Yoga Philosophy
Supports Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health and Well-Being,
The Yamas are guidelines for how we can live a life of integrity in the world. There are five Yamas:
We do not hurt ourselves or others through physical or mental harm. This means avoiding toxic thoughts, words, actions, foods, jealousy, entertainment, and anything else that causes injury or harmful impact.
Satya means speaking your truth with clarity and compassion for yourself and for others. It includes your personal truth and authenticity as well as embracing universal truth.
Besides the obvious meaning of non-stealing, like stealing money, it also means stealing time, energy, or ideas. It could even mean stealing joy, from yourself or others, taking advantage of someone, or taking anything that isn't yours.
Brahmacharya is about developing self-control and not overindulging in the physical pleasures of life but seeking a healthy balance.
This is a concept we can apply toward people, events, circumstances, the past, and the future. It means doing our best in all situations without grasping for an anticipated outcome.
The Niyamas are about how we relate to and take of of ourselves.
Saucha is about taking care of our bodies, like being clean, exercising, ingesting clean foods and other things we take in like entertainment, news, and conversations. Keeping a clean and harmonious environment also supports our mental health.
Cultivating gratitude is a concept put forth by many spiritual and religious traditions. Not only do we want to stay grounded and find joy in even the little things, gratitude changes our brain chemistry and helps lower stress hormones like cortisol and increase endorphins and dopamine, both of which foster a strong immune system.
Why do we do the things we do? Why are we here and what is our purpose? Self-study helps us move away from stories like "this is just the way I am and that's how it will always be," to "I am learning why I behave the way I do and make the decisions I make so that I can do so in a more empowered and authentic way."
Whether you believe in God, the Divine, the Universe, a Higher Power, or Nature, understanding and feeling how we are all interconnected and celebrating that connection helps us to be mindful of the things we can control, the things we can influence and the things that are better served by surrendering the need to control and trusting that connection.
These are the yoga poses we are most familiar with in our western culture. In the tradition of yoga, these postures are not only to support our physical health, but also to help steady the mind and observe and be present with ourselves. Asana also helps us to emobody and better practice the other seven limbs. When somatic practices are recommended for trauma, the poses can be one way to calm the nervous system so the healing can take place.
Prana with a capital "P" refers to "life force." This is our vital energy and impacts how well our physical systems and activities function. Prana with a little "p" refers to the breath, and breath control. We can use breathing practices to increase our vital energy so we can have more restive sleep, healthy digestion and elimination, and think, speak, and act with clarity, calmness, and courage.
When we limit our sensory stimulation, we give the mind and body a break. We use meditation and pranayama to calm the senses and prevent and/or mitigate the effects of overload.
Dharana is a practice of focusing our attention. We use all our senses to focus our attention so that our minds are calm and at ease. The old saying, "where attention goes, energy flows," is what we're practicing here.
Meditation helps us to connect to our authentic selves by helping us to feel and explore our inner world. When we practice without judgment we can learn to tap into our inner knowing, our intuition.
Sometimes refered to as "bliss," Samadhi is cultivated by all the other limbs of yoga. Put together, we are connected to our authentic selves, connected to the world around us and fully in the present moment. We don't need anything to be different than what it is and we are content and at ease.
Jain, R: "What are the 8 limbs of Yoga? " https://www.arhantayoga.org/blog/what-are-the-eight-limbs-of-yoga/?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=16771375909&utm_content=&utm_medium=&gclid=CjwKCAjw5remBhBiEiwAxL2M94-Z2fYl4m4GizTNppUqSHMS3o3W3XX2izdZ5WhC_rWGOhV3foXySxoCeVsQAvD_BwE
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