What is Yoga?
Animation is courtesy of Santosha Shop
The following synopsis of Yoga is from Ann Pizer:
"The word yoga means 'union' in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of the union occurring between mind, body and spirit. What is commonly referred to as 'yoga' can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses. Asana is only one of the eight 'limbs' or types of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well being than physical activity. Today, however, the words asana and yoga have become almost synonymous."
Yoga Poses
Many people think that yoga is stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose. There is an ideal way that each pose should be done, although not all yogis will agree about what that is.
Yoga Practice
Yoga teachers will often refer to "your practice," which means your individual experience with yoga as it develops over time. The amazing thing about yoga is that your practice is always evolving and changing so it never gets boring. Although the poses themselves do not change, your relationship to them will. Anyone can start a yoga practice, even if you don't feel like you are very flexible or very strong. These things will develop over time. Another great thing about thinking of yoga as "your practice" is that it encourages the noncompetitive spirit of yoga. One of the most difficult, but ultimately most liberating things about yoga is letting go of the ego and accepting that no one is better than anyone else. Everyone is just doing their best on any given day.
Yoga Classes
In addition to practicing the poses, yoga classes may also include instruction on breathing, call and response chanting, meditation, or an inspirational reading by the teacher. The variety and amount of this will depend on the individual teacher and the tradition in which they have trained. Typically, a yoga class at a gym will be more focused on the purely physical benefits of yoga, while one at a yoga center may delve more into the spiritual side. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever your tendency, you will be able to find a yoga class that suits your style.
Additional Insight
The following is taken from Morningside:
Mention the word "yoga" and you may receive a variety of curious looks and responses by people who think it is weird. People typically think of meditation in the lotus (cross-legged) posture. Others have heard it is good for relaxation. At the extreme, some think it is a dangerous heretical religious cult. In places like Boston, New York and Los Angeles, classes are packed with enthusiasts.We encountered the above site when we attempted to determine the proper way to spell yoga, lower case or capital Y? You may read the Morningside perspective if you wish. Apparently either way is acceptable and there is no need for consistency. If you find the usage inconsistent in this site, now you know why.
The inconsistency results from the fact that Yoga historically has straddled two worlds, one radical, individualistic and mystical--small 'y'-- and the other, orthodox, hierarchical, liturgical--capital 'Y.'
Yoga Styles
Again from Ann Pizer
Your Guide to Popular Yoga Styles
There are many different styles of yoga being taught and practiced today. Although all of the styles are based on the same physical postures (called poses), each has a particular emphasis. Here is a quick guide to the most popular types of yoga that can help you decode the schedule at your gym and figure out which class is right for you.
Hatha is a very general term that can encompass many of the physical types of yoga. If a class is described as Hatha style, it is probably going to be slow-paced and gentle, and can provide a good introduction to the basic yoga poses.
Like Hatha, Vinyasa is a general term that is used to describe many different types of classes. Vinyasa, which means breath-synchronized movement, tends to be a more vigorous style based on the performance of a series of poses called Sun Salutations in which movement is matched to the breath. A Vinyasa class will typically start with a number of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for more intense stretching which is done at the end of class.
Ashtanga, which means eight limbs in Sanskrit, is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga. A set series of poses is performed, always in the same order. Ashtanga practice is very physically demanding, because of the constant movement from one pose to the next. In yoga terminology, this movement is called flow. Ashtanga is also the inspiration for what is often called Power Yoga. If a class is described as Power Yoga, it will be based on the flowing style of Ashtanga, but not necessarily keep strictly to the set Ashtanga series of poses.
Based on the teachings of the yogi B.K.S Iyengar, this style of practice is most concerned with bodily alignment. In yoga, the word alignment is used to describe the precise way in which your body should be positioned in each pose in order to obtain the maximum benefits of the pose and avoid injury. Iyengar practice usually emphasizes holding poses over long periods versus moving quickly from one pose to the next (flow). Also, Iyengar practice encourages the use of props, such as yoga blankets, blocks and straps in order to bring the body into alignment.
The emphasis in Kundalini is on the breath in conjunction with physical movement, with the purpose of freeing energy in the lower body and allowing it to move upwards. All asana practices make use of controlling the breath, but in Kundalini, the exploration of the effects of the breath (also called prana, meaning energy) on the postures is essential. Kundalini uses rapid, repetitive movements rather than holding poses for a long time, and the teacher will often lead the class in call and response chanting.
Pioneered by Bikram Choudhury, this style is more generally referred to as Hot Yoga. It is practiced in a 95-100 degree room, which allows for a loosening of tight muscles and profuse sweating, which is thought to be cleansing. The Bikram method is a set series of 26 poses, but not all hot classes are make use of this series.
Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy
Yoga Therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the philosophy and practice of Yoga. (International Association of Yoga Therapists)
What is your body trying to tell you?
Our bodies work hard for us and give us messages through our physical and emotional difficulties. Yoga Therapy is guided instruction in Yogic practices and teachings that help us understand the messages. We hope to use that understanding to lessen or alleviate suffering. Each session is specific to the individual's needs and may include assisted postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. Another element not to be neglected, may be examining behaviors and attitudes that contribute to undesirable conditions and then cultivating a practice to support movement in a more desirable direction. This work can overlap and compliment Western disciplines of physical therapy, psychotherapy, medicine, and ministry.
What is the goal of Yoga Therapy?
The goal is to help an individual work through the various issues with the hope of regenerating harmony and balance within the mind, body, and spirit.
Who can benefit from Yoga Therapy?
Individuals with a wide variety of physical and emotional problems can benefit from therapy with a trained yoga therapist. Ailments and conditions commonly helped include:
~ Chronic physical illness such as arthritis, pain, migraine headaches, and injury.
~ Mental and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
Resulting benefits include an improved mind-body awareness and increased positive energy and thought processes.
Sarah's Approach to Therapy
Prior to teaching and studying yoga, Sarah was doing energy work, including Reiki and balancing chakras with assistance from the angelic realm. She has a strong connection with her angels and spirit guides and asks for their assistance and guidance in all aspects of her life. When Sarah was performing energy work on people, she would often receive divine guidance pertaining to specific yoga postures and breathing techniques that would be beneficial to the individual she was working with.
Sarah uses that same angelic guidance each time she teaches a yoga class and when doing individual yoga therapy. She calls on the angels and relies on their assistance in each class to address the collective needs of the group.
Sarah teaches primarily in the tradition of Hatha yoga, but she incorporates many other types of yoga into her classes including Kundalini, Anusara, and Jivamukti. In addition to the poses (asana), breath awareness (pratyahara), and meditation (dyana), she places emphasis on the other limbs of Patanjali’s Eight limbed yogic path, especially the application of non-harmfulness, contentment, self-surrender, sense withdrawal (pratyahara) and self-realization (samadhi). The variety and amount of this will depend on Sarah’s intuitive sense and what she “feels” from the class before she begins. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever your tendency, you will find that Sarah’s style addresses both of these needs.
What do we know of Angels?
Angelic beings are biblical and discussed in many ways. A beautiful discussion can be found at the New Advent.
The following is from Fr. Pascal P. Parente, The Catholic Teaching on the Angels
Our human mind comes into possession of knowledge by a gradual and laborious process. It requires first of all a number of years of physical development for the proper operation. It rises slowly from single sensible perceptions to general ideas of things and finally to abstract truth. The Angelic intellect, entirely free and independent from matter and senses, needs no such development. It is in the full possession of its power from the very beginning of its existence. There is no need of gathering elements of knowledge bit by bit, of adding ideas to ideas in order to discover truth, as is the case with us. Having been created in the full perfection of its nature, the Angelic mind neither develops by gradual growth nor does it suffer any decay; its knowledge does not pass by consecutive steps from the haze of the morning to the splendor of the noonday brightness. From the beginning of its existence it was able to grasp the objects within its own sphere and advert to them without any fatigue in the process, moving in the dazzling light of the purely spiritual world as in its proper element.
Being by nature higher than man and much closer to God, the Angels receive more of His light, that is, a greater power of understanding, infused ideas, mind-pictures representing external objects, the spiritual and material creatures of this universe.