The Practice of Yoga - Stretch your understanding

In the West, yoga is understood as a method to achieve physical and mental well-being. But yoga offers so much more. It promises us freedom from all suffering, a state of eternal bliss.

Yoga is a spiritual practice, a way to achieve higher consciousness and connect with the divine. The word yoga comes the Sanskrit word yug, which means to yoke, bind or join. It’s a type of spiritual union.

The method to achieve this union is to first control the mind. The objects of the senses agitate the mind. The unceasing mental chatter we’re all familiar with is like a static interference which obscures our vision of the divine.

When the vibrations of the mind are still, our vision is clear and we can perceive our true self. We direct our awareness away from the external objects of the senses and turn inward to discover the essence of our being, the divine spark within.

There are four main paths of yoga; Karma yoga (yoga of action), Bhakti yoga (yoga of devotion), Jnana yoga (yoga of knowledge), and Raja yoga (yoga of mind control). It’s only Raja Yoga which practices asana, or posture, and asana is only one step in an eight-step system called astanga yoga.

This particular system is found in the classic text, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Patanjali defines yoga as the cessations of the fluctuation of the mind (Yogas citti, vritti nirodhah). He outlines an eight-step path culminating in samadhi. Samadhi is a state of joining or union with the divine. This is the goal of yoga.

Asana (posture) is the third step in the process and not practiced with the goal of physical fitness, but to facilitate a meditative state. Patanjali says, The meditation posture should be steady and comfortable.

The other steps are unlikely to have popular appeal, so they aren’t widely advertised. They deal with the self-control and austerity which is necessary to succeed on the spiritual path.

We first need to practice certain restraints, avoid things which agitate the mind. Unrestrained sense indulgence excites the mind, when we regulate these activities, it helps to subdue the mind.

The first two steps are the practices of self-control, five activities we should perform and five activities we should avoid.

Step 1 — Yama, don’t do these things.

1. Don’t be violent (non-violence, ahimsa)

2. Don’t lie (honesty, satya)

3. Don’t steal (asteya)

4. Don’t be sexually promiscuous, practice celibacy or marital fidelity (bramacharya)

5. Don’t be greedy or possessive (aparigraha)

Step 2 — Niyama, the 5 do’s, the duties we should perform.

1. Purity, cleanliness of mind and body (shaucha)

2. Contentment, acceptance of one’s circumstances (santosha)

3. Austerity, self-discipline (tapas)

4. Study of the Veda and self-reflection (svadhyaya)

5. Commitment to the Lord (ishvarapranidhana)

Step 3 — Postures (asana)

It’s only after the first 2 steps that asana or posture is included. The goal of asana isn’t toned muscles, it’s intended to facilitate a meditative state.

The next 5 steps are an increase in the intensity or focus of the meditative state. This culminates in samadhi.

Step 4 — Controlling the breath (pranayama)

Focusing on the breath.

Step 5 — Withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara)

Drawing within of awareness, detaching the senses from external objects.

Step 6 — Concentration (dharana)

Dharana means concentration, introspective focus and one-pointedness of mind. The root of the word is dhr which means “to hold, maintain, keep”.

Step 7 — Contemplation (dhyana)

Dhyana is contemplating, reflecting on whatever dharana has focused on. Dhyana is an uninterrupted train of thought, or a flow of awareness.

Step 8 — Samadhi

The state of samadhi is oneness with the object of contemplation. This is the goal of yoga, a spiritual union.

The other paths of yoga don’t include asana in their practices. Karma yoga focuses on selfless action. By performing actions without attachment to the rewards, our mind and ego are subdued.

Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion. By surrender to God the soul achieves the goal of union with the divine.

Jnana yoga is the yoga of knowledge. The focus is on intellectual understanding and in this way we understand our true nature.

“The mind controlled by yoga practice is tranquil, pacified by detachment from material desires. The yogi remains satisfied in the self alone, and in spiritual enlightenment tastes eternal bliss. Once established in such a position the yogi never deviates from the truth. On gaining this, they consider there is no greater gain. They are never disturbed, even in the greatest tribulation. This state of being, the freedom from all suffering, is known as yoga.”

Bhagavada Gita 6.20–23