To many people in the West, yoga is equated only with postures (asana) and breathing (pranayama). Some even include meditation (dhyana), but very few realize that yoga – union – includes so much more. There are also different kinds of yoga, such as bhakti (devotion), karma (selfless service), jnana (knowledge) and raja, the ‘royal path’ of yoga. This eightfold path – ashtanga, not to be confused with the physically demanding hatha style of asana – is what I will be attempting to follow over the coming months.
Some people think of the royal path as a series of steps, some as a spoked wheel, some as a branched tree. I think all of these are correct.
I have read, listened, contemplated, and attended workshops, but Ive never had the tapas to put my desire (to try following the path for awhile and see what happens) into action. Im kinda in a hole at the moment, emotionally, mentally, physically, financially, relationship-ally, and this might be the way through. My discovery and active practice of just asana coincided with the happiest and healthiest time in my life (since I was a child, that is!). Did yoga have something to do with it? More and more I believe so.
The royal path of yoga is:
Yama: ethical precepts
ahimsa: non-violence, compassion. Refraining from bringing harm to self and others as we are able. Includes all sentient beings. may extend to the environment. (some believe this means yogic practitioners need to be vegetarian; others believe that compassionate consumption of animal products [organic, free-range, grassfed, low-stress slaughter, etc] is within non-harming guidelines).
satya: non-deception, truthfulness. Speaking your truth, being sensitively honest. White lies are only appropriate if speaking the truth would bring harm to another, though even these are to be avoided as much as possible.
asteya: non-stealing, non-covetousness. Not taking what isn’t ours, and working to reduce or eliminate our desire for things that are not ours. Applies to more than material goods.
bramacharya: non-abuse of sexual energy, moderation. Abstinence if practicing celibacy. Engaging in positive, mutually beneficial encounters if sexually active. Not being controlled by sexuality or seeing others as objects for pleasure. Seeing sex as a spiritual act.
aparigraha: non-hoarding, greedlessness. Not taking more than we need. Sharing. Living simply. Releasing attachment to what we have. Renouncing excess consumerism and mass aquisition of material goods.
Niyama: personal observances
saucha: purity. Maintaining cleanliness of internal and external body through washing, sattvic diet, exercise, drinking water, proper breathing, rest, sleep. Maintaining a clean and peaceful personal environment. Cleansing the mind of impurities.
santosha: contentment, equanimity. Being happy and at peace with what is. Cheerfulness. Satisfaction. Being your authentic self. Letting go of attachment to results. Living in the present moment.
tapas: self-discipline, heat. Committing to regular practice. Overcoming distracting desires or addictions. Engaging in heat-building asanas. Stoking the digestive fire. Living life with vigor.
svadyaha: self-study, contemplation. Study of scripture and spiritual works. Reflecting on the teachings and assimilating them into life. Reading positive literature. Self-awareness and self-awareness. Intuitional learning. Lifelong learning.
ishvara pranidana: surrender, devotion. Recognizing and appreciating that there is a force greater than us. Being a vessel for Spirit. Wonder at our world and the universe. Awe.
“These terms are translated as ”effort and relaxation” or “exertion and rest”. This stage consists in mastering fundamental ethic and psycho-hygienic rules of a spiritual seeker’s life” – I like the way this person described it. Others are far more articulate and creative word-wise than I!
Asana: physical postures
Moving the body through various poses cleanses, tones, nourishes, and helps maintain the physical form. There are thousands of asanas, but I believe only a few hundred are regularly practiced by most yoga students. Categories of asana are: standing poses, seated poses, twists, arm balances, backbends, forward bends, side bends, inversions, and restoratives. Most poses fall into two or more categories at one time. Including at least one pose from every category in each asana session will ensure a balanced practice. Key to this is moving the spine each way: forward, backward, twist right and left, and laterally right and left. Counterposes are essential; this means bringing the body back into neutral by: following deep forward or back bends with its opposite or following a left or right twist or stretch with its opposite. Beginning an asana session with a few surya namaskars (sun salutations, or a series of flowing postures) and ending an asana session with savasana (corpse pose) are standard.
Pranayama: breathwork
Harnessing the life-force through the breath. There are many breaths in pranayama, from cooling to heating to energizing to calming, beginner, intermediate, and advanced breaths.
My focus will be on extending the inhales and exhales during asana and on nadi shodana (alternate nostril-breathing).
Pratyahara: sense withdrawl
Withdrawing the senses to help achieve rest and relaxation; drawing the mind and awareness inward. Covering the eyes and ears and mouth, spending time in silence, taking media fasts, visualization, are but a few methods (more to come). Absorbing positive impressions throught the sense organs.
Dharana: concentration
Mindfulness. Focus of concentration in one direction. One-pointedness of attention to steady the mind. Guiding the flow of our consciousness. Prepares the mind for meditation.
Dhyana: meditation
Connection with the object of our concentration or one-pointed attention. “A quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insight pour into the field of consciousness.”
Samadhi: bliss, ecstasy
Being one with the object of our concentration. No ego. Deep and expansive awareness far beyond ‘everyday reality.’ Merging with the universe. Supreme consciousness.
