WHAT IS YOGA & WHAT DOES IT DO?

Yoga (the word means union) is a practical philosophical system (not a religion) that educates and integrates  body/mind/spirit toward wholeness and fulfillment of one’s purpose in life.  This ancient system was developed in India thousands of years ago.  Stone seals excavated from the Indus valley show figures in yoga postures thought to date from about 3000 BC. 

Yoga eventually developed into 4 different “paths”: 

• ACTIVE path or Karma Yoga 

• PHILOSOPHICAL path or Jnana Yoga 

• DEVOTIONAL path or Bhakti Yoga 

• SCIENTIFIC path or Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga outlines eight practices for calming the mind and developing inner peace.  Two of the eight practices (or "Eight Limbs") are Asanas and Pranayama.  This part of Raja Yoga that emphasizes asanas & pranayama is called HATHA YOGA.  

RAJA YOGA’s “Eight Limbs” were documented around the Third Century BC by Patanjali in Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sutras.  These eight limbs are practices that help develop body, mind,  spirit wholeness.  Think of them as "non-denominational" practices that are meant to be imbued with your personal belief system. 

1. YAMAS - appropriate social conduct such as truth & non-violence 

2. NIYAMAS - beneficial individual conduct such as purity & contentment

3. ASANAS - physical postures

4. PRANAYAMA - breathing exercises

5. PRATYAHARA - sense withdrawal/focusing within

6. DHARANA - concentration

7. DHYANA - meditation

8. SAMADHI - super consciousness where true oneness is experienced                     

The 3rd and 4th limbs are the physical postures and breathing exercises that are the foundation of most western classical yoga practice today: HATHA YOGA.                        

Janie teaches not only Hatha Yoga, (the 3rd and 4th limbs), but also the 5th, 6th, & 7th limbs of Raja Yoga.    

Hatha Yoga is a gentle system of movement, postures, attention, and breathing, that

• gently works muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints
• stimulates and massages internal organs
• stimulates bodily systems: cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, eliminative, endocrine, etc.
• brings flexibility to the whole body, particularly the spine
• helps the body work more effectively
• increases energy
• strengthens the immune system & enhances natural healing
• teaches recognition and release of tension
• strengthens concentration & focus
• integrates body, mind, & spirit promoting wholeness
• and makes you feel good!

Yoga is never competitive.  The benefits come as a given movement, posture, or breath is taken to the point that the body can go at the time.  In practicing yoga we learn to listen to our bodies, respect their current abilities and limitations, and open to their potential. 

For well over 4 thousand years people all over the world have found yoga to be helpful.  Its popularity continues to spread in the USA as people get a chance to see what yoga does for them.  You don’t need to be flexible, strong, fit, trim, or able bodied to benefit from yoga.  Yoga eases your body toward these things.  It benefits not only the body, but also the mind, emotions, & spirit, integrating & strengthening the body/mind/spirit connection, so we become more “whole.”  Yoga helps increase strength, concentration, energy, awareness, and acceptance.  It teaches proper breathing, posture, balance, movement, relaxation, and stress management.   People are amazed at the flexibility that comes from doing yoga.  Most people find the benefits of yoga are fuller and richer than they anticipated.