Yoga must be one of the most remarkable spiritual sciences discovered by man.  It goes back over 10,000 years (five thousand years in a structured form) and is one of the few spiritual traditions that has maintained an unbroken development throughout history.

Yogic texts show the ancient teachers understood all aspects of the human being and the world of nature.  Yogic methods cover every area of our existence, from the physical, sensory, emotional, mental and spiritual to the ultimate Self-realization. It teaches us how to move from our physical and ego-bound identity to our immortal Self that dwells deep within.  The methods are physical postures, ethical disciplines, breath control, sensory methods, affirmations and visualizations, prayer and mantra and simple to complex meditation disciplines.

Yoga is not a religion nor were yoga and meditation originally part of any religious system.  It respects all cultures, faiths, and nations.  It is possible to live harmoniously whatever our differences. It cultivates the higher instincts of humanity – compassion, co-operation, and peace.

There are two main traditions of yoga, the tantric tradition and the vedic tradition.

1. The tantric tradition is more in keeping with the lifestyle we lead today.  Tantric yoga says continue your life as usual.  Simply add another habit – yoga.  You do not re-invent yourself, you use the techniques to develop as a human being.
2. The vedic concept of yoga is no less relevant.  The Vedas (scriptures) are a collection of original, spiritual, practical, moral, social and metaphysical thoughts of saints and sages who perceived every aspect of creation as a manifestation of divine nature.

The Vedas are not books on Hinduism.  Vedanta and Yoga predate Hinduism.  Yoga has been associated with Hinduism, Sufism and Buddhism.  Buddhism was once very strong in India.  Yoga was and is the answer to basic questions asked about existence.  The theories cover the body, mind, emotions, expression and behaviour.

The ultimate aim of these philosophies is, in essence, the same.  They are about expansion of mind and spiritual development mainly through meditation.

Patanjali who had studied in depth the various scriptures, expanded upon them in his Yoga Aphorisms.   This text describes the essence of yoga.  Patanjali’s Yoga Aphorisms has been printed in every major language.

The Four Yogas

The word yoga is related to the English word yoke.  Yoga is the union of body, mind and spirit – the union of your individuality with the divine intelligence that orchestrates the universe.

Traditionally, there are four main  forms of yoga.  Gyana, Bhakti, Karma and Raja.

Gyana yoga is the yoga of knowledge or understanding.  It is also the yoga of science.

Bhakti yoga is the yoga of love and devotion.   The devotional path of worship and service to God or His/Her representative spiritual teacher. May suit an emotional and loving nature.

Karma yoga is the yoga of action.  When you have an inner attitude that all your actions come from God and belong to God, you are a karma yogi.

Raja yoga – often referred to as the royal path to yoga.  It is the path of union through practices that take your awareness inward.

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