| As a Yoga Teacher, I have noticed a lot of my | | | | breathing exercises) was used to assist the |
| yoga beginner students asking me questions | | | | monks in their daily spiritual practice. A healthy |
| about the wider aspects of yoga. | | | | body leads to a healthy mind. Nowadays, many |
| Many of my students started yoga as a way to | | | | students view yoga as a series of stretching |
| learn how to relax, to become more flexible and | | | | exercises and do not realize the rich heritage of |
| even to lose weight and help with fertility issues. | | | | their class. |
| However, over time, they notice other changes in | | | | 5. If yoga is so old and good for you and |
| their life and at the end of their class are keen to | | | | supposed to be peace loving why are there still |
| discuss the more spiritual side of yoga. | | | | wars and dispute? Man has free will. Yoga is not |
| I find this fascinating and am always happy to | | | | prescriptive and does not dictate how you should |
| share my understanding of yoga and its impact | | | | live your life. Yoga, per se, offers you a set of |
| on life with fellow students. | | | | tools to improve your health and well being. Like a |
| Maybe you have started to reflect on some of | | | | grain of sand, it takes many yogis to make a |
| the more subtle aspects of your practice and also | | | | difference on a local and national level. |
| have questions you would like to explore about | | | | 6. I heard my Yoga Teacher talk about a man |
| yoga spirituality and philosophy. | | | | named Pantajali, who is he, and what is he |
| Here are seven common questions students ask | | | | famous for? In Yoga, there are many Master |
| about yoga philosophy | | | | Teachers. People who dedicated their life to |
| 1. Is Yoga a religion? In my view, yoga is not a | | | | studying all aspects of yoga and then desired to |
| religion. Yoga is a health and personal development | | | | share their knowledge with others. Patanjali is |
| system which covers healthy exercise, breathing | | | | known as one of the founders of yoga. Born |
| exercises, healthy eating, meditation techniques | | | | around 300 BC, Patanjali's knowledge of yoga is |
| and relaxation exercises. Together these principles | | | | contained within the Sutras. |
| offer you a set of tools to release stress and | | | | 7. What are the Eight Limbs of Yoga? What |
| tension from your body, calm and clear your | | | | exactly do they do? The Eight Limbs of Yoga |
| mind, rebalance your energy and help you | | | | form part of the Sutras and as such, form the |
| become clearer about your purpose in life. If you | | | | ethical and philosophical foundation of your yoga |
| are religious, then practicing yoga will increase | | | | practice. |
| your ability to enjoy your faith and become closer | | | | The Eight Limbs consist of: |
| to your god. | | | | 1. Yama (a set of social codes for communal |
| 2. What are the Sutras? The Sutras cover the | | | | ethical living) |
| principles and practices of yoga. It consists of | | | | 2. Niyama (guidelines for personal conduct and |
| threads or commentaries which bring together all | | | | behaviour) |
| the various strands and thoughts regarding yoga | | | | 3. Asana (yoga postures) |
| philosophy into one main literary source. | | | | 4. Pranayama (breath control) |
| 3. What are the Yamas and Niyamas? The | | | | 5. Pratyahara (withdrawal and control of the |
| Yamas and Niyamas form part of the Eight Limbs | | | | senses) |
| of Yoga. They offer personal guidelines and | | | | 6. Dharana (concentration) |
| universal principles on how to live a healthy, | | | | 7. Dhyana (meditation) |
| balanced life. | | | | 8. Samadhi (enlightenment, self-realisation) |
| 4. I thought Yoga was just a set of exercises. | | | | In essence, yoga is a holistic health care system |
| What has Yoga Philosophy got to do with yoga? | | | | which heals, strengthens and unifies your mind |
| Yoga is over 5,000 years old. Yoga means union, | | | | body spirit. As such yoga philosophy offers you |
| balancing of the mind, body and spirit. Traditionally, | | | | discourse and ethical considerations to reflect |
| the practice of yoga (exercises, relaxation and | | | | upon and develop the "mind" aspect of your being. |