| Is becoming a contortionist the primary objective of | | | | If you desire to be an advanced Yoga practitioner, |
| Yoga? Is advanced Yoga performing nearly impossible | | | | please observe the Eight Limbs of Yoga as stated by |
| poses for the applause of crowds? Is an expert Yoga | | | | Maharishi Patanjali, within the Yoga Sutras. Below is |
| practitioner an example of good health or just another | | | | the Eight Limbed Path. |
| "health nut?" | | | | 1. Yama: Moral Codes |
| There seems to be some conflicting ideas about what | | | | 2. Niyama: Observances |
| a beginner, or an advanced Yoga practitioner, are. In all | | | | 3. Asana: Postures |
| forms of Yoga, energy within the body is channeled | | | | 4. Pranayama: Yogic Breathing |
| for maximum potential. Many types of Yoga focus on | | | | 5. Pratyahara: Preparation to increase mental power |
| mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. The physical | | | | 6. Dharana: Mental Concentration |
| styles of Yoga strive to harness nervous energy | | | | 7. Dhyana: Devotion to God (The Divine) |
| through self-mastery. | | | | 8. Samadhi: Union with God (The Divine) |
| When advanced teachers work with beginners, or | | | | Please note that the third limb (asana) is just one of |
| new Yoga teachers, it is easy to spot nervous energy. | | | | eight. While physical mastery is important, it is just a |
| Their minds are still disconnected from their bodies. | | | | part of the whole. Physical mastery, without moral |
| They need to purge the body of excess nervous | | | | guidance, can become an egotistical pursuit. When the |
| energy to appreciate the valuable aspects of a Yoga | | | | ego is allowed to run wild, it has no need to pursue |
| practice. | | | | mental, emotional, or spiritual growth. |
| Pranayama should bring the mind and body together, | | | | Therefore, the sum of all eight limbs is Yoga, but asana |
| but this new "High-Tech" mindset is addicted to | | | | alone is just a physical exercise. If Yoga were just a |
| constant stimulation. This is why Vinyasa is so popular | | | | matter of performing splits and standing on one hand |
| with new students. This is also why the concept of | | | | for medals, we would leave it to the Olympic |
| "advanced" Yoga has become warped. | | | | gymnasts. |
| In truth, the advanced practitioner has a trained mind | | | | For the "advanced Yogi," the practice requires a |
| and is fully present for Yoga practice. This is hard to | | | | lifetime of study. There is more to be learned about |
| explain to an ego-driven child or a competitive | | | | Yoga than one lifetime will allow for. The advanced |
| gymnast, but perfect asana is not an indicator of a | | | | Yoga practitioner is, in fact, a student for life. |
| trained mind or an advanced Yogi. | | | | |