Anam Yoga - Sivananda Yoga taught by Siobhán Shinnors



	Home ..................... Classes Retreats Teacher ..................... Pregnancy Yoga Yoga for Children Yoga at Work Testimonials ..................... All About Yoga Sivananda Yoga Styles of Yoga ..................... Resources Links Download Application Form		"Yoga is restraining the activities of the mind." Raja Yoga Sutras --------------------------------- The History of Yoga The oldest archaeological evidence of the existence of yoga is provided by a number of stone seals showing figures in yogic postures, thought to date from around 3000BC. Yoga is first mentioned in the Vedas, which is a vast collection of scriptures written over a long period of time, some of which date to 2500BC. The Upanishads form the latter half of the Veda scriptures and it is here the foundation of yoga teaching and Vedanta philosophy is outlined. What is Yoga? For many yoga means a series of postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama) which help to lift ones awareness by calming the mind and building physical stamina. While this is true, it is an incomplete picture. The word Yoga means, “joining” of mind, body and spirit. There are in fact 4 paths of yoga which when any one are studied and put into practice can lead to union of mind, body and spirit. While it is recommended to have knowledge of all four paths and indeed some overlap, it is advised to concentrate on one of these disciplines in your life. The yoga we in the west are most familiar with is a discipline of Raja yoga known as Hatha Yoga. The 4 Paths of Yoga Karma Yoga – yoga of action, selfless service Bhakti Yoga – path of devotion, singing, chanting the lords name and prayer Jnana Yoga - yoga of knowledge or wisdom, study of the self through the scriptures Raja Yoga – science of physical and mental control This is broken into 3 further subdivisions known as Mantra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga. The Five Points of Yoga Hatha Yoga gives first attention to the physical body, which is a vehicle for the spirit. This system of yoga is a simple, natural programme involving five main principles. 1. Proper Exercise (Asanas) 2. Proper Breathing (Pranayama) 3. Proper Relaxation (Savasana) 4. Proper Diet (Vegetarian) 5. Positive Thinking and Meditation (Dhyana) The Aim and Philosophy of Yoga Yoga says that the truth can be experienced only when one transcends the senses, and when the mind and intellect cease to function. The aim of all yoga practice is to achieve truth, wherein the individual soul identifies with the supreme spirit. Beyond the ever-changing mind and intellect there is a changeless spirit which is unaffected by anything and this is accessible to each individual according to his/her stage of evolution. Society has used the mind to create airplanes, cellphones etc. The yogis turned the mind within and learned to understand brainwaves and accomplished things such as telepathy and ultimately samadhi (supreme spirit or devine consciousness). Swami Sivananda Finding the Right Yoga for You Over time many different schools of yoga were formed many of which ended up here in the West. Some of these schools are Sivananda, Satyananda, Iyengar, Bikram, Ashtanga etc, mostly named after their respective founders. Even though different schools have different styles of teaching and lay different emphasis, they are all founded upon the eight fold principles. Trying out a few different classes to find the right style and the right teacher for you is recommended. See Styles of Yoga