Home Blogs Niyama Yoga To Develop Own Pace

Niyama Yoga To Develop Own Pace

Niyama Yoga is called the complete Yoga because as against fitness centers, this style concentrate on enabling students to benefit from Yoga devoid of competition, while offering a studio environment. Niyama Yoga instructors are trained to help students develop at their own pace, and foster fellow feeling in students without evaluating yoga practice in front of others in the studio, or making comparisons.

Contrary to mass-market Yoga, Niyama Yoga does not restrict itself to offering general programs that normally stunt a student's growth. There are specific programs designed for different age, sex and health groups, but the underlining principle everywhere is the same – Yoga Niyama. Further, Niyama Yoga instructors are highly trained yoga professionals and gifted in the art of listening and discerning. They are the kind that has made yoga an integral part of their lives.

Most conventional Yoga schools do not insist that their students master, or even abide by, the 5 Yam's (rules of abstinence), together with the Niyama (rules of observances) as a precondition to completing the course. Here the traditional 'Eight-Fold Path' is adhered too, even if rather leniently. All over the West, in general, this does not seem practical, since most Westerners feel that they cannot get beyond the first two steps. For this reason, most people start practicing Yogasanas (Yoga Poses) right from the start. This, they feel, will give them a better glimpse of the hidden potential in Yoga practice.

Niyama is the second part of the code of conduct laid down by the sage Patanjali called "the observances". Yoga texts list five Yams and five Niyama, that consist of the 'shall-not-do' and 'shall--do' in relation with oneself and the world at large.

The Five Niyama (Observances) Are

SAUCHA (PURITY): Physical purity such as brushing teeth, bathing, is insisted upon. Internal physical purity is achieved through the practice of Pranayama (Breathing exercises) and Kriyas (Yogic internal cleansing techniques). They help cleanse the body thoroughly and rid if of toxins. Then comes mental purity, the result of introspection and meditation that helps rid the mind of disturbing emotions such as passion, hatred, anger, delusion, lust, greed and pride.

SANTOSA (CONTENTMENT): Pain and anguish, in modern times are normally the result of greed and desire that turn into such a passion, man loses one-pointedness and is robbed of peace. There is peace when there is contentment and the flame of the spirit does not flicker and flutter in the winds of longings and cravings.

TAPAS (AUSTERITY): This consists of a regular, conscious effort to clean up all that stands in the way of spiritual goals. It is a burning effort and hence called tapas, a heated, fervid spiritual desire to reach a specific goal. Tapas are of three types, relating to body, speech and mind. For instance, non-violence is an example of the first category. Always telling the truth, tough as it may be is tapas of speech. Developing mental tranquility and calmness and remaining unaffected by joy and sorrow, loss or gain are instances of mental tapas.

SVADHYAYA (STUDY): This is of two types. It is study of the self (introspection) as well as study religious texts to better understand ethics and moral mores.

ISHVARA PRANIDHANA (SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF GOD): They say, when all else fails, leave it in the hands of God Almighty. Yoga prescribes, whatever you do, no matter how simple the task, do it with this attitude and see the difference.

These attitudes make the difference between Niyama Yoga and other forms of Yoga.

• RSS Feeds -
• All posts
• All comments