| Patanjali was the first person to compose yoga into a | | | | Matsya Asana (The Fish Posture), Dhanur Asana (The |
| text called Yogasutra around two thousand years ago. | | | | Bow Posture), Hala Asana (Plough Posture), Shava |
| He did not create anything new with yoga but rather | | | | Asana (Relaxation Posture). |
| outlined the art and summarized it in an organized | | | | 4) Pranayama - Breathing control in yoga In the word |
| fashion. The metaphysical base for his book consists | | | | Pranayama, Prana stands for "Life" and Ayama |
| mainly the sankhaya theory, but he made considerable | | | | stands for "Control". So it means control of life and it is |
| changes to it. For instance the sankhaya theory | | | | practiced through breathing techniques. This is a very |
| consisted only of Prakriti (Unmanifest, Primordial | | | | important part of yoga and is performed along with |
| "matter") and Purusha (Consciousness) but patanjali | | | | Asanas. Basically Breath is the force that controls our |
| added the Purushavishesha (Supreme Being or God) | | | | life. Life ends when a living thing stops breathing. So |
| element to the theory. The principles of yoga were | | | | the yogis developed this technique to nurture, increase |
| described by patanjali in an eight fold yogic discipline. | | | | the control life force. The various types of breathing |
| The yoga sutra is the known as most important basic | | | | techniques are Ujjayee, Shitali, Viloma, Kapalabhati, |
| text on yoga. In it he described that the goal of the | | | | Anuloma, Suryabhedana. Some of the breathing |
| student practicing yoga should be to attain physical, | | | | techniques can be performed sitting down but some |
| mental and spiritual health. The eight yogic disciplines | | | | others have to be performed while a person is |
| according to patanjali are. | | | | standing up. To master this techniques it can months or |
| 1) Yamas (restraint) The importance in yama is given | | | | even years but this technique has to be practiced with |
| to restraining oneself from anything that tempts | | | | great care because practiced in correct way it can |
| pleasure. The yama is split into five parts they are | | | | cure almost all disease but done in a improper fashion |
| Non-violence against any living thing is known as | | | | can give rise to respiratory problems. |
| "Ahimsa", "Satya" which is Honesty or being truthful, | | | | 5) Pratyahara (Bringing Senses under control): If a |
| Not Stealing other peoples properties (asteya), | | | | person fails to control is senses then he will face great |
| Celibacy (bramacharya), Not being greedy for material | | | | difficulties in his life. This part of yoga teaches a person |
| things (Aparigarha) | | | | to bring his senses under control by controlling his |
| 2) Niyamas - Niyamas are precepts that are applicable | | | | desires for external objects. |
| self-discipline. The niyamas precepts fall under five | | | | 6) Dharana (Concentration): When the human body |
| categories they are purity (saucha), Cantonment | | | | has been toned by yoga postures, Mind and senses |
| (Santosh), Austerity (Tapas), Study (Swahdyaya), | | | | have been controlled by pranayama and pratyahara |
| Surrender (Ishar Pranidhana) | | | | techniques. Then his mind has to be trained to |
| 3) Asanas (Postures) There are various yogic | | | | concentrate on a single point to achieve the state of |
| postures; each and every posture is given a unique | | | | complete absorption. This technique projects a man to |
| name and special way of performing them. All the | | | | that stage. |
| postures are designed to promote wellness of the | | | | 7) Dhyana (Meditation): As any liquid when it is poured |
| three parts body, mind and inner spirit of a human | | | | into a container it takes the shape of the container. |
| being. The Asanas (postures) carry the extraordinary | | | | Like that when the mind is trained to contemplate the |
| ability to bring the physical body, mind and spirit to | | | | supreme entity in all likeliness becomes closer to the |
| refresh and be in harmony with each other. The | | | | Supreme Being. A person can reach that stage by |
| different postures are Surya Namskar (Greeting the | | | | practicing meditation. The proven example is Lord |
| Sun), Utthan Pada Asana (Leg Lifting Posture), | | | | Buddha, who by practicing uninterrupted meditation |
| Paschimothan Asana (Bending Forward and touching | | | | attained nirvana. |
| toes Posture), Paschimothan Asana (Bending Forward | | | | 8) Samadhi: This stage of yoga is the last step; a |
| and touching toes Posture), Bhujanga Asana (The King | | | | person at the peak of meditation enters this state. |
| Cobra Posture), Salabha Asana (The Locust Posture), | | | | Where even if his body and mind are at rest his |
| Sarvanga Asana (The shoulder Stand Posture), | | | | senses are awake. |