| Patanjali, the father of Yoga was a great physician | | | | basic behind the controlling of breadth, "A yogi's life is |
| too. Supposed to have lived during 200 B.C to 200 A.D, | | | | not measured by the number of days but by the |
| his book Yoga Sutra is a guide book for simple and | | | | number of his breaths. Therefore, he follows the |
| healthy living. Yoga Sutra has 195 aphorisms or sutras | | | | proper rhythmic patterns of slow, deep breathing." |
| which actually do not describe the yogic postures or | | | | Pranayama cleanses the system and eliminates |
| asanas. Yoga as described by him is not only about | | | | mental distractions such as anxiety, tension, agitation, |
| asanas or postures and well being. Yoga according to | | | | desperation etc. facilitating easier concentration. |
| Patanjali is a way of life. His book is basically an ethical | | | | Pranayama is generally practiced after the asanas. |
| outline for living a principled life and includes the science | | | | Pratyahara. Pratyahara denotes withdrawal of the |
| of yoga into your daily life. | | | | senses. It happens at the time of meditation, breathing |
| The basis of the teachings of Patanjali is entwined in | | | | exercises, or the practice of yoga postures. It occurs |
| the eightfold path of yoga or the ashtanga yoga. | | | | when a person concentrates or focuses his attention |
| These teachings are suggestions for a better life. The | | | | inwards, within himself or herself. Controlling your |
| eight fold path is as follows | | | | senses is very tough, once mastered, distractions like |
| Yama means social behaviour. It tells you the way to | | | | itching, sounds, smell etc. will not be felt at the time of |
| treat others and the world around you. These are the | | | | meditation. |
| right values. Also called the do's and don'ts. There are | | | | Dharana. "Concentration is binding thought in one place," |
| five yamas: Nonviolence (ahimsa), Truth and honesty | | | | - Patanjali |
| (satya), Nonstealing (asteya), Nonlust (brahmacharya), | | | | Concentration or dharana is training the mind to be |
| Nonpossessiveness (aparigraha), | | | | focused on a single, place, image, subject even things |
| Niyama means personal discipline and responsibility. | | | | like, a candle, a flower or even a mantra. There should |
| This tells us how to treat ourselves. Also called | | | | be no effort for concentration, it should be very gentle. |
| observances. There are five niyamas: Purity (shauca), | | | | The mind is in the concentration mode, once the |
| Contentment (santosha), Austerity (tapas), Study of | | | | person loses any sense of passing time. |
| the sacred text (svadhyaya), and Living with an | | | | Dhyana. Dharana leads to dhyana (state of meditation). |
| awareness of the Divine (ishvara-pranidhana). | | | | It is the state of uninterrupted meditation. Unlike what is |
| Asana. Yoga is commonly understood as performing | | | | understood, the aim of dhyana is not losing |
| the various asanas. According to Patanjali, "The | | | | consciousness, the aim is to heighten awareness and |
| posture of yoga is steady and easy." The ancient | | | | unification with the universe. If you are concerned |
| sages used yoga to prepare themselves for | | | | about distraction you are not meditating just |
| meditation. In order to meditate a person requires to sit | | | | concentrating. The peace achieved by meditation is |
| in one posture for a long time, the body should be | | | | visible in every aspect of the person, be it working, |
| flexible and agile and at the same time cooperative to | | | | enjoying or shopping. |
| achieve this. One should be able to concentrate | | | | Samadhi. This is the final aim of yoga as described by |
| without getting disturbed by the environment during | | | | Patanjali. Samadhi according to Vyasa is complete |
| meditation. | | | | control of functions of consciousness or "samadhan". |
| Pranayama. Prana or the life force or energy is | | | | Samadhi also means the complete union with the |
| everywhere. It is present in every living being. It flows | | | | divine or to merge with the divine. This is state of |
| into us through our breath. Pranayama actually refers | | | | extremely heightened consciousness or enlightenment. |
| to controlling this life force. The key actions of | | | | Besides being a guide for practising yoga, the sutras of |
| pranayama are inhaling the breath, retention of breath, | | | | Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali also suggests a moral and |
| and finally exhaling it out. As Iyengar has explained the | | | | right way of living. |