Yoga can be defined as: an established set of guidelines and routines that are practiced with the ultimate intention of reaching Oneness. There are different yoga schools of thought and practice, some that have remained unchanged for thousands of years while still being devoutly practiced today.
The eight schools/divisions of Yoga include Kundalini, Mantra, Patanjali, Tantra, Laya, Nada, Swara and Kriya Yoga. However, it is in Patanjali Yoga that a link to ALL schools/divisions of can be found. Patanjali's teachings, or suggestions rather, can be considered a 'code of conduct' for the body-mind-soul unit that assists with elevating individual and collective consciousness to ultimately reach Oneness.
Perhaps the easiest way to 'see' yoga is to imagine an organizational diagram/chart. There could be a president, and below the present the VP and CEO. Branching below them could be the divisional managers and then supervisors, then subdivisions of staff under each.
The same type of diagram can be used to see the STRUCTURE of yoga. Branching down from the cultural, spiritual and scientific platforms are the Yoga schools; Patanjali Yoga can then be broken down into 'Limb' and 'Sutra' divisions and can, again, be broken down from there.
Patanjali Yoga consists of 8 Limbs and 4 Chapters of Sutras:
4 Chapters on Sutras
1) Samadhi (mindfulness) Chapter
- broken down in 51 Sutras
2) Sadhana (practice) Chapter
- broken down in 55 Sutras
3) Vibhuti (manifestation) Chapter
- broken down in 56 Sutras
4) Kaivalya (liberation) Chapter
- broken down in 34 Sutras
8 Limbs
1) Yama (behavior to others)
- broken down to 5 Yamas
2) Niyama (behavior to self)
- broken down to 5 Niyamas
3) Asana (posture, poses)
4) Pranayama (control of breath)
5) Pratyahara (inward concentration)
6) Dharana (one-pointed focus)
7) Dhyana (meditation)
8) Samadhi (reaching oneness and bliss)
So, it could be said that when one goes to a Bikram (Hot) or a Hatha (Flow) Yoga class, they are, in fact, practicing and cultivating limbs of Patanjali Yoga. Bikram Yoga and Hatha Yoga could be considered SUBDIVISIONS of the ASANA limb (postures/poses) of Patanjali Yoga; when practicing focused breathing in yoga class, one is practicing the PRANAYAMA limb (control of breath) of Patanjali Yoga; and when one finishes class with a guided mediation, one practices the DHARANA limb (one-pointed focus) and the DHYANA (meditation) limb of Patanjali Yoga.
That's the beauty of Yoga - the aim of any school is ultimately the same. With so much variety, there is a fit for anyone who is considering beginning or elevating the practice of physical, mental or spiritual exercise. Yoga offers (the best!) ways to cultivate and nourish the body-mind-soul unit - there is no such thing as bad Yoga practice!
May you be blessed with safety, security and a nice surprise!
Namaste,
Anna G Cianci
Anna G Cianci
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