A Guide to Peaceful Living 2

Hatha yoga is a physical practice that prepares the body for long periods of meditation. This yoga is also a way to retain mindfulness. A typical session should include postures, breath control, and meditation. You shouldn't move too fast causing shortness of breath. The movement from one asana, or posture, to another should be fluent. The point of hatha yoga is to relax and not to be the best. Running through the postures like a cardio workout is not beneficial. Asanas teach poise, balance & strength and are practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment. Hatha yoga is one aspect of ashtanga.

Ashtanga is composed of 8 limbs:

1. Yama are ethical obligations. The ten obligations are: nonviolence, truthfulness, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, seeking each task through to completion, compassion, renouncing unethical behavior, eating moderately, and purifying the body, mind, and speech through religious devotion.

2. Niyama are other ethical obligations that are practiced in ashtanga. These ten are: remorse, contentment, giving, faith, worship, scriptural listening, developing a spiritual will, religious vows, recitation of mantras, and endurance of the opposites.

3. Asanas are postures performed during deep meditation. These movements are meant to help to remove blockages (diseases) in the

4. Pranayama is the practice of breath control. The three parts of breath that are regulated are: inhalations, exhalations, and the retention during normal breathing. This is practiced to develop mental, physical and spiritual strength.

5. Pratyahara is where the practioner turns off the five senses. During meditation the senses can't reach the center of the brain. At the advanced levels, the electrical currents which pulsate through the nerves and even the involuntary muscles are turned off by the practitioner. Pratyahara is very beneficial to meditation practice, because nothing can distract your mind.

6. Dharana is where the object being meditated upon is held in the mind without consciousness wavering from it. Holding an image of God, Buddha, or another religious concept is popular is this type of meditation. Once advance levels are reached the image and oneself merge into one.

7. Dhyana is meditation. Considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge, which leads to the goal of Nirvana or Moksha. Dhyana is practiced in Buddhism and Hinduism.

8. Samadhi is the final result describing a non-dualistic state of consciousness. The experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object. The mind becomes still and bliss is all that remains. Samadhi is described as being one with God, Buddha nature, Tao, or whatever one chooses it call it.

Yoga has gained much exposure over the past few years. Many misconceptions have developed about it. Thinking yoga is just an exercise, or it only consist of one, asana, practice. Yoga is new to the West, but it has existed in India since around 200 BCE. Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that is believed to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the true nature of existence. Many Hindu texts discuss the different aspects of yoga. The causal, subtle, and physical bodies. Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and many others mention the practice of yoga. The main branches of yoga are: hatha, karma, jnana, bhakti, and raja. Hatha yoga is the form most practiced in America.

Hatha yoga has some traditional guidelines that should be followed. These include drinking a glass of water before performing asanas. Make sure to eat a light meal two to eight hours before yoga practice. Foods should not be too hot, rich, or filling. Mornings are best for performing asanas, but dusk is another good choice. Force or pressure should be avoided as this is a time for relaxation. Going out in the cold is not advised after performing your asanas. Breath should always come from the nose and not the mouth. Light physical exercises are to be followed by yogasana, pranayama, and meditation. Traditionally, inverted poses should be avoided during menstruation. In contrast, modern teachers do recommend Yogasana for relief from cramps during this time. If pregnant you should consult a professional as to which postures are suitable.

A survey, conducted by Yoga Journal, shows that the number of practitioners in the US increased to 16.5 million with the 18-24 age group showing a 46% increase in 2005. Yoga is on the rise do to its different asanas being recommended by practitioners. This form of yoga is being used to cure or prevent problems ranging from constipation to cancer. It's known to reduce stress and other mental worries. Hatha yoga is universal and easy to apply to your current religious practices. It requires no dedication to a specific God or set of beliefs. It's just a way to deepen spirituality. Take the elements that help you and forget the rest.