental, yet our culture consumes them by the tons! Spend 5 min every AM in silence asking yourself what kind of person you want to be today. Reasons for unhealthy habits lie in ignorance (avidya), attachment. Need to examine all 5 paths (Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Jnana, Tantra) Daily intention 8