Origins of yoga
The word yoga, often translated as "union", derives from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning to yoke. A male yoga practitioner is called a yogi, while a female practitioner is a yogini.
It is believed that around 2,000 years ago the Indian sage Patanjali assembled the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra, a collection of 195 statements that that form the basis for yoga as it is practiced today. He charted the eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (absorption).
Most yoga practitioners concentrate on the third limb, asana, a program of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation. As you explore these eight limbs, we begin by refining our behavior in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (liberation, enlightenment).
Yoga is not a religion and it is also not necessary to surrender your own religious beliefs to practice yoga.
Hatha yoga
The word hatha means willful or forceful. Hatha yoga refers to a set of physical exercises (known as asanas or postures), and sequences of asanas, designed to align your skin, muscles, and bones. The postures are also designed to open the many channels of the body-especially the main channel, the spine-so that energy can flow freely.
Hatha is also translated as ha meaning "sun" and tha meaning "moon." This refers to the balance of masculine aspects-active, hot, sun-and feminine aspects-receptive, cool, moon-within all of us. Hatha yoga is a path toward creating balance and uniting opposites. In our physical bodies we develop a balance of strength and flexibility. We also learn to balance our effort and surrender in each pose.
Hatha yoga is a powerful tool for self-transformation. It asks us to bring our attention to our breath, which helps us to still the fluctuations of the mind and be more present in the unfolding of each moment.
The meaning of Om
Om is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. It is said to be the sound of the universe. What does that mean?
Chanting Om allows us to recognize our experience as a reflection of how the whole universe moves-the setting sun, the rising moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the beating of our hearts. As we chant Om, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.
Yoga and vegetarianism
The first principle of yoga philosophy is ahimsa, which means non-harming to self and others. Some people interpret this to include not eating animal products. There is debate about this in the yoga community - I believe that it is a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves. If you are considering becoming a vegetarian, be sure to take into account your personal health issues as well how your choices will affect those with whom you live. Being a vegetarian should not be something that you impose on others-that kind of aggressive action in itself is not an expression of ahimsa.
Based on an article by Cyndi Lee
