As a Buddhist and a yoga practitioner, I can say that these exercises are an important part to both Buddhism and Hinduism. Yoga is one of the six schools of philosophy within the faith of Hinduism. But this type of yoga is defined as "Raja Yoga" or "Astanga Yoga" due to the eight aspects of the path practitioners must attend to. In a sense it teaches freedom which is freedom of mobility. Yoga emphasizes the flexibility of ones own body. The better range of motion, the more liberated you become.

This type of yoga is classical yoga or better known as the original form of yoga that we see today. Yoga can be a bit painful if your joints aren't flexible at first. These exercises take a lot of time and practice to improve. In a sense, it's something of "mind over matter". Your pain and stiffness is deemed to be all in the mind. In Hinduism, the mind and body are supposed to be related and the body must be tamed. Yoga is supposed to work on the discipline of your mind, body, and soul.

The paths of yoga are pretty important to the practitioners of Hindu: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyna, and Samadhi. These paths have a very important part of yoga.

The Yama is the Hindu code of conduct as it consists of: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha. Respectively they mean: non-violence, honesty, not stealing, no pre-marital sex, and no adulterous acts. Yoga is a means to meditate on the five aspects of the Yama.

Niyama means purity and illumination. Through yoga, one could attain those two very important things. Asana will steady your body and attainment will release tension and meditation on what is called unlimited. Pranayama works on your life force. In conjunction with yama, you can control of your life force.

Pratyahara is your inner strength. It removes all sorts of distractions. Dharana is the control of the mind. Dhyana is the cultivation of dispassion and the reduction of your wants. Samadhi is the removal of all obstacles by destroying afflictions.

Practicing yoga, I can understand the meaning of these eight paths by all of these positions. In the various positions, I can understand the Yama which is self-restraint. The positions could get painful yet we continue to hold them for a certain amount of time which builds up the discipline.

Yoga is a sense of meditation which helps us attain purity or Niyama. Getting used to the poses helps us obtain Asana which is mastering of the different postures and positions of yoga. Pranayama in the form of the yoga pose helps us gain control of your body and our life force. In yoga, the Pratyahara will help us remove distractions and help us maintain those positions.

Dharana in yoga is concentration and meditation in the various yoga poses. Dhyana helps you drive the evil thoughts that hinder your focus and concentration in yoga. Samadhi in yoga will get rid of your obstacles when holding the positions.

In short, yoga is the personification of Hinduism itself.

Learn more about this author, Can Tran.
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