|
Author: Premansu Chand Article source: http://www.contentstock.com/. Used with author's permission.
Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga has eight limbs(parts). In my earlier article, Yama and Niyama have been described briefly. Yama and Niyama are external limbs of Yoga; these are to be practised while leading social life. The rest six limbs - Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are internal limbs of Yoga. While practicing these six limbs one concentrates one's mind on true self and realises the divine truth. In this article Asana and Pranayama have been described.
Asana(posture)
Asana is a posture of the body by which the body rests on a plane surface. For different actions man chooses different postures. For Yoga one should choose a comfortable posture by which one may concentrate mind on true self. For choosing a posture Patanjali describes - posture should be motionless and comfortable(II.46). So in Yogasana one rests one's body in a comfortable and static posture so that all other succeeding limbs are practiced easily and one reaches upto the last limb i.e. Samadhi.
Different Schools of Yoga teach different Yogic exercises in the name of Yogasana. These Yogasana should be included in Tapa, a type of Niyama. In Tapa a practitioner imparts warmness or heat to the body through the practice of Yogic exercises and thereby the body becomes strong and diseaseless. Tapa and its exercises is external limb of Yoga; however the third limb of Yoga i.e. Asana is internal limb. Through Yogasana which involves exercise of the body, one cannot be motionless or feel comfortable. So in these postures one cannot enter into Samadhi. In true Asana rests one's body comfortably and rises up above the gross mind, body and senses and realises the true self.
So for a motionless and comfortable Asana one should lie on a plane surface on one's back with hands and legs streched. This is called Sukhasana. In this posture all the six internal limbs of Yoga may be practiced well. A human being may be partitioned into four - body, Prana(breath), mind, and bliss(soul). If any one of these is brought under control, others will come under control automatically. In Asana, body is kept motionless and as a result Prana(breath) and mind are brought under control. When everything is brought under control and becomes motionless, one feels the bliss of soul or true self.
Pranayama(breath control)
For common understanding Prana(life) is breath or breathing air. But in reality it is more than the air we breathe. It is the life force that moves out and moves in and these movements are expressed through the exhalation and inhalation of air. When this life force goes outside it mingles with the universal life force of all living beings and when it moves in, it touches every living cell in the body. The body functions because of this life force. The energy of this life force is unending. Through our numerous births this Prana works from birth till death. Body does not depend upon food solely, but it depends upon Prana solely. There are people who do not take food for months and years; but still they are able to work and live.
In reality body, Prana and mind are one. When any one of these three becomes motionless, the other two become motionless. In Sukhasana when the body is kept motionless for half an hour, Prana and mind become motionless. When Prana is motionless there is no inhalation or exhalation or breathing takes place in a very subtle manner. This is Pranayama. Patanjali teaches - after one rests in Asana, there is cut off in the movements of inhalation and exhalation and this cut off is Pranayama(II.49). This can be scientifically explained also. When the body is in motion, the rate of metabolism in the body is higher and so one breathes in quick succession. Conversely whe one is in rest the rate of metabolism is less and one breathes after a long pause. Again, when mind is restless, one breathes quickly and when mind is calm, one breathes normally.
Different Schools of Yoga, which teach to control breathing forcibly, only follow unscientific and impure Pranayama. By forcibly withhelding breath, one keeps carbon dioxide inside for a longer period and this may be fatal to the body cells. In pure and true Pranayama one has to do nothing. One should lie in Sukhasana and keep mind on the movement of breath across the nostrills. In this way body, mind and Prana become motionless naturally and become one. In Pranayama one concentrates mind and gives rest to this overworked Prana. Author is a desciple of Late Munishvar Shiv kumar Shastri and practices Yoga as taught by him. His aim is to spread true spiritualism and yoga. Those who want to read more about spiritualism based on the Upanishads and Yoga based on Patanjali's Yogasutra should go through his book 'Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way'.
http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php
premansu_chand@rediffmail.com
CEO: The Key To Fix ingThe Marketing/Sales Collaboration Problem
The key to solving what is being talked about a great deal these days is having the CEO initiate the actions necessary to change the behaviors and mindsets of t...
5 Familiar Bodybuilding Troubles...Which Do You Want To Overcome?
Part 1 of a five part series which Identifies 5 common bodybuilding and fitness problems...and what you can do to overcome them. Learn how you can break throug...
Why Should I Wear Sunglasses?
Learn about the many different reasons you should be wearing shades.
Create and Furnish Your Outdoor Room
Furnish your outdoor room to add more enjoyment to your garden!
Choosing A Business Tax Service
There are a number of ways that you can find tax services companies. The yellow pages is a good place to start for companies in your area but, depending on wher...
Holiday Personal Loans – When the Traveller Within You Wants to Break Free
Holiday personal loans are made easy and without doubt adjustable to the need of every loan borrower. Loan borrowers are given holiday personal loans in spite o...
Language of Dreams
Dreams almost always holds the dreamer in fascination. Do you believe you are transported to another realm as you are in a state of dreaming? Don't you marvel a...
Suspense Novels Made Easy
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense novels require a simple formula, which will make your work truly suspenseful. Follow this b...
The Secrets to Networking Success
We're not all natural born networkers. In fact, getting out there and meeting people fills many of us with dread. Don't worry -- there are plenty of other appro...
Sharing the Reins: 10 Reasons To Sell Your Company To Your Employees
In 1987 I sold my business, South Mountain Company, to my employees (and myself). My sole proprietorship became an employee-owned cooperative corporation. It wa...
Embrace Fear and Let Go
Professional writer Chet Day dips deeply into a stormy nightmare and reveals how he overcame several common fears. He attributes the fear removal to witnessing ...
Time Management Training - A Necessary Investment or A Waste Of Money?
Many organisations view time management training as something they'll spend their money on, only if they have to. Usually when pruning the company or department...
Enemies Among Us
They populate our corporations, our law enforcement agencies, our cities, our towns. But in times of revelation, they are recognized by the spirit of the mob, a...
If Youre Eating High Protein Be Informed about Mad Cow
Finding Mad Cow in Oregon puts a new wrinkle in the high protein diet, or does it? Should we be worried about Mad Cow, and what's a person to do that wants to e...
The Dog That Didnt Bark
If the issue is important, communicate frequently, even if nothing has happened. Something is nothing when you or others wait impatiently for news.
5 Key Ways to Attract Abundance and Prosperity
When you hear the words "abundance" and "prosperity", what immediately comes to mind?Is it money, fulfilling relationships, a lovely house to live in, peace of ...
The Best Quilts, Quilt Patterns and Quilt Fabrics
An online resource to help you find the very best quilts, quilt patterns and quilt fabrics.
How To Avoid Swelling When Pregnant
Really, the best thing you can do to combat swelling is to drink far more fluid. It may seem counter intuitive, but the more juice and water you drink the less ...
Learn to Face Up to Difficulty
Sometimes facing up to the challenges in our life can be the most difficult thing of all.
Surprise — Public School Class Size Doesnt Matter Very Much
It turns out that smaller class size does not guarantee that children get a better education in public school. Rather, teacher quality and instruction methods a...
Being a Winner - Ten Tips for Success
Have you ever thought about how you want to live, and who you
want to become? Everyone has different values and puts them in
different order of priority, so w...
Wealth Vs. Health
Some of us bodybuilders come from backgrounds where money doesn`t allow us to accomplish our fitness goals as fast as we`d like. Without money you can`t afford ...
Relationship Advice: Your Language of Love
Have you ever noticed how some people feel most loved when talked to while others like to be held? Here's how to figure out you and your partner's love language...
Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate
Monstrous tasks only appear to be complex and overwhelming. That's why it's so important to separate the parts from the whole.
|
Print this page