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Different Forms Of Yoga

The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj” which means to bind, join, direct and concentrate one’s attention on, to use, and apply. It also means union; it is the true union of our will with the will of God. The yoking of all the powers of body, mind, and the soul to God; means the disciplining of the intellect, the mind, the emotions, it means a poise of the soul which enables one to look at life in all its aspects evenly.

In Indian thought, everything is permeated by the Supreme Universal Spirit (God) of which the individual human spirit (soul) is a child of God.

 

 


There are many types of yoga-

Gyan yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga act. All together it is called Raja yoga meditation (highest form yoga in the world), which is taught by the supreme soul "LORD SHIVA" (the lord of yogis) is based on knowledge of self (soul), the cosmos, and the moral laws. 

Meditation is practiced by means of the intellect as it does not require any physical postures, so it’s called “yoga of knowledge” (Gyan yoga or buddhi yoga)

Since the yogi has to keep his mind linked to God even while doing one’s duties or karma it is also known as Karma yoga; work alone is your privilege, never let the fruits of action be your motive, work in name of God, abandoning selfish desires. Be not affected by success or failure.

Furthermore, meditation is based on deep love, devotion, and dedication to God, so it’s called Bhakti yoga.

As meditation demands renunciation of only evil tendencies, attachment, and that which is ignoble from that point of view it is also termed as sannyasa yoga, one who practices it acts as a mere trustee with God overhead, he considers himself as a mere instrument. he acts with good wishes for all” one world one family”, this makes him free from all worries, fear, anxiety, negative thoughts, and moods, therefore it’s called Shamata yoga, one who attains to it is called” yogi having equanimity. meditation leads to Samithi or the state of absorption, so it is Sahaj yoga, which means which is easy or which becomes a part of one’s nature.

There are four ways of yoga:

1. karma yoga: If you use your body to reach your ultimate nature.

2. Gyan yoga: If you use your intelligence to reach your ultimate nature.

3. Bhakti yoga: If you use your emotions(devotion) to reach your ultimate nature.

4. Kriya yoga: If you use your inner energies to reach your ultimate nature.

One way can't take you to meditation, these four have to get together then only you become meditative. Right now your mind is going in one direction, your body in another direction, your emotions somewhere else, your inner energies are a different matter, if we somehow align them all together for one moment, we will see there will be different dimensions happening within you.   

 

Yoga Poses Before Meditation

Stress isn’t just something in your head; it affects your body too. Tension is especially common in your face, neck, upper and lower back.

Before you can clear your mind with meditation, you’ll need to bring your body into a state of tranquillity and let go of that tension. These are our top yoga meditation exercises. 

Fish Pose

Lie flat on your back with your hands by your sides. Then arch your upper back and neck area, tilting your head slightly back. Draw a deep breath, hold, release and repeat. 

Seiza pose

A kneeling pose that focuses on keeping your back straight and your mind clear. Kneel on your mat with your feet tucked under your bottom, for extra comfort you can also use a cushion to place in the space between your legs and backside.
Now, rest your hands on your lap, close your eyes, and take some deep breaths – in and out. Try to clear your mind, and focus. 

Full lotus pose 

Traditional yoga poses for meditation; the Full Lotus requires flexibility, concentration, and dedication to get it just right.

To bring yourself into the Full Lotus, sit on your mat with your legs straight in front of you. Bend your first leg and place your foot on the opposite thigh, then repeat with the second leg.
Draw a deep breath and bring your hands together in the prayer pose. Focus your mind, concentrating only on breathing, and your mantra for what you would like to achieve through meditation.
The Full Lotus is an advanced pose, so you may only be able to hold it for a short period of time. As your legs tire, try switching them around with the opposite leg.

Burmese pose

The Burmese position is similar to the cross-legged position, except instead of crossing the ankles, they're placed one in front of the other. The Burmese position is more stable than the cross-legged position but still less stable than the lotus position. An adaption on the Full Lotus pose, the Burmese position, lets your body relax so you can employ full concentration on your mind.

Also known as the Sukhasana pose, to get in this position, take a spot on your mat. Your legs should be at angles to one another and your feet gently crossing in the middle.

Place your hands lightly on your thighs, and take a deep breath inwards while focusing on how it fills your body up with oxygen, then breathe out again. Repeat this process for as long as you need to while keeping your mindset on your meditation goals.

  

Understanding Raja Yoga Meditation 

Raja yoga is the king of all Yoga. Raja means (King) and Yoga means(Communication). Raja Yoga is communication between the self and the Higher Being (God). Raja Yoga is not physical exercise, rather it is an easy mental exercise. Raja Yoga transcends the mind beyond the body and creates lasting peaceful experiencesWe know that raja yoga is the most ancient form of yoga, which takes us to enlightenment. In Indian thought, everything is permeated by the Supreme Universal Spirit (God) of which the individual human spirit(soul)is a part.

Raja means “mastery of the self” and yoga means “connection with supreme”. By recognizing myself as the soul and being able to empower me by connecting intellectually with the divine or Supreme soul.

Raja Yoga Meditation is practiced with the eyes open. We take our minds beyond the influence of the body. This creates an experience of freedom and deep inner peace. The body automatically relaxes: "mind over matter.” We learn to make our mind our best friend and harness its power. This brings about newness in the way I think about myself and the world I live in. Involves understanding the 'self and the 'Supreme Being' 

God is our supreme father who takes care of us; gives us knowledge as supreme teachers and shows us the right path as satguru. Meditation teaches how the soul can be united to or be in communion with the supreme soul and so secure Mukti and Jeevan Mukti.  

 

Tip:

Relaxing to prepare for meditation

Target zone: the face

That tightness across your forehead, those sleepy eyes, that never-ending headache. That’s facial tension.
To release it, just scrunch your face up tightly. Tense those muscles. Take a deep breath in, hold and release.

Target zone: the neck
Having a sore neck is one of the most common modern complaints, so it’s no wonder after a tough day, we have aches and pains. 
 

 

Know the Major explanations of The Bhagavad Geeta: https://spiritualizingyou.blogspot.com/2021/12/understanding-bhagavad-geeta.html 

 


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