by Sunshine Ross

Created on: November 21, 2008

"'Yoga citta vritti nirodha' yoga is the control of the thought waves in the mind" I like to remind my students. This definition of yoga from the Yoga Sutras of Master Patanjali, has nothing to do with how wonderfully you can touch your toes, stand on your head or take your leg over your shoulder, whatsoever. Yoga is more than that.

The same master, Patanjali, an Indian who lived in the 2nd century BCE, was the first to gather and write down the teachings on yoga prevalent at that time, passed on from master to teacher in precious sanctity. He named eight component parts of yoga- ashtanga yoga, "ashta" meaning the number eight and "anga" meaning "limbs". These eight comprise yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dyana, dharana and Samadhi. These eight correspond respectively to - one's attitude to one's self, attitude towards others or ethics, poses of the body, movement of breath and energy, withdrawal of the senses, meditation, single pointed concentration and union between the mind and the object of meditation.

In yoga class, we first learn to move the physical body- get it healthier and stronger. That is the most basic. Unlike other forms of exercise, in yoga, we manipulate the body and breathe in such a way to affect the internal organs. This is what the asanas or postures were designed for. We start to feel how the breath moves the body.

Each position also works on specific chakras or energy centers of the body. When we deepen our practice we begin to be aware of the more subtle body of energy, winds and essences. We begin to learn how breath and mind are deeply connected. We can them begin to stabilize the breath, stabilize the mind, stabilize the energy or at other times we can invigorate the breath, mind and energy.

Pranayama is the technique of moving the energy. In yoga this is done through the different breath techniques learned. As the breath moves, the energy moves. This energy is then directed into the higher stages of the practice where one is engaged in meditation and the rest of the yogic limbs. One becomes master of one's own body and mind. You can act with awareness throughout your yoga practice and in life.

A quality of yoga is moving from outside to the inside. Affecting what is inside by manipulating what is outside. Then you realize you are more than your body and your mind is so much more vast than it is now. You begin to feel the union, the "yoga" of this limitless vastness and bliss. This is the essence of hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga, vinyasa and all other forms of this great practice that has traveled from the depths of the East to the heights of the West.

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