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"A sign of intelligence is to see the One in many and find the many in One"
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It is an inherent desire in humans to be happy. The ancient sages, through inquiry about life, were able to reach a state of consciousness in which the secrets of healthier, happier and meaningful living were revealed to them. Sages called that secret and sacred knowledge ?Yoga?
The term ?Yoga? is derived from the Sanskrit word ?yuj?, meaning union; the union of the individual consciousness with the universal Consciousness. The knowledge of yoga can be found in ancient scriptures dating back over 5000 years. According to Hindu mythology, this knowledge was first revealed by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati (also known as Shakti, the cosmic creative energy).
Yoga transcends any religion or culture. Its application is universal. Yoga is not merely a form of exercise for the body, but a path towards total harmony of body, mind and spirit.
It is ancient wisdom for a healthier, happier and more peaceful way of living that ultimately leads to Self-realization, the union with the Self. It was from this state of union when Jesus said Me and My Father are one.
What is Sri Sri Yoga?
Sri Sri Yoga is a prayerful and balanced discipline, which offers a multi-path approach for uniting body, breath and mind with awareness. Sri Sri Yoga brings you the wisdom and techniques of yoga in a very joyful, sincere and thorough manner. A combination of gentle and vigorous series of asanas is taught for the well-being of the body, while an equal emphasis is placed on techniques for nurturing the mind and spirit. Sri Sri Yoga brings you back to your natural self, thereby nurturing all the virtues that you are born with. For those interested in exploring their inner Being further, a vast ocean of knowledge and many meditative techniques are available through our Art of Living courses.
Sri Sri Yoga is a 10 hour workshop spread over 6 days. It is an ancient wisdom for a healthier, happier and more peaceful way of living. In Sri Sri yoga the wisdom and techniques of yoga are brought to you in a very pure, joyful and thorough manner. Asanas, pranayamas and meditation are the main tools used in the course.
These techniques enable us to unite the body, breath and mind in awareness. This brings you back to your natural self and develops all the good qualities that we were born with.
Benefits of Practicing Yoga
Yoga and Body
On the physical level, some of the benefits of yoga are that it: Improves flexibility, the range of joint movements, the posture and alignment of the body, blood circulation and digestion.
Strengthens, nourishes and tones the muscles, joints, bones, internal tissues and organs. Enhances the function of endocrine glands; Provides prevention, relief and helps recovery from many illnesses such as chronic pain, anxiety and panic, gastro-intestinal disorders, sleep disturbances, fatigue, high blood pressure, headaches, depression, etc.; Overall the body feels healthier, more energetic, balanced, graceful, with greater immunity to disease and stress-related effects.
Yoga and Mind
If the mind is well, all else feels well. That is why, in Sri Sri Yoga, a great importance is given to the wellness of mind. With regular practice of yoga some of the benefits one experiences are:
More peace and calmness,improved alertness and clarity, increased ability to deal effectively with short and long term stressful situations. Increased concentration of mind. improved self-esteem, decreased reliance on drugs. Greater energy and enthusiasm for life.
Yoga and Spirit
It is the ignorance alone that keeps one from seeing the reality of life. Ignorance alone is the cause of all sufferings. Through the regular practice of yoga one develops skills and experiential understanding to see the reality of life and appreciate its beauty.
When you see the beauty in life, you are able to admire and adore the Creator?the Spirit---the God. You see the Divine presence every where including in yourself. You form a stronger and loving connection with yourself which brings fulfilment and a meaningful purpose to life. It is out of this fulfillment you experience unconditional happiness and are able to share this joy with others.
What happens to a person when they are totally taken care if in every aspect of life: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually? Not just taken care of in the most basic way, but completely and absolutely fulfilled so that any feeling of need or want subsides, and each moment is so wonderful that any thought fades into insignificance.
Different Paths of Yoga
Yoga is the journey as well as the goal. Just as all rivers lead to the ocean, all paths of yoga lead to Self-realisation.
There are many paths of yoga prescribed in the scriptures. Though the journey may begin on any single path, for full blossoming and fulfillment, a multi-path approach needs to be followed. All paths can be categorized into following primary paths
Bhakti Yoga? The Path of Devotion
God?s love is unconditional. Acknowledging that love and reflecting it back to God is devotion. Blossoming of devotion toward God is the sweetest experience one can have. Devotion means being in a state of complete surrender to God. It is the willingness to serve God with love and with feelings of gratefulness. A devotee sees divinity everywhere and yet has an intense longing for God.
Love toward God can take many forms with many different feelings. For example, it can be the feeling of a true friendship with God; of being a faithful servant to God; of being a beloved of God; of being a child of God; or of being a parent to God.
A devotee transcends worldly sorrows or pains. It is in devotion that one experiences total freedom from fear and worry. Devotion is the simplest way of receiving freedom from worldly bondage. A true devotee has no self-desires, including the desire for liberation.
Devotion in one?s heart is kindled by the grace of a guru, by being in the company of other devotees, and by reading and listening to the stories of other devotees.
?Those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent, the unthinkable, the immovable and the eternal, fixing their mind on God, ever steadfast and endowed with supreme faith, are the best in Yoga.?
-- The Bhagvad Gita
Karma Yoga ? The Path of Selfless Service
Karma Yoga is the path of serving others selflessly: putting in 100% effort but not expecting anything in return. Karma Yoga is closely linked to Bhakti Yoga for without love and devotion it would not be possible to serve others selflessly. Performing one?s duties and serving humanity without any selfish motives purifies the heart and brings fulfillment.
Gnana Yoga ? The Path of Knowledge
We have read and heard that God is Omnipresent and every one is Divine. And that the reality of life lies hidden behind what one can see or touch. For most people, however, this is only a concept. The path of knowledge is the experiential knowledge of the Self, it is wisdom that discriminates between that which is real and unreal.
The true and the highest knowledge is the knowledge of the Self. Though one begin begin on this path by reading scriptures and listening to the wise, the knowledge flows from within by the grace of the Guru. The knowledge gained by reading or hearing only may give rise to the ?I know it? attitude which feeds the ego and can be an obstacle in one?s spiritual evolution. The wisdom or the knowledge of the Self, on the other hand, brings surrender and devotion in one?s life. A wise person remains unaffected by the transient, unreal events in life.
Ashtanga Yoga ? Eight Limbs of Yoga
The mind is constantly engaged in all kinds of mental activity. The more activity there is, the more clouded the mind is. When the mind is calm, one?s perception is clearer and one is free from fears and worries. Patanjali, an ancient sage, defined yoga as the ?restraining of thought waves?.
He compiled ?Patanjali?s Yoga Sutras?, the aphorisms of yoga, in which he provides eight-limbed approach for the well-being and purification of body, mind and soul. Eight- limbed approach, known as Ashtanga Yoga consists practicing of: social ethics, individual ethics, postures, breath control, discipline of the senses, concentration, meditation, and self-realisation or equanimity.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga, a very popular path of yoga, consists of some of the elements of Ashtanga yoga, primarily, the Postures, Breath control, and Meditation
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