LIMBS, BRANCHES & BENEFITS OF YOGA

What is yoga really all about?

“Many people think that yoga is all about learning how to stand on your head, but it’s really about learning how to stand on your two feet”
-Sri Swami Satchidananda

 

PEACEFUL Yogi

 

Patanjali was a great Yoga prophet from “about” 400 B.C.E. In the book The Yoga Sutras he spells out in a series of discussions between him and his students on how to live a yogic life. He details the eight limbs or stages to practice on the road to freedom or Samadhi. These eight limbs are called Ashtanga yoga, not to be confused with Patabi Jois’ Ashtanga yoga.

The Eight Limbs:

  • Yama-Moral disciplinary practices or restraints
  • Niyama-Moral observances
  • Asana-Postures
  • Pranayama-Energy and breathing practices
  • Pratyahara-Withdrawal of the senses
  • Dharana-Concentration practices
  • Dhyana-Meditation practices
  • Samadhi-Bliss or union with G-d

The first two are very key to practicing the philosophy of Yoga.
I like to say they are what yoga is “all about.”

The 10 commandments of Yoga

The Yamas are:

  • Ahimsa-vowing to do no harm in thought, word, or action
  • Satya-telling the truth all the time to keep your will pure and undiluted
  • Asteya-Non-stealing
  • Brahmacharya- observing chastity in thought, word, or action with restraint in desires
  • Aparigraha-non-grasping or acquiring more by living with less

The Niyamas are:

  • Saucha-cleanliness of body and mind
  • Samtosha-the practice of being content in every moment, trusting in the bigger picture
  • Tapa-focus with discipline and austerity
  • Svadhyaya-deeper spiritual study of the texts
  • Ishvara-pranidhana-merging into G-d in all parts of your life

 

Five Branches of Yoga:

Hatha Yoga -This is the most familiar kind of yoga practiced in the West. And the only branch of yoga most western folks even know about. This is the yoga of physical well being, the poses we do with our bodies, called asanas. It consists of pranayama (breathing practices), and meditation.

Karma Yoga -This is the path of service. We practice Karma yoga whenever we perform our work and live our lives in a selfless fashion as a way to serve others.

Bhakti Yoga - This is the path of devotion, the yoga of the heart. In Bhakti yoga, we see the Divine in all creation. This is a way to channel the emotions and is often expressed through devotional chanting called kirtan. 

Jnana Yoga -This is the yoga of the mind, of wisdom and the path of the sage or scholar. Jnana yogis develop their intellect through the study of the scriptures and the texts of the yogic tradition.

Raja Yoga - This is the highest form of yoga. Raja means “royal”. Meditation is the focal point of this branch of yoga, and strict adherence to the eight limbs of yoga as outlined by Patanjali in THE YOGA SUTRAS.

Benefits of Yoga

  • Proper breathing is a great way to energize, learn concentration and reduce stress. Reduces allergy and asthmatic symptoms.
  • Standing poses build posture and strength. Reduces symptoms of scoliosis.
  • Balancing poses. The brain works along with the body’s inner core, developing focus, strength, balance and poise.
  • Backbends open and strengthen the heart and chest.
  • Forward bends help massage the digestive system.
  • Inversions and difficult poses build self-esteem by teaching children that they can achieve what they set out to do all on their own.
  • Relaxation poses. Reducing stress and learning to calm yourself helps children learn to focus and helps with logic studies.
Kidding Around Yoga is based on a traditional hatha yoga class. And more specifically an Integral Yoga class ™. Each class includes an opening chant, and a closing chant, deep relaxation, (commonly referred to in our classes as The Secret Garden) Pranayama and Meditation.  Our hatha poses are creatively tucked into: Partner yoga, games and activities, our original songs, stories and more.
You’d have to see it to believe it!

When I get testimonials like THIS about the benefits of Yoga from my students I just have to share!

“I can’t tell you how much my kids love yoga. My son, Joe, is a different kid in two days. He fell asleep last night w/in 5 min. He hasn’t EVER done that. In his entire life (10 1/2 yrs). He LOVES the secret garden. He calls it “my happy place”. He made a special bracelet that he lays on his chest during savasana.  He told me that each bead and each feather represents something in his garden. He said he wanted to paint his “happy place” on his (bedroom) wall!!
We made our talking stick last night. They used it this morning at breakfast. And they even did a few yoga poses before school!!
This is amazing.
THANK YOU! love you tons!!! :) I am so grateful.”

“Amy Archer-Vail, Colorado”

Haris' beautiful niece learning the dancer pose

Yoga family!