Yoga Philosophy
What is this "Yoga Thing" all about?
If you're not already familiar with yoga, you may wonder if it's merely a trend. Let me assure you, yoga has a long and fascinating history dating back more than 5,000 years! The main philosophy of yoga is simple: mind, body and spirit are all one and cannot be clearly separated.
To explore the deeper dimensions of yoga, a good place to start is with The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, widely regarded as the foundational text on yoga, compiled prior to 400 CE. The Sutras are a collection of 196 aphorisms on the theory and practice of yoga. They outline the Eight Limbs of Yoga and offer guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life:
1. Yamas - Restraint of negative behaviors; moral disciplines
2. Niyamas - Positive duties or observances
3. Asana - Yoga postures
4. Pranayama - Breathing techniques
5. Pratyhara - Withdrawal of the senses
6. Dharana - Focused concentration
7. Dhyana - Meditation
8. Samadhi - Enlightenment or Bliss
Other Ancient Yoga Texts to Explore
The Vedas
The Upanishads
The Bhagavad Gita
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Contemporary Yoga References to Explore
B.K.S. Iyengar's Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health
* Check back for future posts where I will continue to explore these ancient philosophies which look into the deeper dimensions of the unity of body, mind and spirit.
Yoga Philosophy
What is this "Yoga Thing" all about?
If you're not already familiar with yoga, you may wonder if it's merely a trend. Let me assure you, yoga has a long and fascinating history dating back more than 5,000 years! The main philosophy of yoga is simple: mind, body and spirit are all one and cannot be clearly separated.
To explore the deeper dimensions of yoga, a good place to start is with The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, widely regarded as the foundational text on yoga, compiled prior to 400 CE. The Sutras are a collection of 196 aphorisms on the theory and practice of yoga. They outline the Eight Limbs of Yoga and offer guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life:
1. Yamas - Restraint of negative behaviors; moral disciplines
2. Niyamas - Positive duties or observances
3. Asana - Yoga postures
4. Pranayama - Breathing techniques
5. Pratyhara - Withdrawal of the senses
6. Dharana - Focused concentration
7. Dhyana - Meditation
8. Samadhi - Enlightenment or Bliss
Other Ancient Yoga Texts to Explore
The Vedas
The Upanishads
The Bhagavad Gita
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Contemporary Yoga References to Explore
B.K.S. Iyengar's Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health
* Check back for future posts where I will continue to explore these ancient philosophies which look into the deeper dimensions of the unity of body, mind and spirit.