The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit (an ancient Indic language) Yuj meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Traditionally, yoga is a method of joining the individual self with the Divine, Cosmic Consciousness or Universal Spirit. The roots of yoga can be traced back roughly 5000 years. Originally, yoga was passed on as an oral tradition through a lineage of gurus and disciples working closely together to preserve the sacred teachings.

Yoga is a science, art, philosophy and physical system which leads to health in the body, peace in the mind, joy in the heart and liberation of the soul.

Yoga is not a religion or renunciation. It does not demand that one is a vegetarian, should give up smoking, drinking alcohol and so on, although for obvious benefits these are suggested to prevent disease and maintain good health and peace of mind. Yoga incorporates physical exercises, relaxation, breathing and energy components, along with awareness of the self, physically, mentally and spirituality. When practice yoga regularly, amazing thing happens: you naturally want to start eating healthier, to drop your bad habits, and such.

Swami Vishnu-Devananda, the author of “The Hatha Yoga Pradipika”, one of the main scriptures of Hatha Yoga, puts it simply: the five points of yoga are:

1. Proper exercise - Asana
2. Proper breathing - Pranayama
3. Proper relaxation - Savasana
4. Proper diet - vegetarian/ non processed
5. Positive thinking and meditation

These days people take yoga classes to learn all about the various techniques of asanas, pranayama, and meditation. But yoga is more than that. Yoga is a way of life. How to live yoga even when you are not doing asanas, pranayama, and meditation? How to practice yoga in the grocery store? How to live like a yogi with your family, in your workplace, when you are stuck in traffic?

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali brought yoga to the masses. These ancient scriptures are dated between 200BC and 200AD.

According Patanjali, 'Yoga is a state of being and the practices asociated with it.'

The Yoga Sutras list the eight limbs of yoga. The Sanskrit word 'Ashta' means eight and 'Anga' is translated as limbs.

Limb1

Yamas - ethical standards and moral restrains:

Achimsa - non violence to yourself and others in thought, word or deed. Consideration and compassion for all living beings including yourself. Very related with intention.

Satya - truthfulness, living with honesty in behavior, thought and intension.

Asteya - no stealing, no jealousy, cultivating a less materialistic view.

Brahmacharya - moderation - chastity. One way to look at this - faithfulness to one person.

Aparigraha - non attachment to things. Appreciate all that you have such as health, happiness, family, time, love...

Limb 2

Niyamas - observances and disciplines, our attitude towards ourselves:

Saucha - purity, physical, mental and environmental cleanliness.

Santosha - contentment: 'just enough' - sleep, eat, work, talk... a positive outlook and uncomplaining attitude.

Tapas - austerities - purifying practices, self control and discipline with enthusiasm for life.

Swadhyaya - spiritual studies, self study, mindfulness, reflection and self discovery.

Ishwara pranidhana - practice of awareness, accepting there is a higher force. Being happy with not knowing, with no outcome.

The concepts of Yama and Niyama can be summed up as, “Do good and be good”, - These moral and ethical principles, these laws of the Universe affect us whether we believe in them or not. (Puya Swammji)

Limb 3

Asanas - physical postures. The body is the temple of the spirit. Practice of asana brings discipline and concentration, both necessary for meditation.

Limb 4

Pranayama - control of life force or energy through breathing techniques.

Limb 5

Pratyahara - sensory detachment/withdrawal of senses, control of the mind to focus within. Conscious withdraw an attention and energy from the senses. A deep willingness to turn inwards. It doesn't mean disinterest, it means: I don't want to be distracted by whatever arises.

Limb 6

Dharana - ekagrata - concentrating mind, focus, narrowing your consciousness. Silent repetition of a sound, focusing on a deity or energy point in the body can help.

Limb 7

Dhyana - meditation/contemplation, an unbroken flow of concentration leading to meditative state.

Meditation creates a bigger gap between stimulus and reaction, and we'll find liberation, happiness in this gap.

Limb 8

Samadhi - enlightened state of bliss and being at one with the Divine or with the Universe.

Yoga Styles

There are many different styles of yoga all over the world today. Most of the popular styles stem from Hatha yoga. In Sanskrit, the ancient text of India, Ha means sun and Tha means moon, and is often translated as forceful or physical. Various yoga schools teach different approaches. It often depends on a class teacher’s interpretation as well. Below are short descriptions of yoga styles I teach. 

Hatha Flow

The classes are based on the classical Hatha Yoga postures being linked together by the breath. You will get the benefits of strength, stamina, flexibility and relaxation and have an opportunity to learn breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques. It is Yang style: active, forceful. 

Vinyasa Flow

Similar to Hatha Flow but more dynamic. A class starts with warming up, a standing sequence, moving in and out of the posture with the breath, followed by some mat work, and finishes up with the guided relaxation. The same benefits as Hatha Flow but feels more like workout. 

Yin Yoga

Mostly seated and lying poses are being held for 3-10 minutes allowing to open the body through passive stretching. This slow meditative healing practise gently stretches the connective tissues while also toning, lengthening the muscles and quieting the mind. At the deeper level Yin Yoga nourishes and gently stimulates meridians - energy channels in the body (nadis in Indian system). They are related to particular organs and emotional states. This style is especially suitable for people who want a relaxing, healing class and who want to work more on flexibility.

Restorative Yoga

It is total relaxation in lying poses using lots of props: blankets, cushions, bolsters, blocks.

Yoga Nidra 

Is a state of conscious complete relaxation induced by a guided meditation, practiced in a lying position. It provides a relief for stress, depression and anxiety, it's a total physical rest, helps to get a better sleep.

Most of my classes are suitable for beginners. If you have an injury or health condition, speak to your doctor and let me know before taking a class. 

Recommendation

• do not eat for 2 hours before a class. 
• Wear comfortable clothes that does not restrict movements.

Some Quotes  

• The success of yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships. - TKV Desikachar 

• Yoga is creation. - TKV Desikachar 

• Happiness - is liking what you get, not getting what you want. - Judith Lasater

• Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so. - Shakespeare 

• Yoga is delicious. - Richard Freeman

• Doesn’t matter that we are spinning off, what matters - that we are coming back - over and over again. - Judith Lasater

Recommended books and websites 

• For yoga poses, sequences, philosophy and events: www.yogajournal.com

• For yoga mats and props: www.yogamatters.co.uk

• A Year of Living Your Yoga - Judith Hanson Lasater

• Breath by Breath, The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation - Larry Rosenberg 

• Brightening Our Inner Skies. Yin and Yoga - Norman Blair

• Comfortable with Uncertainty - Pema Chödrön

• Heal Your Body - Louise L. Hay

• Light on Life - B.K.S. Iyengar

• Light on Pranayama - B.K.S. Iyengar

• The Heart of Yoga - T.K.V. Desikachar

• Theories of Chakras - Hiroshi Motoyama

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

• The Power - Rhonda Byrne

• The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

• Yoga Myths - Judith Hanson Lasater