WHAT IS YOGA?

Yoga is a rich and beautiful path that offers the opportunity to live a more fully conscious life.  Despite modern marketing... it is not a form of exercise.  Yoga is a pathway to living, growing, evolving.  The guidance behind the philosophy of yoga is more fully fleshed out in the Bhagavad Gita.

These are often called the Yoga Sutras.  Yogic truths.  Utilizing all of the yoga sutras becomes "Ashtanga" yoga.  And that is best described in what is known as the "EIGHT LIMBS" of yoga.

For those that thought Yoga was breathing and bending.... That is like saying that Marriage is held in the "I DO".  It is a small facet of a bigger devotion.  Yoga positions and breathing are a small facet of the practice of yoga.  Furthermore... inside of the eight limbs... the first two hold five guides each.  Kind of like the beginning instructions to carry out the rest of the six limbs.

Without further ado.... The Eight Limbs of Yoga:

Yama:  Internal Moral Discipline  The five guides to this are:

Ahimsa - to practice non-violence in thought, action and deed.

Satya - Truthfulness.  The capacity to stand naked and honor.

Asteya - Non-stealing.  Right use of things. 

Brahmacharya - Moderation in all things.  Self-containment.

Aparighraha - Non-possessiveness.  Simplicity.

Niyamas:  External.  Maintain a positive environment.  The five guides:

Shaucha - Purity/Clarity.  Orderliness of thoughts and environment.

Santosha - Contentment.  Acceptance for what is.

Tapas - Austerity, sacrifice, discipline.

Swadhyaya - Self-improvement/learning.  Spiritual development.

Ishwara-Pranidhana - Surrender to God.

Asana:  Physical postures.

Pranayama:  Increasing breathing and life force.

Pratyahara:  Sensory inhibition.

Dharana:  Intense focus needed for meditation.

Dyana:  Meditation

Samadhi:  Ecstasy.  Union with the Divine.

The practice of yoga draws you deeper and deeper into an honest reflection of the divine within each being.  And yet..... to not honor the first two legs of the eight legs will not lead to Samadhi.  Surrender to the divine and ecstasy are hand in hand.

Service to the greater world is often times referred to as Karmic yoga.  What a treasure.  How beautiful to offer of self without recognition or need for such feedback.  To simply offer because it is needed.  May we all aspire to be Karmic Yoginis