| The Art and Science of Yoga |
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| Barbara Abdinor | |||
| Thursday, 08 September 2005 | |||
 Yoga is a method of consciousness development, which has been studied, researched and practiced for thousands of years on the Indian Subcontinent. The Indian subcontinent enjoying relative wealth and abundance had plenty of energy to apply to the higher levels of being and so a great body of knowledge was developed. This body has particular relevance in the Western world today, where abundance makes personal development an option. Hatha Yoga is the method most commonly called yoga in the West and refers usually to a physical practice. The student of Hatha Yoga learns body postures (asana) and breathing techniques (pranayama) which develop the body in general and the nervous system in particular to be able to hold higher vibrations (bliss / ecstasy) more easily. Deep held tension can be released out of the physical body with a patient practice, which will in turn lead to emotional and mental changes. The endocrine system is balanced through the squeezing and stretching of the glands leading to further emotional and mental changes. Regularly practicing this physical exercise will make you; lose excess weight and remove toxins from the body, improve your endurance, make your spine more flexible, improve your ability to breathe, and increase your vitality. It will ward off most forms of disease including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. In general you will look and feel better. Many Hatha teachers include aspects of the other forms of yoga in Hatha Yoga classes and often the student of Hatha Yoga is moved in some way to begin a deeper practice. There is no better preparation for Raja Yoga (the king of yoga) than a physical yoga practice. The deep relaxation of the physical body achieved through Hatha Yoga will bring the practitioner to a meditation practice with far fewer obstacles. The intense awareness of one's internal environment that develops makes Gyani Yoga easier and also gives us clues on how we use our energy in our daily lives (Laya Yoga - the understanding of chakras and the subtle energy system). Hatha Yoga has been further split up in the West to refer to a teacher's particular method. For example Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga. Teachers teaching these styles will generally stick quite strictly to the teachings of the founder of the organization. While yoga has a large amount of written knowledge it is primarily about practice. No amount of intellectual understanding can ever replace the simple knowing attained through a little practice. All the paths of yoga are clear on this. Practice leads to direct experience and realisation of the eternal truths and allows the being to unfold to its full potential. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word meaning union and refers to the union between the self, first to the individual soul and then to the Universal Soul, God or The One. This is the ultimate aim of all yoga practices - to attain enlightenment.
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