Not only in the country, but today yoga is being appreciated and adopted all over the world. It has also been confirmed in many scientific researches that many physical problems can be relieved by the practice of different types of yogasanas. Well, this is a common thing, but if you ask what is the basis of yoga, then very few people would know about it. In such a situation, Ashtanga Yoga can be the best option to understand the basis of Yoga deeply. This is the reason that in this article of Myhealthonly, we have tried to explain various aspects related to it along with the Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga. Also, readers should also keep in mind that regular yoga can alternatively help in preventing physical problems and reducing their symptoms to some extent. Medical consultation is very necessary for the complete treatment of any problem.
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In this article, we will explain in detail about Ashtanga Yoga. Before that, let us know briefly what it is.
What is Ashtanga Yoga?
Table of Contents
Ashtanga yoga is different from other yogas. The reason is that it is not a physical yoga, but a kind of Karma Sadhana. It is believed that whoever perfects this sadhna, he understands the real essence of life. This is the reason why yoga father Maharishi Patanjali composed the Ashtanga Yoga Sutra around 200 BC to explain yoga. Sutra because, just as the biggest question can be solved on the basis of mathematical formulas, in the same way this Ashtanga Yoga Sutra helps in understanding the whole essence of life. This formula itself has been divided into eight main parts i.e. steps, the information related to which will be found in further detail in the article.
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Come, in the next part of the article, we will get some information about the part of Ashtanga Yoga.
Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga
The eight limbs included in Ashtanga Yoga are as follows.
- Yama
- Rule
- Posture
- Pranayama
- Withdrawal
- Perception
- Attention
- Mausoleum
According to Maharishi Patanjali, the limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are the path to attain Samadhi through Karma Yoga. Yama, involved in these eight limbs, is associated with control. Niyam, on the other hand, is associated with the rules of life, which help to free one from the attachments of worldly life. At the same time, the posture involved in it is related to the posture of the body. Pranayama, on the other hand, is associated with controlling the breath. Also, Pratyahara means withdrawal of attention towards sounds, smells, touches etc. that disturb the meditation.
At the same time, the perception involved is related to concentration. At the same time, the seventh part included in these is meditation, when the concentration is not interrupted by anything. In the end, there is the matter of samadhi. Samadhi has also been called zero in yoga, which means that nothing remains, that is, by attaining samadhi, a person proves the entire Ashtanga Yoga. This is the essence of the part of Ashtanga Yoga.
At the same time, these organs included in Ashtanga Yoga were divided into some sub-organs, which explain the process of attaining samadhi to the seeker by incorporating restraint, observance, physical discipline, breathing rules, restraint on sense organs, contemplation and meditation in life. Are. In easy language, it can also be called the method of doing Ashtanga Yoga, about which we will explain in detail in the next part of the article.
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Next, we will also tell the method of doing Ashtanga Yoga, but before that let us know the benefits of doing Ashtanga Yoga.
Impressive Health Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga
The benefits of Ashtanga Yoga can be achieved both physically and mentally. These benefits are explained in detail below:
- Maintain physical health
Following all the steps of Ashtanga Yoga can help in maintaining physical health. Research on the topic suggests that the yoga practices included in Ashtanga yoga can improve muscle strength, body flexibility, improve respiratory function, boost cardiovascular function, and improve sleep problems. Also can work to improve the quality of life. On this basis, it can be assumed that the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga can prove to be helpful in maintaining physical health.
- Helpful in controlling diabetes
The benefits of Ashtanga Yoga can also be found in the problem of diabetes. In a research conducted by the Journal of Diabetes Research, it was believed that the level of blood glucose can be reduced by the use of various asanas of yoga. This can help in reducing the risks of diabetes problems. At the same time, we have told above that asanas are also included as a part in Ashtanga Yoga. On this basis, it can be said that along with other physical asanas, Ashtanga Yoga can also prove to be helpful in relieving the problem of diabetes.
- Remove mental disorders
The asanas and pranayama procedures involved in Ashtanga yoga can help keep the mind calm. Also, it can help relieve anxiety, depression and stress. All these three states of mind are related to a person’s brain, so it can be assumed that by controlling these three states, the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga can be found in maintaining mental health.
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After knowing the benefits of doing Ashtanga Yoga, now we are going to explain the process of doing it.
Steps to do Ashtanga Yoga –
To do Ashtanga Yoga, it is very important to understand its parts as well as the sub-parts included in them, only then the entire Ashtanga Yoga can be included in life. Let us understand each step in detail through all the limbs and sub-limbs included in the Ashtanga Yoga Sutra.
- Yama :
Yama has five sub-parts, Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha. Incorporating these five sub-organs in one’s life is the first step of Ashtanga Yoga. Come, let us understand in some detail how to include them in life:
Non-violence: Here non-violence does not mean only physical violence. In this part of Ashtanga Yoga, the seeker has to remove violence from his thoughts and words as well. It means that bad thoughts should not come in the mind towards anyone.
- Truth: In this sub-organ, man has to follow Satya Dharma, that is, only the person who gives place to truth in life through mind, deeds and words will be able to cross this sub-organ.
- Asteya: Asteya means giving up stealing. To adopt this sub-organ, a person has to leave the sense of greed towards anyone’s money, goods or property.
- Celibacy: Usually people derive the meaning of celibacy by linking it with physical relations, but here it is being said to control the natural senses. For example:- Giving up the attraction of things like eating, drinking, spending time in entertainment, comfortable bed.
- Aparigraha: The meaning of Aparigraha is one who renounces. Hence, through this last sub-part of Yama, the seeker is advised to remove vices like greed and attachment (desire to accumulate wealth and possessions more than necessary).
This means that one who will be able to integrate these five sub-organs of Yama in his life, will be able to cross the first stage of Ashtanga Yoga i.e. Yama-Anga.
- Rules :
After worshiping Yama, it is the turn of the rules. It also has five sub-organs, defecation, satisfaction, penance, self-study and devotion to God. By incorporating these rules in life, the second stage of Ashtanga Yoga can be crossed. Come, let us also understand their detailed meaning.
- Defecation : Here defecation means purification of body, mind, food, clothes and place.
- Satisfaction : It means, always doing one’s work without any desire for fruit or result.
- Tenacity : Tenacity here does not mean austerity, but to follow one’s actions with utmost sincerity under any circumstances.
- Swadhyaya : Swadhyaya means looking into the mind, that is, self-reflection to stand in opposite situations.
- Devotion to god : Devotion to god means having faith in God. This sub-part tells that under any circumstances the feeling of devotion towards God should never be removed from the mind.
In this way, by following Yama and Niyama, a seeker will be able to cross the second stage of Ashtanga Yoga.
- Posture :
Although there are many yogas to remove physical disorders, but asana in Ashtanga Yoga means sitting comfortably in a position without moving. It is also called stable pleasant posture. Regularly sitting in this posture for some time not only calms the mind, but also keeps energy in the body. At the same time, this asana creates the power to deeply understand self-study and God’s pranidhan included in the second rule of Ashtanga Yoga.
- Pranayama :
Pranayama literally means expansion of the vital energy, that is, the process of breathing. In this part of Ashtanga Yoga, the seeker does such yoga exercises to control his life energy, in which the main focus is on the process of breathing. Anulom-Vilom Pranayama, Bhastrika Pranayama and Kapalbhati Pranayama are some such yoga practices. By practicing these regularly, the seeker can develop the ability to control the vital energy.
- Withdrawal :
Pratyahara means to stop or withdraw. In Ashtanga Yoga, the emphasis is on the control of the unnecessary energy spent by the senses. It means that activities like speaking, listening, eating, seeing and feeling should remain in a balanced state. The unnecessary energy of the body should not be destroyed through these activities.
- Perception :
After withdrawal comes the matter of perception. If a seeker practices the five parts of Ashtanga Yoga, then the quality of collecting energy develops in him. Now how to spend this energy depends on the perception itself. Therefore, it is necessary that man should always live in the present and be satisfied. Also have faith in God that if he is right, then nothing can go wrong with him. The same perception will give a seeker the ability to store his energy and consider how to spend it.
- Meditation :
As we mentioned above that energy can be controlled through Pratyahara. At the same time, by changing the perception, one gets the power to collect this energy in the body. In such a situation, when a person practices both these parts of Ashtanga Yoga, then the state of meditation automatically comes. The way sleep comes, it cannot be brought. In the same way, after practicing Pratyahara and Dharana, meditation takes place on its own. As a result, all the disorders of mind, brain and personality go away, nothing remains.
- Samadhi :
At the end there is samadhi i.e. emptiness. When a meditator attains meditation, then nothing remains. Only one feeling remains in the mind that all human beings are children of that one God, whom people call as Bhagwan, Allah and God etc.
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Come on, in the next part of the article, we will get information about the precautions related to Ashtanga Yoga.
Precautions for Ashtanga Yoga
As we have already told in the article that Ashtanga Yoga is not a Yogasan, but a base of Yoga, in which Gyan Yoga is awakened through Karma Yoga. As a result, samadhi is attained in the end, so Ashtanga Yoga practice is not a one-day task. It may take several months or years to go through all its steps. Therefore, special care should be taken of these things before doing Ashtanga Yoga.
- Try carefully and diligently to go through each step of Ashtanga Yoga.
- Proceed step by step only. Don’t try to move on to the next step before one step is perfect.
- Keep the mind at ease and believe in yourself that all the parts of Ashtanga Yoga can be practiced.
- Do the asanas involved in this in the morning on an empty stomach.
Friends, there are many types of yoga, through which not only one can remain healthy, but it can also achieve immense peace. In such a situation, after reading the article well, you must have understood that Ashtanga Yoga is not a Yogasan, but a Yoga Sutra. The process of doing this is to follow the eight limbs included in this formula step by step. However, like other yogasanas, Ashtanga yoga is not easy to practice. Even then, if a firm determination is made, then any person can practice Ashtanga Yoga. With this, the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga will be achieved, as well as the personality will also flourish.
Now we are going to answer some questions related to Ashtanga Yoga.
Frequently Asked Questions :
Ashtanga yoga can be good for a person suffering from mental and physical problems (diabetes, heart disease or respiratory problems). At the same time, people suffering from serious physical problems should do it only under the supervision of a doctor and a yoga guru.
Ashtanga yoga can be practiced daily in the morning under the supervision of a yoga guru.
No, if it is done with caution, then there is no danger from it. Still, for the sake of caution, do it only under the supervision of a yoga guru. On the other hand, if you are suffering from any serious illness, then do consult a doctor before doing it.
Yes, Ashtanga Yoga is a long process, which requires patience and faith. The benefits of this yoga cannot be taken in haste.
