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Principles and Elements of Yoga

16 Jun 2020

The benefits of yoga provide both instant gratification and lasting transformation. In the fitness world, both are extremely important. Too much time with too few results can be incredibly discouraging, and monotonous routines week after week can lead to stagnation. Yoga can change your physical and mental capacity quickly, while preparing the mind and body for long-term health.

Some of the most beneficial aspects of yoga:

• It increases endurance, strength, and flexibility.
• Mental endurance and physical stamina are tested through holding postures for extended breaths.
• Arm and shoulder strength is increased as you use your own body weight for resistance.
• Lats, traps, and other back muscles begin to support the spine better than before.
• Abdominals and obliques are refined and toned through building core muscles.
• Posture begins to correct itself over time.
• Hip flexors are stretched and strengthened.
• Glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves are strengthened.

The 7 Principles

Law of Pure Potentiality: Your essential nature is pure consciousness, the infinite source of everything that exists in the physical world. Since you are an inextricable part of the field of consciousness, you are also infinitely creative, unbounded, and eternal.

Law of Giving and Receiving: Giving and receiving are different expressions of the same flow of energy in the universe. Since the universe is in constant and dynamic exchange, you need to both give and receive to keep abundance, love, and anything else you want circulating in your life.

aw of Karma (Cause and Effect): Every action generates a force of energy that returns to you in kind. When you choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of your karma is happiness and success.

Law of Least Effort: You can most easily fulfill your desires when your actions are motivated by love, and when you expend the least effort by offering no resistance. In this way, you tap into the infinite organizing power of the universe to do less and accomplish everything.

Law of Intention and Desire: Inherent in every intention and desire are the mechanics for its fulfillment. When you become quiet and introduce your intentions into the field of pure potentiality, you harness the universe’s infinite organizing power, which can manifest your desires with effortless ease.

Law of Detachment: At the spirit level, everything is always unfolding perfectly. You don’t have to struggle or force situations to go your way. Instead, you can intend for everything to work out as it should, take action, and then allow opportunities to spontaneously emerge.

Law of Dharma: Everyone has a Dharma or purpose in life. By expressing your unique talents and using them to serve others, you will experience unlimited love, abundance, and true fulfillment in your life.

The 8 Elements

This lifestyle system is composed of eight linked, yet distinctive practices: Ethical life choices, personal observances, posture practices, breathing exercises, sense withdrawal, concentration practices, meditation, and absorption. The definitions of these eight limbs of yoga are shown in

1. Yama

Yama is the first element of Ashtanga yoga. Through the practice of Yama one can abstain from doing things that keep one's mind involved in the inevitable struggle for survival. One can remain away from violence. Yama consists of five moral codes of conduct. According to Maharishi Patanjali, there are five Yama, i.e. Ahimsa or Non-violence, satya or truthfulness, Asteya or Non- stealing, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha.

2. Niyama

Niyamas are related to an individual's body and senses. Niyamas are also ethical practices as yamas. There are five Niyamas such as Saucha, Santosh, Tapa, Swadhyaya and Ishwara Pranidhana.

3. Asana

Asana means position or posture of the body. It also means to sit in easy posture. Due to its popularity, most people think that yoga is nothing but asana. Asana is a step towards yoga. In fact, asanas are performed to keep the body flexible, agile and young. Asanas also enhance the beauty of the body by reducing inappropriate accumulation of fat in the body. There are various types of asanas such as corrective asanas, relax active asanas and meditative asanas.

4. Pranayama

Pranayama is the control of the process of breathing. The etymology of the word is complex. Prana means vital energy and Ayama means exercise. It means the appropriate control over inhalation and exhalation. Basically there are three constituents of Pranayama, i.e., Puraka (Inhalation), Kumbhaka (Retaining the breath) and Rechaka (Exhalation).

There are also various types of Pranayama such as Ujjayi, Suryabhedi, Sheetkari, Sheetali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murcha and Plavini. Pranayama is of primary importance for peoples’ well-being as it helps in regulating the metabolic activities and enhances the functions of the heart.

5. Pratyahara

Pratyahara is a process of self- control in which an individual is able to exercise control over his senses. Indeed, to control the mind and senses is called pratyahara. In pratyahara, the senses no longer respond to the external objects that hinder mental concentration. So, it leads to the removal from external and internal irritations to reach deep meditation.

6. Dharana

Dharana is the concentration of the mind. Generally, it is seen that the mind has a tendency to get scattered but if the scattered mind is brought under control and set to one focal point, concentration is said to be achieved. The focal point can be in the centre of the forehead or navel or a pointed soothing light at a distance. Dharana is the first step towards Samadhi.

7. Dhyana

Dhyana is a process of complete constancy of mind. It is a stage prior to Samadhi. Generally, Dhyana remains attached to our life at every point. Whenever we perform any specific task in the family, it is advisable to do that task with Dhyana. But we do not understand its appropriate meaning. In fact, Dhyana is a complete concentration of mind over a period of time without any distraction.

8. Samadhi

This term has firstly a cognitive nature. The union of an individual's soul with the Supreme soul is called the Samadhi. Samadhi is also called the checking or destruction of all the impulses of mind. During the stage of Dhyana when the disappearance of self- awareness takes place, the yogi attains the stage of Samadhi. He begins to feel the real truth. He forgets himself completely. He begins to experience the divine pleasure.

To sum up, the elements of yoga include various training exercises which gradually distract yogin from the normal course of life and the rules of social behavior. Through rhythmic respiration, meditation and ascent from an upgrade, yogin seeks to stem the chaotic flow of mental life and react against normal cosmic and human moods. The ultimate result is postosmonic bliss!