Yoga Test!

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Patanjali's

He was an Indian sage who codified his thoughts and knowledge of yoga in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.  In his work, Patanjali compiled 195 sutras or concise aphorisms that are essentially an ethical blueprint for living a moral life and incorporation the science of yoga in your life.  

The Yoga Sutra

The fundamental text on the system of yoga, and yet you won't find the description of a single posture or asana in it.  This is a guide for living the right life

8 limbs of yoga

These are Patanjali's suggestions for living a better life through yoga. 

Yama

 Yama is a social behavior, how you treat others and the world around you.  These are moral principals. Sometimes they are called the don'ts or the thou shalt nots.  There are five Yamas.

Ahimsa

Nonviolence: Do no harm to any creature in thought or deed. In his book Autobiography of a Yogi, Praramahansa Yogananda asks Mahatma Gandhi the definition of ahimsa.  Gandhi said, "The avoidance of harm to any living creature in thought or deed."  Yogananda asked if one could kill a cobra to protect a child. 

Satya

Truth and honesty: Tell no lies. Be truthful to you're your and others in intention, work and deed..

Asteya

Nonstealing: Do not steal material objects (a car) or intangibles such as the center of attention or your child's chance to learn responsibility or independence by doing something on his own. 

Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya also evokes a sense of directing our energy away from external desires ... and instead, towards finding peace and happiness within ourselves.

Aparigraha

Nonpossessiveness: Free from greed, hoarding and collecting. Make your life as simple as possible. 

Niyama

An inner discipline and responsibility, how we treat ourselves. These are sometimes called observances, the do's, or the thou shalts. 

Sauca

Purity: Purity is achieved through the practice of the five yamas, which help clear away the negative physical and mental states of being.  Now treat your body like a temple. Keep yourself, your clothing, and your surroundings clean.  Eat fresh and healthy. food

Santosa

Contentment: Cultivate contentment and tranquility by finding happiness with what you have and who you are.  Seek happiness in the moment, take responsibility for where you are, and choose to grow from ther

Tapas

Austerity: Show discipline in body, speech, and mind. The purpose of developing self-discipline is not to become ascetic, but to control and direct the mind and body for higher spiritual aims or purposes. 

Svadyaya

Self -study: Engage in deep self-inquiry, including through the study of written works that inspire you.

Ishvara

Pranidhana-Surrender: Be devoted to God, Buddha or whatever you consider divine.

Asana

The posture of yoga is steady and easy."  Patanjali compares this to resting like the cosmic serpent on the waters of infinity.  Although Westerners often consider the practice of asana or postures as an exercise regimen or a way to stay fit, Patanjali and other ancient yogis used asana to prepare the body for meditation. To sit for lengthy time in contemplation required a supple and cooperative body. If you are free of physical distractions- such as you foot going to sleep- and can control the body, you can also control the mind.  Patanjali said, "Posture is mastered by freeing the body and mind from tension and restlessness and meditation on the infinite."

Pranayama

Prana is the life force or energy that exists everywhere and flows through each of us through the breath.  Pranayama is the control of breath.  The basic movements of pranayama are inhalation, retention of breath and exhalation.  "The yogi's life is not measured by the number of days but by the number of his breaths," says Iyengar.  Therefore, he follows the proper rhythmic patterns of slow, deep breathing."  The practice of pranayama purifies and removes distractions from the mind making it easier to concentrate and meditate.

Dharana

Concentration of dharana involves teaching the mind to focus on one point or image. "Concentration is binding thought in one place," says Patanjali.  The goal is to still the mind- gently pushing away superfluous thoughts- by fixing your mind on some object such as a candle flame, a flower or a mantra.  In dharana, concentration is effortless. You know the mind is concentrating when there is no sense of time passing. 

Dhyana

Uninterrupted meditation without an object is called dhyana.  Concentration (dharana) leads to the state of meditation. The goal of meditation is not unconsciousness or nothingness.  It is heightened awareness and oneness with the universe.  How do you tell the difference between concentration and meditation? If there is awareness of distraction, you are only concentrating and not meditating. The calm achieved in meditation spills over into all aspects of your life.

Samadhi

The ultimate goal of the eightfold path to yoga is samadhi or absolute bliss.  This is pure contemplation, superconsciousness, in which you and the universe are one. Those who have achieved samadhi are enlightened. The eight limbs work together: The first five steps - yama, niyama, asana, pranayama and pratyahara- are the preliminaries of yoga and build the foundation for spiritual life. They are concerned with the body and the brain.  The last three, which would not be possible without the previous steps are concerned with reconditioning the mind.  They help the yogi to attain enlightenment or the full realization of oneness with Spirit.