| Yoga that I was taught was incredibly difficult and | | | | always hopping then suddenly the grasshopper |
| almost impossible to do at first. There were some | | | | jumps. Which is what many people,(not just |
| serious hangups in the beginning but like anything | | | | Oprah)has deemed what is commonly known as |
| once you get some practice it gets a whole lot | | | | an 'Aha' moment. |
| easier. Knowing what Yoga is all about really helps | | | | Next comes the first actual practice or exercise |
| to achieve the end result in each practice much | | | | with which the other principals are applied. |
| clearer. | | | | Asana- The practice described above. |
| Yoga to me is a spiritual practice of extroversion. | | | | Then comes Pranayama, meaning control or |
| While much of our religious or mystical endeavors | | | | regularization of breath. This practice can actually |
| are introverted mental practices focusing on the | | | | increase your brain power. It pushes blood flow |
| mind, like meditation and prayer. Yoga is designed | | | | through otherwise dormant vessels in the brain. I |
| to focus on the body and the mind together. | | | | will write extensively on this in another article. |
| Which can be a much more thorough approach to | | | | Mantra Yoga is exactly how is sounds. Reciting a |
| understanding the self. | | | | word or phrase over and over again until you |
| "Know thyself." - Persian Maxim from Zarathustra | | | | become lost in the act. Mantra's are useful in so |
| or Zoroaster | | | | many ways. I always imagine "It think I can I |
| "In man all things are hidden." - Taken from the | | | | think i can I think I can". Ultimately, recurring into I |
| Qabalah author unknown. | | | | can, I think, I can, I think, then back again. An |
| Most people learn more by doing than reading. | | | | excellent example. |
| Both combined are what makes a thorough | | | | Yes Mantra Yoga, my little helper. |
| comprehension on the subjects studied. Applying | | | | Yogayogayogayoga! Now say that fifteen times |
| what you learn is important, There is NO | | | | fast. I imagine at times you will eventually see |
| substitute for direct experience, that's what I | | | | yourself or hear rather, saying gayogayogayo and |
| always say about anything I'm discussing. | | | | technically that's the point. The point being a |
| To put it simply, would you go jumping out of an | | | | mantra which is an actual integral part of the |
| airplane with a skydiver who has never actually | | | | yoga exercise. Real yoga that is. Well, I can't really |
| done it before, but maybe read all about it took | | | | say that anything is fake yoga, but definitely fad |
| classes and the like. Not me, I would feel much | | | | like. |
| more comfortable with someone who has prior | | | | Fact is, I believe that mantra is a widely |
| experience. | | | | overlooked stepping stone or good tip, even |
| There are eight different sections otherwise | | | | better: trick to the trade. Yoga as well as being |
| known as extensions or limbs of Yoga. Asana | | | | many things including or all things or no thing can |
| was the first that was on the list from which I | | | | be best described at least in a western state of |
| learned. The definition offered was 'Posture' | | | | thinking or speaking "external meditating". Using or |
| gaining control over the body. Then, the practices | | | | rather pushing the body towards its advantageous |
| were described as sitting in one position and tense | | | | limits, in order to maintain good health and inner |
| every single muscle in the entire body. Pushing the | | | | peace. As in the case of Asana. Mantra the |
| tip of the tongue against the lower teeth and | | | | mental tool can be the help that gets u over the |
| outwardly folding the rest of the tongue towards | | | | hump. And in real hard yoga one needs all the help |
| the mouth. This would prevent the jaw from | | | | one can get. |
| clenching and after all the tongue is also a muscle. | | | | These days its hard not to come across health |
| Doing this and remaining Completely still (or as still | | | | and fitness advertisements, especially in the |
| as possible )for the length minimum of 1 hour. | | | | United States. Somewhere, in all the ads, |
| It can be done, trust me! It took me a while, | | | | undoubtedly you will come across yoga. Now, |
| after I broke my record and got past the first 5 | | | | there are many types of Yoga. For instance, |
| mins., the next time I went to 23 mins. then an | | | | there is Hatha-yoga, Raja yoga, Pradipika yoga, |
| hour and 22 mins. It is best to keep a journal of | | | | Mantra yoga and many more than I am even |
| all your practices. Yes it is painful but when you | | | | aware of. I must admit, I have never taken a |
| are done you feel like you can accomplish | | | | class (or even considered it) on Yoga. I just |
| ANYTHING! It is excellent for the body and your | | | | cannot see myself paying good money to do |
| health. | | | | exercises that to me are highly personal, in front |
| Yoga has eight limbs or branches. I will only be | | | | of a group of strangers. I also wonder what |
| discussing the first few here, and write another | | | | exactly they do in those classes? I couldn't |
| article describing the others. In my opinion each | | | | imagine the technique's mentioned above |
| limb is worthy of an entire treatise all it's own. | | | | becoming the latest craze, or gaining any |
| Yoga, as any good yogi will tell you; can be | | | | popularity whatsoever. |
| almost anything. However, anything cannot be | | | | Yoga, if I am not mistaken is primarily a spiritual |
| yoga. The true through paradigm. Good yoga is a | | | | practice designed for achieving inner peace, or |
| consistent persistence in order to lasso the mind | | | | bring you closer to god and/or heaven. I |
| into your true will of control. Hence the first two | | | | understand this and because I have read many |
| limbs Yama and Niyama. | | | | recommended books on the subject, plus put into |
| Yama: meaning control. Is the first limb of Yoga. | | | | action the recommended practices in those |
| Niyama, the second limb, which can only be | | | | books, I believe my understanding is sound. |
| interpreted as control over your control beyond | | | | I do apologize for the sloppy nature of this article |
| the nature and finite complexities of control. Hoe- | | | | as I had no real idea where to begin. This wasn't |
| hum- drum, the paradox rears her wondrous | | | | really planned as well as I would have liked. I |
| stare back on us. Spiritual practices are just that, | | | | simply just sat down, decided on a subject that I |
| though. Often times we are consigned to do a | | | | knew a little about and began writing. In the |
| thing unwittingly and unconsciously aware of any | | | | future I will endeavor to write a little more on this |
| real outwardly significant benefit. Then after the | | | | subject with more practiced and organized |
| grasshopper hops through routine after routine | | | | thought. |