Yoga
Scientists today ascertain that the intrinsic organic
health of a human being is of prime importance along with
the outer development of the body. This was realized thousands
of years ago by the ancient Indian yogis. The practice
of yoga has a substantial foundation in science. Yogic
asanas accelerate blood circulation in the body and Pranayama
abates carbon dioxide content ensuring sound health. Yoga
provides all-round benefits to a human being:
In general Yoga is practiced under the guidance of a
guru who is called as spiritual guide. The practice of
Yoga has been classified into eight states. Yama is the
Yoga that is to restraint for vice. Yoga is usually practiced
under the guidance of a guru, or spiritual guide. Patañjali
divides the practice of yoga into eight stages. But the
main Hindu tradition classifies the Yoga into three classes,
they are: Janna Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga. Jnana
Yoga is to meditation to gain wisdom. Bhakti Yoga is the
meditation for the path of love and devotion to a personal
God. The third one is the Karma Yoga; it is the path of
selfless action.
In other classification, the Patañjali's
yoga is known as raja, or “royal,” yoga. Hatha yoga that
is mostly practiced in western countries is the physical
control and postures. Kundalini yoga, especially associated
with Tantra, is based on the physiology of the “subtle body,”
according to which seven major centers of psychic energy,
called chakras, are located along the spinal column, with
the kundalini, or “coiled” energy in latent form, located
at the base of the spine.
