ABOUT YOGA
Raja Yoga
(Royal Path of Yoga)
Daily Yoga Ritual draws upon the timeless wisdom of the Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, as expounded in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These teachings, which have stood the test of time for over 2,500 years, remain as practical and relevant today as they were in the past.
The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga offer a step-by-step approach to achieving balance and harmony in our lives. Each limb builds upon the other, guiding us towards a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. By following this comprehensive framework, we can balance and harmonize our outer and inner life, and connect with the positivity, creativity and peace within.
Yamas - (Five social and ethical guidelines, related to our external interactions)
The Yamas, which are the first limb of Raja Yoga, offer guidance on how to regulate our behaviour towards ourselves and others. By practicing these guidelines, we can create a more peaceful and harmonious world within ourselves, with others, and with the environment around us.
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Ahimsa: Non-violence towards all living beings, respect and compassion for all life.
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Satya: Being truthful, always speak and act with honesty and integrity.
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Asteya: Not stealing or taking what is not given and discourages exploitation for personal gain.
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Brahmacharya: Prioritizes spiritual pursuits over physical desires, promoting sexual integrity and discipline.
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Aparigraha: Non-possessiveness, non-greed, and non-grasping. It entails limiting the desire for belongings to what is necessary and essential.
Niyamas (Five internal and personal guidelines)
The Niyamas, the second limb of Raja Yoga, provide valuable guidelines for our conduct and inner world. By incorporating these guidelines into our daily lives, we can cultivate self-awareness, positivity, and inner peace.
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Saucha: Purity, cleanliness and non-toxicity for our bodies, minds, and environments.
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Santosha: Contentment through gratitude, finding joy and satisfaction in the present moment, rather than constantly striving for more.
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Tapas: Self-discipline, stay focused, motivated, and unlock positive potential.
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Swadhyaya: Self-study. By examining our thoughts, actions, and beliefs, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and in the world.
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Ishvara Pranidhana: Involves surrendering and dedicating ourselves to our higher self and universal consciousness. It involves letting go of our negative tendencies and petty ego.
Asanas (body postures)
Asanas, also known as the third limb of Raja Yoga, are an effective way to release emotional and mental patterns that have become stored in the body as physical tension and pranic knots. By practicing asanas regularly, one can not only promote overall well-being but also prepare the body and mind for meditation. This can help achieve a state of calm and relaxation, making it easier to meditate.
Pranayama (breathing techniques, control and expand prana/energy)
Pranayama, which is the fourth limb of Raja Yoga, provides us with a powerful tool to control and expand our prana (energy), regulate our nervous system, and balance our energy levels. By integrating breathing techniques into our daily routine, we can experience a sense of calmness and increased vitality, leading to overall well-being.
Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation)
Yoga Nidra, also called yogic sleep is a powerful deep relaxation technique and is a Pratyahara practice, the fifth limb of Raja Yoga. Pratyahara refers to withdrawing one's awareness from the senses and turning it inward. By doing so, it can be a powerful tool for achieving a deeper state of meditation and self-awareness. By focusing on the inner self, one can gain a greater understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and overall being. Yoga Nidra involves lying down in a supine position and guides our body to deeply relax while remaining conscious in a sleep-like state. This practice can help us gain insight into our dreams and inner life, while also promoting relaxation and inner peace.
Meditation
Antar Mouna (inner silence) and Ajapa Japa (repetition of mantra) are two powerful meditation practices that can help us achieve inner peace and mindfulness. While Antar Mouna focuses on cultivating the inner witness, or the observer of our thoughts and emotions, Ajapa Japa helps focus and calm the mind through the repetition of mantra, and is a Dharana practice. Dharana (concentration), is the six limb of Raja Yoga, which is essential for achieving Dhyana (meditation), a deep state of one-pointedness and inner peace, and is the seventh limb of yoga.
Both Antar Mouna and Ajapa Japa meditation can help us gain focus, insight and clarity. By becoming aware of our Samskaras or mental impressions, we can disentangle ourselves from negative thinking or the lower mind and connect with our higher mind and positive values. This helps us to manage life's challenges with positivity, equanimity, and discernment, paving the way for inner peace and connection with our higher self, and living life to our highest potential.
Samadhi (union with our higher self and universal
consciousness)
Yoga is a powerful practice that can lead us to a blissful state of peace and unity with all of life. By progressing through the previous seven limbs of yoga, we can let go of our negative tendencies, connect more deeply with our higher values and positivity and experience a transformative journey. Ultimately, the goal of yoga is to attain Samadhi, the eighth limb of Raja yoga, or union with our higher self and universal consciousness. This is where we can experience a profound sense of blissful peace and unity with all of life.
Yoga is a powerful tool to balance and harmonize our body, mind, and spirit. By removing obstacles and connecting us with our positivity, creativity, and peace within, it can help us awaken a deep sense of interconnectedness and harmony with all of life.