Yoga

“Yoga is a self discipline based on the tenets of simple living and high thinking”

Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India many thousands of years ago. It is the oldest system of personal development in the world, encompassing in its scope, body, mind and spirit. The ancient yogis had a profound understanding of man’s essential nature and of what he needs to live in harmony with himself and his environment. They perceived the physical body as a vehicle, with the mind as the driver, the soul as man’s true identity, and action, emotion and intelligence as the three forces which pull the body-vehicle. In order to have an integral development, these three forces must be in balance. The underlying purpose of all the different aspects of the practice is to reunite the individual Self (the jiva) with the Absolute or pure consciousness (Brahman). The word Yoga means literally “joining”

Union with this unchanging reality liberates the spirit from all sense of separation, freeing it from the illusion of time, space and causation. It is only our ignorance, our inability to discriminate between the real and unreal, that prevents from us from realising our true nature.

We practice Yoga in order to evolve in life, to get success in life and Self-realisation. Yoga is not separate from life. It is possible to integrate the practices in our daily routine, no matter our conditions in life (rich or poor, single or with family duties, old or young, healthy or ill), because everyone has spiritual potential and everyone wants to evolve. We are looking for the ultimate answers to all the questions of life: “What is life? What is death? What happens after death? Why do certain people seem to be happier then others? Why are certain people luckier than others? How do we prioritise our life? What is Dharma? What is right? What is wrong? Why is there war and conflict? How can we have peace?”

Yoga practiced as a Sadhana (spiritual practice) gives multiple benefits, physically, mentally and spiritually. Yoga regards the individual in its totality, as a whole, not just as a physical body, or just as an ungrounded mind, or just as a disembodied spirit. Peace and health happen when the individual is in harmony with him or herself, when he is able to perceive himself as one with all, and consequently his actions and feelings are governed by this realisation. Yoga brings about physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Classical Yoga is a system of spiritual Knowledge coming from the scriptures (the Vedas), and handed down by a lineage of teachers. It does not come from the creativity of one individual. It is universal and non-sectarian and can be practiced by all. It is a complete system in itself, with many different facets; it is a systematic approach, practiced over a long time, and not a quick fix. The goal is Peace and Self-realization. Its teaching needs to be selfless, to insure the purity of the teaching.

Sivananda Yoga teaches the classical method of the four paths of Yoga in order for the individual to experience this state of peace and harmony in the body, mind and spirit. The modern Yoga approach emphasises the physical postures while classical Yoga includes mental and spiritual components in the practice.

There are many definitions of yoga and all that definitions are correct. Here is a definition of Swami Sivananda. “Yoga is complete life. It is a method which overhauls all aspects of the human personality. Yoga is a system of integral education, education not only of the body and the mind or the intellect, but also of the inner spirit. Yoga shows you the marvelous method of rising from evil to good, and from goodness to holiness and then to eternal divine splendor. YOGA IS THE ART OF RIGHT LIVING. The Yogi who has learned the art of right living is happy, harmonious, peaceful and free from tension. Yoga is a science perfected by ancient seers of India, not merely of India, but of humanity as a whole. It is an exact science, a perfect, practical system of self-culture”