Yoga

Content

• Positive Effects of Yoga
• The Different Paths of Yoga
• Yoga Synthesis of Yoga
• Where Can I go to Learn Yoga?

"An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory", was one of the favorite phrases of yoga master Swami Sivananda (1887-1963). Once, when he was asked why he had written so many books (more than 200) Swami Sivananda replied, "Some people need tons of theory, to be motivated for an ounce of practice."

Yoga is an ancient system of exercises that has evolved for millennia in India. Known in the West the past hundred years, yoga has proven itself to be of great value for westerners as well.

"Yoga" means "unity, harmony". Yoga exercises can help you to:

1. Harmonize your life

2. Awaken latent capabilities

3. Unite yourself with the cosmic consciousness

• Hatha Yoga contains the most well known practices of yoga: asanas, (yoga exercises), pranayama (breathing exercises) and deep relaxation. Hatha Yoga also contains advice for healthy living, including vegetarian nutrition.
  

• Kundalini Yoga, the yoga of energy, describes the astral body with its chakras (energy centers) and Nadis (energy channels). Kundalini Yoga offers exercises to purify the astral body, increase life-energy (Prana), harmonize and open the chakras. When we are prepared, the mighty Kundalini energy awakes. This may be combined with overwhelming extrasensory perceptions, a strong feeling of bliss, expansion of the consciousness and the unfolding of new capabilities.
  

• Raja Yoga explains how the human mind functions and how to control it. Raja Yoga exercises include affirmations, visualization, attentiveness, self observance and the various meditation techniques.
  

• Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of knowledge, is the philosophical approach. It asks questions like: Who am I? From where do I come? Where am I going? What's the meaning of life? What is real? What is happiness? In Jnana Yoga karma and reincarnation are explained and meditation practices are given to help the practitioner experience the truth intuitively within one self.
  

• Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotion.
  

• Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, teaches the understanding of destiny. Karma Yoga offers techniques to assist in making right decisions and living a divine life. Karma Yoga is selfless service; it helps one transcend the boundaries of the ego and experience a oneness with all beings.

Yoga is an integral, all-embracing system. Most people find a combination of the different paths of yoga most powerful:

• Hatha Yoga develops the physical body
• Kundalini Yoga augments the energy body
• Bhakti Yoga sublimates the emotions
• Raja Yoga trains the mind
• Jnana Yoga enhances intellect and intuition
• Karma Yoga helps integrating everything into daily life.

Asanas – yoga exercises
Asanas are yoga exercises; certain positions are held for periods of time. Asanas gently develop muscle strength, flexibility and body awareness. They release blocked life energy (prana), activating inner healing power. Yoga asanas boost the body’s resistance to disease; they support and enhance the effects of other therapies.

Pranayama – breathing exercises
Everybody breathes approximately 25,920 times a day. In addition to oxygen, we also ingest prana, life energy. Because of stress, tension, wrong posture and bad habits most people breath too shallowly. Their systems do not get enough oxygen. Yoga helps. With special breathing exercises the life energy can be rebuilt. When regularly practice breathing exercises fear, depression, anxiety, stress and over-tiredness can be overcome.

Deep relaxation
Most people experience a deep relaxation t the end of every yoga class. Relaxation is especially important to the modern person: stress is reduced, the immune system strengthened, healing processes supported, mental strength and calmness restored. Complete relaxation doesn't come by oneself but may be learned patiently and systematically. 

The best way to learn yoga is at a yoga centre, where the highly-qualified instructors and relaxing atmosphere are most conducive to practice. In Yoga Vidya Centres and Seminar Houses, all aspects of yoga are taught.

For beginners, the ‘Yoga and Meditation Introduction’ seminar is highly recommended. These are offered as weekend, week and weekdays´ programmes in our seminar houses in Bad Meinberg and Oberlahr. During these seminars you will find that you relax, charge youself with new-found energy and learn an integrated approach to yoga.
Or, you may find it more convenient to take part in one of the yoga beginners courses that are given in our seminar and city centres on a regular basis. Classes are usually one evening per week and new beginner courses start at least once a month.
After having completed a beginners course, there are many intermediate and advanced courses from which you may choose. Particularly popular are our “drop-in” classes, which you may attend as often as you like without advance notice. You will also find courses in “Yoga for the Back”, “Ante-natal Yoga”, “Yoga for Children” and a variety of others.
In our retreat centres you will find a vast large variety of programmes on offer – from restorative yoga vacations to energetic kundalini intensive weeks.
Our Yoga Teachers’ Trainings proved the perfect opportunity to get to know the full range of yoga. These are offered as four-week intensive programmes, as well as in two and three year-long courses. The intensive courses take place several times each year at our retreat centres in Bad Meinberg and Oberlahr. It is also possible to split the course into 2x2 weeks.
Two-year start each January in Bad Meinberg and fourteen city centers. Three-year courses start each autumn in Bad Meinberg.

And finally, once again, one of Swami Sivananda's favourite phrases:

"An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory."
Give it a try and learn the effects of yoga first-hand.