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Yoga: An Eightfold Path Aimed For Better Health

Difference Between Yoga & Yogic Exercises

The difference between Yoga & Yogic exercises is vast. While yoga exercises constitute just one small, infinitesimal part of Yoga, the science of Yoga is an eightfold path aimed at better health – physical, mental, emotional and, finally, spiritual. This consists of the following steps:

• Yama (Restraints)
• Niyama (Observances)
• Asana (Yoga exercises and poses)
• Pranayama (Breathing exercises and breath control)
• Pratyahara (Control in regard to sense pleasures)
• Dharana (Concentration)
• Dhyana (Meditation)
• Samadhi (A state of super-consciousness)

Yoga is a vast science that has its roots in a previous philosophy laid down a couple centuries earlier by a great sage named Kapila Muni (the silent one). This was the Samkya philosophy one of the Sad Darsanas (six philosophies), leading to the study and comprehension of the Vedas. While the sage Patanjali was studying Samkhya, it is said that he was impressed by its depth of thought and emotion, yet found it wanting in technique. The result was his eightfold path.

In the abovementioned eightfold path, the sage Patanjali clearly enumerates the causes of man’s misery and recommends ways and means to alleviate the practitioner’s condition. These practices largely consist of a code of ethics and morals (Yamas and Niyamas – Restraints and Observances) for purity and peace of mind, Asanas (Yoga exercises and poses of which there are literally hundreds) for better physical health as well as attaining mental balance and stability by holding poses for long (particularly the balancing poses), Pranayama (breathing exercises) to stabilize the breath and through it the mind.

Pranayama actually means control of vital energy (Prana – vital or bio energy) in the body. The more of this energy we are able to tap in to and absorb from the atmosphere and channelize in the right direction, the healthier we become and happier we feel. There are supposed to by many breathing exercises but, nowadays, the Yogis have brought them down to 7, for the benefit of modern man, which suffice to deliver optimum benefits. They are:

Kapalabhatti (Skull cleansing) This is not a breathing exercise, in and by itself, but is always done preparatory to all breathing exercises and so falls under this category.

• Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate nostril breathing)
• Ujjayi (Ocean breath)
• Sitkari (Cooling breath)
• Sitali (Hissing breath, also cooling)
• Bhastrika (Bellows breath)
• Brahmari (Bumble bee breath) and
• Surya Bhedana (Right nostril or Sun breath)

These are fairly easy, even though tough to begin with, given the modern day lifestyles that have made most of us lax and negligent. Yet, with a little perseverance and effort, diligence and devotion, they can be practised as millions around the world are doing. The subsequent 4 stages are best discussed, personally, with a Guru when you feel or when your Guru feels you are ready.

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