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| "Health is wealth.. Peace of mind is happiness.. Yoga shows the way" |
The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Organization was founded by Swami Vishnudevananda, disciple of Swami Sivananda, with a mission to spread world peace by celebrating unity in diversity and using the practice of yoga to first develop inner peace. The teachings are based in Vedanta, a collection of foundational texts from the Vedic period, 1500 - 600 BCE, including the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras & Bhagavad Gita. The goal of the philosophy is to create a union between the individual and the Supreme ~ the highest goal of yoga is to achieve Universal Consciousness and to see the Divine in ones self and in all others.
5 Points of Yoga
1. Proper Exercise (Asana) ~ maintaining a strong body, promoting circulation & flexibility
2. Proper Breathing (Pranayama) ~ conscious breath to reduce stress & disease, rejuvenate cells & control the mind
3. Proper Relaxation (Savasana) ~ maintain calm and avoid fatigue or injury
4. Proper Diet ~ eating simple, healthy vegetarian foods that are easy to digest and have a positive effect on the mind and body as well as the environment and other living beings
5. Positive Thinking & Meditation ~ creating a path for peace and joy in the body and mind
4 Paths of Yoga
Karma Yoga ~ Selfless service with the attitude that "Work is Worship" having no attachment to the fruits of your labor.
Bhakti Yoga ~ Joyful devotion to God, transmuting your emotions into unconditional love of the Divine. The easiest and most direct path to true realization & liberation.
Raja Yoga ~ The science of physical and mental control through Ashtanga (8 limbs of Raja Yoga) thus harnessing spiritual energy.
Jnana Yoga ~ The yoga of knowledge or wisdom whereby liberation is achieved through self inquiry and study.
Benefits of the 12 Basic Asanas
1. Sirshasana - headstand
The "king" of all asanas, or steady poses, the supported headstand is an inversion that promotes circulation, strengthens the abdomen, shoulders & biceps.
2. Sarvangasana - shoulderstand
This meditative inversion supports the heart and stimulates the thyroid, parathyroid and entire lymphatic system.
3. Halasana - plough
A deep variation of a forward bend, this pose elongates and strengthens the entire back of the body.
4. Matsyasana - fish
A counter pose to halasana, this pose opens the front body, expands the chest & lungs and strengthens the upper arms & shoulders.
5. Paschimotanasana - sitting forward bend
Elongating the spine and giving an intense stretch to the back of the legs, in this pose the yogi practices detachment and uses the breath to go deeper into the asana.
6. Bhujangasana - cobra
The first pose in a series of back bends, cobra strengthens the lower back while avoiding over-extension.
7. Salabhasana - full locust
This back bend opens the throat chakra and strengthens the arms & back while challenging the yogi to maintain relaxed determination & focus.
8. Dhanurasana - bow
The final back bend in the sequence works all of the back muscles simultaneously while opening the shoulders & chest and giving a gentle massage the internal organs.
9. Ardhamatsyendrasana - half spinal twist
This lateral twist aligns the spine, increasing flexibility & mobility the pose also nourishes the spinal nerves & the sympathetic nervous system and increases the digestive fire.
11. Padahastasana - standing forward bend
This standing pose utilizes gravity in unison with the breath to elongate the spine, stretch the legs and provide increased blood flow to the brain.
12. Trikonasana - triangle
This standing lateral stretch increases the flexibility of the legs, hips, shoulders & spine while expanding the side body.
Savansana - final relaxation
The most important asana of every class, in savasana the yogi is able to integrate all the benefits of the postures and absorb the energy that was created to find physical, mental & spiritual relaxation.
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