Yoga

The word "Yoga" essentially means "that which brings you to reality". Literally, it means "union". Union means that it takes you to the ultimate reality, where the individual manifestations of life are superficial bubbles in the process of creation.

At this time, a coconut tree and a mango tree have emerged from the same land. From the very earth, the human body and so many creatures have appeared. Everything is the same land.

Sadhguru: Consider that essentially in tradition, once we associate the word "Yoga" with anything, it indicates that it is a complete path in itself.

Yoga is a mind and body practice with a 5,000 year history in ancient Indian philosophy. Various styles that combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. In more recent years, it has become popular as a form of physical exercise based on postures that promote better control of the mind and body and improve well-being.

There are several different types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice. In this article we will explore the history, philosophy and various branches of yoga.

The "Yoga Sutra", a 2,000-year-old treatise on yogic philosophy by the Indian sage Patanjali, is a guide on how to master the mind, control the emotions and grow spiritually. The Yoga Sutra is the first written record of yoga and one of the oldest texts in existence and provides the framework for all modern yoga.

Yoga is well known for its postures and postures, but they were not a key part of the original traditions in India. Physical fitness was not a primary goal. Practitioners and followers of the yogic tradition focused on other practices, such as expanding spiritual energy using breathing methods and mental focus.

The tradition began to gain popularity in the West in the late 19th century. An explosion of interest in postural yoga occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, first in India and then in the West.

Philosophy

To convey its spiritual message and guidance sessions, yoga often uses the images of a tree with roots, a trunk, branches, flowers, and fruits. Each "branch" of yoga represents a different approach and set of characteristics.

The six branches are:

• Hatha yoga: this is the physical and mental branch designed to prepare the body and mind.
• Raja yoga: This branch involves meditation and strict adherence to a series of disciplinary steps known as the "eight limbs" of yoga.
• Karma yoga - This is a path of service that aims to create a future free from negativity and selfishness.
• Bhakti yoga: aims to establish the path of devotion, a positive way to channel emotions and cultivate acceptance and tolerance.
• Jnana yoga: This branch of yoga deals with wisdom, the path of the scholar, and the development of the intellect through study.
• Tantra yoga: this is the path of ritual, ceremony or consummation of a relationship.
• Approaching yoga with a specific goal in mind can help a person decide which branch to follow.

Chakras

The word "chakra" literally means spinning wheel.

Yoga holds that the chakras are central points of energy, thoughts, feelings, and the physical body. According to yogic teachers, the chakras determine how people experience reality through emotional reactions, desires or aversions, levels of confidence or fear, and even physical symptoms and effects.

When energy is blocked in a chakra, it is said to trigger physical, mental, or emotional imbalances that manifest in symptoms, such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion. Asanas are the many physical positions in Hatha yoga. Yoga practitioners use asanas to release energy and stimulate an imbalanced chakra.

There are seven main chakras, each with its own focus:

• Sahasrara: The "thousand petals" or "crown" chakra represents the state of pure consciousness. This chakra is located at the crown of the head, and the color white or purple represents it. Sahasrara involves matters of inner wisdom and physical death.
• Ajna: The "command" or "third eye chakra" is a meeting point between two important energy currents in the body. Ajna corresponds to the colors violet, indigo or deep blue, although traditional yoga practitioners describe it as white. The ajna chakra is related to the pituitary gland, which drives growth and development.
• Vishuddha: The color red or blue represents the "especially pure" or "throat" chakra. Practitioners consider this chakra to be the home of speech, hearing, and metabolism.
• Anahata: The "unblocked" or "heart" chakra is related to the colors green and pink. The key themes that involve anahata include complex emotions, compassion, tenderness, unconditional love, balance, rejection, and well-being.
• Manipura: yellow represents the "jewel city" or "navel" chakra. Practitioners connect this chakra with the digestive system, as well as with personal power, fear, anxiety, the development of opinions, and tendencies toward an introverted personality.
• Svadhishthana: Practitioners claim that the "home base" or "pelvic" chakra is home to the reproductive organs, the genitourinary system, and the adrenal gland.
• Muladhara: The "root support" or "root chakra" is at the base of the spine in the coccygeal region. It is said to contain our natural urges related to food, sleep, sex, and survival, as well as the source of avoidance and fear.