
— User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 16:11, 1 May 2005 (UTC) Please stop. What you are doing is considered Wikipedia:Vandalism. — User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 16:13, 1 May 2005 (UTC) — User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 16:16, 1 May 2005 (UTC)
:'' for the location in Tokyo, Japan, see Yoga (place). Yoga is a form of mysticism that developed on the India in the Hinduism cultural context. Its origin is impossible to trace, because it dates back to before recorded history. Yoga comes in many forms specifically designed to suit different types of people. As a result, some forms of yoga have gained significant popularity outside India, particularly in the West during the past century. ==Introduction== The word Yoga originates from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" ("to yoke") and is generally translated as "union" or "integration". According to Yoga experts, the union referred to by the name is that of the individual soul with the cosmos, or the Supreme. Yoga has both a philosophical and a practical dimension. The philosophy of yoga ("union") deals with the nature of the individual soul and the cosmos, and how the two are related. The practice of yoga, on the other hand, can be any activity that leads or brings the practitioner closer to this mystical union - a state called self-realization. Over thousands of years, special practical yoga techniques have been developed by experts in yoga, who are referred to as Yogis (male) and Yoginis (female). These Yoga techniques cover a broad range, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual activities. Traditionally, they have been classified into four categories or paths: the path of meditation (Raja Yoga), the path of devotion (Bhakti Yoga), the path of selfless service to the Divine (Karma Yoga), and the path of intellectual analysis or the discrimination of truth and reality (Jnana Yoga). The most conspicuous form of yoga in the West, Hatha Yoga - consisting of various physical and breathing exercises and purification techniques - is actually the third and the fourth stages of Ashtanga Yoga of Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. ==History== ==Yoga Terminology== Due to its Indic roots, Yoga philosophy makes heavy use of Sanskrit. Because these Sanskrit terms reflect a specific world-view and historical development of thought, many Sanskrit terms do not have precise equivalents in other languages, and consequently are translated in various ways. As differences in translation can be confusing, it is often more expedient and precise to use the original Sanskrit terms. Most yoga guidebooks include glossaries of these terms with local language explanations. Today, the word yoga is written in different ways: יוגה, योग, Joga, Ioga, Jooga, zh:瑜伽, ja:ヨーガ. Yoga (the most common around the world), Yôga. ==Yoga Philosophy== Yogic philosophy is primarily Upanishad with roots in Samkhya, and some scholars see some influence by Buddhism. It is a universal philosophy that enjoins the practitioner to pursue his or her own path to enlightenment, depending on personality and inclination. It is very much in line with its Vedic roots and the traditional pluralism of Hinduism. For this reason, it is easy for a "Christian", for example, to see Jesus the Christ as his or her own ishta-devata (personal deity). "Christ the Yogi" is not an uncommon concept in the world of Yoga today. Most religions, when viewed through their ethical and spiritual standpoints without the trappings of dogma, are easily reconcilable with Yoga philosophy in general because of its transcendental message. ==Yoga a Religion?== In the context of Hinduism, yoga is one of the six major schools of Hindu philosophy and as such means specifically Raja Yoga. In light of this and yoga's Indic origins, some people consider it to be a part or subset of Hinduism, implying that all yoga practitioners are Hindus. Although opinions on this may vary, most yogis would probably agree that there is nothing inherently religious about most yoga techniques. The sole exception to this is Bhakti yoga, which is a special yoga path designed for practioners who are religiously inclined. Even Bhakti yoga, however, does not prescribe any particular form of worship and specifically allows for and encourages its practice in the context of any religion, including but not limited to Hinduism. Yoga is religion. Contrary to the above, all of Yoga is religion and that religion is Hinduism. Only when the word "religion" is defined as "adoration to God," then Yoga is not about religion. There are Divine Beings (MahaDevas) within Hinduism/Yoga but no "God." Religion, however, is most generally defined as "a system of worship" which defines all the classic forms of Hindu/Yoga; i.e., Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Essentialy, the English word "religion" and the Sanskrit word "yoga" have an almost identical meaning: "to link" ("religio") and "to yoke" ("yuj"), respectively. True to all spiritual/religious traditions all the classic Yogas are taught by qualified Hindus (and related sects). The modern notion of "yoga" meaning simply "Hatha Yoga;" of "yoga" being non-religious; of non-Hindu "yoga teachers;" of "yoga" being simply another form of exercise is all fantasy. ==Seminal Works on Yoga== ===Bhagavad Gita=== The Bhagavad Gita is the archetype of Yoga scripture. Capturing the essence and at the same time going into detail about the various Yogas and their philosophy, it was the groundstone to Yogic thought, and constantly refers to itself as such, the "Scripture of Yoga" (see the final verses of each chapter). It is spoken in the format of Lord Krishna, self-identified as the Supreme Lord, to Arjuna, a warrior and friend who is loathe to go to battle that would involve his killing his own gurus (teachers) and family members. The book is contained within the Mahabharata, and is thought to have been written some time between the 5th century BC and the 2nd century BC. : For more information, see the article Bhagavad Gita. [[Image:Bharata_natyam_dancer_medha_s.jpg|thumb|left| Bharata Natyam dancer. The right hand is in Bhramara (bumblebee) Hasta. The bumblebee is regarded as auspicious. The left hand is in Alapadma Hasta, the rotating lotus of spiritual light. The eyes are directed towards the Supreme Lord. The left leg is lifted, symbolizing the swift ascent of the consciousness in one step from the Earth to the Heaven.]] ===Yoga Sutras of Patanjali=== Yoga is also one of the six ''darshanas'' (schools) of Vedic/Hindu philosophy, and as such specifically refers to ''Raja Yoga'', the royal path of divine meditation on the one Brahman, which was codified by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. : For more information, see the article Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. ===Hatha Yoga Pradipika=== The most famous of the traditional Hindu schools of yoga, and a basis for nearly all modern systems, is Hatha Yoga. It is representative of all non-Bhakti-Karma-Jnana Yoga that has become so popular over the past century. The seminal work on Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written by Swami Svatmarama. : For more information, see the article Hatha Yoga Pradipika. ===Natya Shastra=== The guide to Natya Yoga was written by Bharata Muni. Sage Narada along with Gandharvas were the first to practise Natya Yoga, which compraise all the four main yoga's. Natya Yoga was practised by the medieval devadasis, and is currently taught in a few orthodox schools of Bharatanatyam and Odissi. == Yoga and Tantra == Yoga is often mentioned in company with Tantra, but the two are not the same. The principal difference is that Yoga sees body consciousness as the root cause of bondage and rising above body consciousness as the goal, while Tantra views the body as a means, rather than as an obstruction, to understanding. For more information see the article on Tantra. While the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras and Hatha Yoga Pradipika are clearly founded on Upanishadic and Brahmanical thought, much of Yoga has been influenced by and expanded into Tantra. Tantra is more ritual based, having its roots in the first millennium CE, and incorporates much more of a deist base. Almost entirely founded on Shiva and Shakti worship, Tantra visualizes the ultimate Brahman as Param Shiva, manifested through Shiva (the passive, masculine force of Lord Shiva) and Shakti (the active, creative feminine force of his consort, variously known as Ma Kali, Durga, Shakti, Parvati and others). It focuses on the kundalini, a three and a half-coiled 'snake' of spiritual energy at the base of the spine that rises through the chakras until union between Shiva and Shakti (also known as samadhi) is achieved. It views the body as means, rather than as obstruction, to understanding, and as such incorporates mantra (Sanskrit prayers, often to gods, that are repeated), yantra (complex symbols representing Shakti in her various forms through intricate geometric figures) and rituals that range from simple murti (statue representations of deities) or image worship to meditation on a corpse! While much tantra certainly, through its many texts (see kaularvatantra, mahanirvana tantra) and teachers (e.g. Abhinava Gupta, Ramakrishna, a saint who practiced Kali bhakti, Advaita Vedanta and tantra, etc.) seems odd and highly arcane at times, it is transparent as being completely yogic. Also, injunctions are made that most people are not suitable for Tantra, especially those of pashu-bhava (animal disposition). This implies that anyone who has not observed celibacy, honesty, respect of elders, bodily cleansing, ritual cleansing through prayer, and various other processes for up to twelve years at a time, and still retains base desires, greed, sexual motivations, etc. one is not fit to practice Tantra. For this reason, even more stringently than other Yogas, Tantra, both Hindu and Buddhist, remains a strictly Guru-initiated system that as yet finds few true adepts outside of India. ==Teachers== Traditionally, knowledge of yoga has been passed down through the generations from teacher to student. In Sanskrit, the teacher is called the guru, and a disciple is called shishya. Emphasized to varying degrees by all schools of yoga, in some the Guru takes on quasi-divine proportions. The Guru guides the shisya (student) through yogic discipline from the beginning. When doing yoga, the student is urged to look long and hard for a sadguru (True Teacher) and then devote himself to imbibing that Guru's learning. Beginning with the arrival of Swami Vivekananda in 1893, there has been a steady flow of learned teachers that have brought the transcendental message of Yoga to the West. Although the influence of these Yogins is deeply inscribed into the surface of the modern yogic ethos, both in India and America, a proliferation of 'yoga clinics' and non-spiritual yoga systems has been seen in the West, especially in the United States. While many Americans view it as an exercise system that simply enhances one's health, a much greater number in India (and a minority in America) still see it as it has been for over 5,000 years, whether in the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras, the writings of the Dalai Lama, or the "Yoga Boom" of the twentieth century, a system of spirituality universal in its application. === Great Modern Yogis === ---- First brought into America as early as the 1890s by the great yogi and disciple of Shri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu representative in the Chicago Parliament of World Religions, Yoga has also been transported in the arms of many other great yogis and formed into stratified schools seeking to propagate Yoga in its great spiritual context. But these teachers have made their imprint in both India and America, and continue to serve as modern embodiments of Yoga. Swami Rama Tirtha, who came from a deep yoga tradition in the Himalayas of India, was the founding spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. He was the first yogi to come to America and be subjected to the scrutiny of modern science. Among other things, he stunned doctors by stopping the beat of his heart completely for several minutes. Many modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from the school of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught in Mysore, India from 1924 until 1947, at which time he moved to Madras, where he taught until his death in 1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing Yoga in the West were Sri K. Pattabhi Jois famous for popularizing the vigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa style, B.K.S. Iyengar who emphasizes alignment and the use of props, Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V. Desikachar who developed the Viniyoga style. Desikachar founded the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Madras (now Chennai), with the aim of making available the heritage of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya. Other great yogis are Paramahansa Yogananda, practitioner of Kriya Yoga who arrived in America as a powerful example of the universality of Yoga. Sporting a cross, he came to the U.S. with the Hindu Bhagavad Gita in one hand and the Christian New Testament in the other, speaking to his disciples in pluralist ideology with Yoga as the binding force. Sri Aurobindo, referred to as Aurobindo Ghosh by those who consider him as merely a philosopher rather than an Avatar, was not simply an intellectual genius born in West Bengal and educated in the best university in England. His masterful translations and interpretations of Hindu and Yogic scriptures are mystic and esoteric, and often are the opposite of what you will find in Max Muller's and other purely intellectual translations of the sacred Sanskrit texts, among which his translations/commentaries on the Hindu texts of the Upanishads and Gita are mystic in nature, and his epic Hindu/Yoga poem Savitri is a treasure of Hindu Yogic literature, formally being the longest poem ever written in English. Beyond this, his personal life is a fascinating testimony of the life of a true yogi. After the goddess Sri entered his being, he became Sri Aurobindo. Besides his influence and scholarly writing on Yoga, he also founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, that continues to propagate the practice of Integral Yoga, which is a Tantric synthesis of the four main Yogas (Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Raja). Gopi Krishna was a Kashmiri office worker and spiritual seeker who was born in 1903, and wrote autobiographical accounts of his spiritual experiences with Yoga. His most famous one is "Kundalini": Path to Higher Consciousness." Gopi Krishna's graphic accounts of his experiences stand out as among the clearest journals documenting a spiritual transformation. They are highly recommended as reading for anyone interested in Yogic phenomena. Swami Sivananda (born in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India in 1887), one of the greatest yoga masters of 20th century has authored over 200 highly inspiring books on yoga. Sivananda has also established Sivananda ashram of Rishikesh, India and is the founder of Divine Life Society. His disciple, Swami Satyananda (born in Almorah, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1923), has established International Yoga Fellowship movement, Bihar School of Yoga and Bihar Yoga Bharati, world's first university on yoga. The university is now headed by his disciple, Swami Niranjananda. Another disciple of his, Swami Vishnu-Devananda, has founded the international yoga vedanta centers in the west. Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, Bengal, India, 1921-1990 is a great master of tantric yoga. His teachings incorporated full system of Raja Yoga with advanced meditation techniques from the tantras. Social movement Ananda Marga is based on his teachings called Ananda Sūtram given in traditional form of slokas (aphorisms) in sanskrit language. Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swamiji) comes from Rajasthan, India, and has been living in Vienna, Austria since 1972. Swamiji is the author of the scientific master-system Yoga in Daily Life and founder of the International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship and ''Yoga in Daily Life'' ashrams and centres worldwide. He also inspired the foundations of the ''Yoga in Daily Life Youth Union'' and the ''Ayurveda Academy of Yoga in Daily Life''. : For a list of some modern styles of Yoga popular in America, Australia, Europe and India, see the List of yoga schools page. ==See also== *Chakra *Hinduism *Hindu Philosophy *List of Hatha Yoga Postures *Naked yoga *Prana *Seven stages (Yogi) *Yoga (alternative medicine) *Tsa lung Trul khor ==External links== * [http://www.findyoga.com Find Yoga] Find a yoga class in America * [http://www.atmajyoti.org/med_foundations_of_yoga.asp Foundations of Yoga exposition on prerequisites for Yoga at Atma Jyogi Ashram site] * [http://www.dailyom.com/ DailyOM] Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy & fulfilling day. Includes many articles about yoga. * [http://www.yogadex.org/ Yogadex] Directory of yoga teachers and classes * [http://www.yrec.info/ Traditional Yoga Studies Interactive] * [http://www.orientalia.org/dic1.html International Yoga Dictionary] * [http://www.wasauna.com/bikram-yoga-faq.html Bikram Heat Yoga Information] * [http://www.sanskrit-sanscrito.com.ar Sanskrit, Indian philosophies, Mantra, Hatha Yoga] * [http://www.atmajyoti.org/meditation.asp Aspects of Yoga] Articles on meditation, japa, and other facets of Inner Life * [http://www.cyberastro.com/health/yoga/ More information about yoga and practicing methods] * [http://www.stafforini.com/yoga Pablo Stafforini's Yoga page]. Suggests a daily routine of ''asanas'', with images and detailed description of postures. *[http://www.acalayoga.blogspot.com/ Translations from Sanskrit; quotes from Ramana Maharshi; information on Sabdapurvayoga] *[http://www.glossary.religiousbook.net/terms/yoga.html Yoga] definition by Spiritual Glossary *[http://100megsfree.com/yoga/ Worldwide links to Kundalini Yoga Classes] many articles about yoga, meditation, postures classes and many links to yoga directories *[http://www.yogaesoteric.net/content.aspx?lang=EN&item=0 YogaEsoteric] *[http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm Stress Relief: Yoga, Meditation, and Other Relaxation Techniques] *[http://myprimers.com/my_primers/yoga_at_desk/index.html Free 7 minute video for doing yoga while at your desk] *[http://www.krishna.com Krishna.com] Bhakti-yoga site. Yoga Philosophy Meditation Mind-body interventions hi:योग lv:Joga simple:Yoga vi:Yoga
This seems to me to be all about hatha yoga. What about karma yoga and bakti yoga and the other kinds? User:Slrubenstein :Oh, absolutely right. The page needs lots more info. But many visitors will come here for info on hatha, so it should remain fleshed out and near the top. But we're definitely hurting for material on karma, bakti, raja, kundalini, etc. I've done some bolstering, and will fill in more when I have a chance, but will go lightly, hoping real expert in those branches comes by to really elucidate.User:O. Pen Sauce 07:39, 4 Nov 2003 (UTC) Lately, I was at a class that started off with hip/hop music as part of the intitial stretching. This was rather unsettling, I walked out of the class and left a note for the instructor. I met her later and she agreed that the music was inappropriate, that it was experimental, it was given to her from the club, she had not previewed it and that she would not use it again. However, this deviation is alarming and it should be noted that either no music or calming music should be played during yoga class. :Personally agreed, but to aspire toward the all-essential Wikipedia neutral point of view, we mustn't make such judgements in the entry, IMO. User:O. Pen Sauce 07:39, 4 Nov 2003 (UTC) ==todo== * integrate list of yamas & niyamas from Ashtanga Yoga page. * diferentiate ashtanga yoga as a generic term from the ashtanga yoga of pratabbi jois. * uh, what happened to yoga between 200 ad and 1931? * as mentioned above, other forms of yoga. User:Jfeckstein 03:21, 6 Aug 2003 (UTC) * better definition that summarizes better what yoga is. --User:Arjuna 17:52, 23 Jul 2004 (UTC) * remove discussion of Bhagavad Gita and merge it into existing article on Bhagavad Gita; replace it with a short summary and a link to Bhagavad Gita article. * in the Bhagavad Gita section, there is no citation after the quotes so the reader doesn't know what translation the B.G. quotes are taken from ---- I am not sure about listing qi here. It doesn't seem to belong. Anyone disagree with removing it? :yeah, agreed, I'm removing it. Also, re what happened to yoga between 200 ad and 1931 (above), it followed a pretty traditional course, apparently (there's not a whole lot of history...it's been passed on by verbal tradition). It's only started exploding and fracturing in this century.User:O. Pen Sauce 06:00, 5 Nov 2003 (UTC) RE: (Yoga between 200 ad and 1931) It didn't suddenly start "exploding and fracturing in this century." It's always been a healthy and vigorous part of everyday, practical Hindu and Buddhist cultures in India and beyond. Indeed, Tantra itself is an outgrowth of yogic practices coupled with beliefs in the continuation of the Hindu Vedas into an Agamic line. Some of the greatest texts of yoga and tantra and vajrayana buddhism were all written between 200 and 1931 ad. The only difference in the last century is that Yoga spread to the West, which doesn't suddenly limit its healthy proliferation and life in India. == YREC == Removed plug for YREC as it is not appropriate in Wikipedia. --------- what about shabd yoga? and lets see, whats that uys name. kriya yoga. : Yoga is a teaching of wisdom and knowledge which has been transmitted to mankind from the great Yogis and Rishis of ancient times, though its geographical origin lies in India, it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge. Certainly this can be said in a less glowing fashion. --User:Feitclub 21:16, Sep 17, 2004 (UTC) == "...it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge." == Since this is meant to be an encyclopedia article, perhaps we could cut down on the metaphysical lingo? : I agree. I came to this page to learn something about yoga, but found the entry filled with technical words that presumably only mean something to someone versed with Hindu/Yoga terminology. Remember, this is an encyclopedia article not a religious tract or 'how-to' paper. The tone should be objective and not presume that the reader believes the views described. Please look to articles on other religious practices as style guides. : I hate to be critical, the authors have obviously got good knowledge of the area, but need to present it better. User:Ashmoo 05:59, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC) ===Evil?=== Nothing about how Yoga is seen as evil by many Christian churches? Nothing about how yoga may lead adherents unwittingly, into devil worship (say some Christians)? User:The Number 02:46, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC) :I think your many Christian churches think it is evil as they regard all other religions as evil. I think such a section would be best included in the entry of the church in quesion. User:Ashmoo 05:38, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC) == Why the accent mark? == Is the accent mark over the 'o' in the word Yoga really necessary? I've done a fair amount of reading on yoga and this site was the first place I've seen it. If the consensus is that it is necessary, then shouldn't it be everywhere, including the title (with 'Yoga' being a redirect to 'Yôga')? :::Time to correct longstanding bad habits, say I. Unicode finally provides the facilities, so let's "clean up our acts." That said, note that tranliterating non-roman scripts into English, a language without diacritics of any kind (except possibly dieresis), will require tolerance of a great deal of mixing for the time being. How many of us English speakers are willing to update Hawaii to Hawai&lsquot;i, for example? That's the official orthography in the state, but not outside or with the US government. User:Maynard Hogg 01:14, 2005 Mar 7 (UTC) :::: However much I sympathise with you, Wikipedia isn't an English spelling reform advocacy group. The standard English spelling is yoga without the diacritic, so I think we are obliged to use it, until the spelling changes in the community at large. User:Ashmoo 02:54, 7 Mar 2005 (UTC) === The spelling in other western languages === I removed the following content from Terminology: :ioga (common adulteration in the countries in which Portuguese is the official language) The reasoning: it's an offense to Portuguese speaking people. I included also the name of the article in other languages, that doesn't write yoga. I suppose that, as in Portuguese we have the word ioga in the dictionary, the same happens in other countries. [http://pt.wikipedia.org/Usuário:Ligia Lígia] == Bhagavad Gita == Also, the picture in the Bhagavad-Gita page seems to have nothing to do with the Bhagavad Gita! It is a very nice picture, though. Wouldn't it be better to move it to an article on traditional Indian dance? == Yoga and Hinduism == I think we need to improve the explanation of yoga's relationship with Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma). The current wording of the first paragraph seems to give the impression that yoga is part of Hinduism. This could lead to a false assumption that only Hindus can practice yoga. (There was no response for several days so I commented it out.) A better wording should be found, explaining that, while commonly associated with Hinduism the religion, yoga itself is not a religion nor part of any religion. Rather, it is a "spiritual science" or path of spiritual practice that enables the practitioner to experience the true meaning of spiritual principles common to all religions and realize them within the practitioner's own self. References to Hinduism should be taken out of the introductory paragraph and the explanation of yoga's relation to Hinduism that we agree on could be made a separate paragraph or section. The section could carry a subtitle like "Spiritual Dimension of Yoga" or simply "Yoga and Hinduism". (I did this, except the title is "Yoga and Religion".) I realize this may evoke some discussion, so I wrote it here first so we can discuss it before making the necessary edits in the article. As yoga practitioners, I believe we have a duty to make the article as all-embracing as possible, as yoga is all-embracing. Not just limit it to Hinduism. We could also discuss how the esoteric and monastic traditions in other religions are similar to yoga. (Again, there was no comment for several days so I went ahead and edited the article in this vein. I'm open to any discussion.) User:Smithfarm 15:05, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC) : But historically, Yoga is a part of Hinduism isn't it? See my comment in "...it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge." My objection to the current intro, as written, still stands. I don't really understand your point. What I hear you saying is that the intro should talk more about the historical origins of Yoga. Correct me if I'm wrong. I certainly wouldn't object if the introduction mentioned that, according to historians, yoga probably originated within the wider context of Hindu culture but that there is no way to be sure. For their part, yoga teachers say that yoga was taught long, long before the invention of written language and its origins are too ancient to trace. Also, let us not forget that Wikipedia already has a History of Yoga article. We could link to it in the first paragraph in addition to the current link which is buried at the end of the article. Obviously this article needs a ton of work but arriving at a consensus on the first paragraph would be a good start. I wouldn't agree with language that states or implies that yoga is "a part of" or in any way "limited to" Hinduism. That was my objection to the previous first paragraph that I commented out. Hinduism is a religion, yoga is not. Thanks to Swami Vivekananda and those who followed him, the days when yoga was exclusively a "part of" the Hindu cultural context are long gone. But we could say that, historically, yoga has been and to a certain extent still is seen by many as associated with Hindu culture. I wrote two more paragraphs but decided to move them to my talk page. User:Smithfarm 10:43, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Removed Content Here == In the ongoing process of cleaning up the article, I removed the "Yoga Sutra and its followers" section. Parts were integrated elsewhere in the article and the unused portion of the text follows here. --User:Smithfarm 20:28, 26 Mar 2005 (UTC) : While meditative practices like asanas (postures) and pranayama (breath control) existed long before Patanjali, his brilliant eight-limbed system was what became the standard for almost all yoga schools that followed. Raja Yoga, being difficult to achieve (one must be focused on the Supreme), several Guru (teacher) lines came to make firm methodologies of realizing it. :A side note on the Guru: Acknowledged as a siddha (adept) who has attained the eight siddhis (powers) afforded by yoga (they range from transportation of the mind to anywhere into the universe to the only truly desirable power, samadhi), == Suggestions for new bits == I have a few suggestions for your excellent article. I'm very unfamiliar with yoga, but am thinking of taking it up. I looked at my local gym and discovered a list of various different types of yoga. I thought I would have a look at wikipedia to help decide which one would be the best one for me. However, your article didn't really help me with that. Could I suggest that you include something along those lines? The ones listed at my gym were Hatha, Iyendar, 'dynamic' and Ashtanga. My specific questions are: *What is the difference between those types and how do I decide based on my level of interest in flexibility/cardio/meditation/spiritual aspects versus physical exercise? *Should I even be considering my local gym or would a yoga centre be better? I understand there are some debates about whether it should even be considered 'exercise'. *Does it have any relationship to Pilates? What are the common themes and differences? Thanks.
Yoga is one of the six philosophies/schools of Hinduism. It also refers to many meditative and spiritual practices within the Hindu religion. There are several systems and types of yoga, among them bhakti, jnana, karma and jnana yoga. The most popular in the West is hatha yoga, a physical system of bodily and spiritual control developed by Hindu tantrics. Hinduism Philosophy Meditation Mind-body interventions
#REDIRECT Yoga
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Yoga:
YoGa
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga
Yôga
Yoga,_Tokyo
Yoga-darsana
Yogacara
Yogacara
Yogacarabhumi
Yogacarabhumi-sastra
Yogachara
Yogananda
Yogananda_Image_Gallery
Yogananda_Image_Gallery
YoGas
Yogas
Yogaswami
Yogaville
Yoga_(alternative_medicine)
Yoga_(alternative_medicine)
Yoga_(place)
Yoga_in_Daily_Life
Yoga_in_daily_life
Yoga_Nidra
Yoga_positions
Yoga_Sutra
Yoga_Sutra
Yoga_Sutras
Yoga_Sutras
Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali
Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali
Yoga_tokyo
YoGa
— User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 16:11, 1 May 2005 (UTC) Please stop. What you are doing is considered Wikipedia:Vandalism. — User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 16:13, 1 May 2005 (UTC) — User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 16:16, 1 May 2005 (UTC)
Yoga
:'' for the location in Tokyo, Japan, see Yoga (place). Yoga is a form of mysticism that developed on the India in the Hinduism cultural context. Its origin is impossible to trace, because it dates back to before recorded history. Yoga comes in many forms specifically designed to suit different types of people. As a result, some forms of yoga have gained significant popularity outside India, particularly in the West during the past century. ==Introduction== The word Yoga originates from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" ("to yoke") and is generally translated as "union" or "integration". According to Yoga experts, the union referred to by the name is that of the individual soul with the cosmos, or the Supreme. Yoga has both a philosophical and a practical dimension. The philosophy of yoga ("union") deals with the nature of the individual soul and the cosmos, and how the two are related. The practice of yoga, on the other hand, can be any activity that leads or brings the practitioner closer to this mystical union - a state called self-realization. Over thousands of years, special practical yoga techniques have been developed by experts in yoga, who are referred to as Yogis (male) and Yoginis (female). These Yoga techniques cover a broad range, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual activities. Traditionally, they have been classified into four categories or paths: the path of meditation (Raja Yoga), the path of devotion (Bhakti Yoga), the path of selfless service to the Divine (Karma Yoga), and the path of intellectual analysis or the discrimination of truth and reality (Jnana Yoga). The most conspicuous form of yoga in the West, Hatha Yoga - consisting of various physical and breathing exercises and purification techniques - is actually the third and the fourth stages of Ashtanga Yoga of Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. ==History== ==Yoga Terminology== Due to its Indic roots, Yoga philosophy makes heavy use of Sanskrit. Because these Sanskrit terms reflect a specific world-view and historical development of thought, many Sanskrit terms do not have precise equivalents in other languages, and consequently are translated in various ways. As differences in translation can be confusing, it is often more expedient and precise to use the original Sanskrit terms. Most yoga guidebooks include glossaries of these terms with local language explanations. Today, the word yoga is written in different ways: יוגה, योग, Joga, Ioga, Jooga, zh:瑜伽, ja:ヨーガ. Yoga (the most common around the world), Yôga. ==Yoga Philosophy== Yogic philosophy is primarily Upanishad with roots in Samkhya, and some scholars see some influence by Buddhism. It is a universal philosophy that enjoins the practitioner to pursue his or her own path to enlightenment, depending on personality and inclination. It is very much in line with its Vedic roots and the traditional pluralism of Hinduism. For this reason, it is easy for a "Christian", for example, to see Jesus the Christ as his or her own ishta-devata (personal deity). "Christ the Yogi" is not an uncommon concept in the world of Yoga today. Most religions, when viewed through their ethical and spiritual standpoints without the trappings of dogma, are easily reconcilable with Yoga philosophy in general because of its transcendental message. ==Yoga a Religion?== In the context of Hinduism, yoga is one of the six major schools of Hindu philosophy and as such means specifically Raja Yoga. In light of this and yoga's Indic origins, some people consider it to be a part or subset of Hinduism, implying that all yoga practitioners are Hindus. Although opinions on this may vary, most yogis would probably agree that there is nothing inherently religious about most yoga techniques. The sole exception to this is Bhakti yoga, which is a special yoga path designed for practioners who are religiously inclined. Even Bhakti yoga, however, does not prescribe any particular form of worship and specifically allows for and encourages its practice in the context of any religion, including but not limited to Hinduism. Yoga is religion. Contrary to the above, all of Yoga is religion and that religion is Hinduism. Only when the word "religion" is defined as "adoration to God," then Yoga is not about religion. There are Divine Beings (MahaDevas) within Hinduism/Yoga but no "God." Religion, however, is most generally defined as "a system of worship" which defines all the classic forms of Hindu/Yoga; i.e., Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Essentialy, the English word "religion" and the Sanskrit word "yoga" have an almost identical meaning: "to link" ("religio") and "to yoke" ("yuj"), respectively. True to all spiritual/religious traditions all the classic Yogas are taught by qualified Hindus (and related sects). The modern notion of "yoga" meaning simply "Hatha Yoga;" of "yoga" being non-religious; of non-Hindu "yoga teachers;" of "yoga" being simply another form of exercise is all fantasy. ==Seminal Works on Yoga== ===Bhagavad Gita=== The Bhagavad Gita is the archetype of Yoga scripture. Capturing the essence and at the same time going into detail about the various Yogas and their philosophy, it was the groundstone to Yogic thought, and constantly refers to itself as such, the "Scripture of Yoga" (see the final verses of each chapter). It is spoken in the format of Lord Krishna, self-identified as the Supreme Lord, to Arjuna, a warrior and friend who is loathe to go to battle that would involve his killing his own gurus (teachers) and family members. The book is contained within the Mahabharata, and is thought to have been written some time between the 5th century BC and the 2nd century BC. : For more information, see the article Bhagavad Gita. [[Image:Bharata_natyam_dancer_medha_s.jpg|thumb|left| Bharata Natyam dancer. The right hand is in Bhramara (bumblebee) Hasta. The bumblebee is regarded as auspicious. The left hand is in Alapadma Hasta, the rotating lotus of spiritual light. The eyes are directed towards the Supreme Lord. The left leg is lifted, symbolizing the swift ascent of the consciousness in one step from the Earth to the Heaven.]] ===Yoga Sutras of Patanjali=== Yoga is also one of the six ''darshanas'' (schools) of Vedic/Hindu philosophy, and as such specifically refers to ''Raja Yoga'', the royal path of divine meditation on the one Brahman, which was codified by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. : For more information, see the article Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. ===Hatha Yoga Pradipika=== The most famous of the traditional Hindu schools of yoga, and a basis for nearly all modern systems, is Hatha Yoga. It is representative of all non-Bhakti-Karma-Jnana Yoga that has become so popular over the past century. The seminal work on Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written by Swami Svatmarama. : For more information, see the article Hatha Yoga Pradipika. ===Natya Shastra=== The guide to Natya Yoga was written by Bharata Muni. Sage Narada along with Gandharvas were the first to practise Natya Yoga, which compraise all the four main yoga's. Natya Yoga was practised by the medieval devadasis, and is currently taught in a few orthodox schools of Bharatanatyam and Odissi. == Yoga and Tantra == Yoga is often mentioned in company with Tantra, but the two are not the same. The principal difference is that Yoga sees body consciousness as the root cause of bondage and rising above body consciousness as the goal, while Tantra views the body as a means, rather than as an obstruction, to understanding. For more information see the article on Tantra. While the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras and Hatha Yoga Pradipika are clearly founded on Upanishadic and Brahmanical thought, much of Yoga has been influenced by and expanded into Tantra. Tantra is more ritual based, having its roots in the first millennium CE, and incorporates much more of a deist base. Almost entirely founded on Shiva and Shakti worship, Tantra visualizes the ultimate Brahman as Param Shiva, manifested through Shiva (the passive, masculine force of Lord Shiva) and Shakti (the active, creative feminine force of his consort, variously known as Ma Kali, Durga, Shakti, Parvati and others). It focuses on the kundalini, a three and a half-coiled 'snake' of spiritual energy at the base of the spine that rises through the chakras until union between Shiva and Shakti (also known as samadhi) is achieved. It views the body as means, rather than as obstruction, to understanding, and as such incorporates mantra (Sanskrit prayers, often to gods, that are repeated), yantra (complex symbols representing Shakti in her various forms through intricate geometric figures) and rituals that range from simple murti (statue representations of deities) or image worship to meditation on a corpse! While much tantra certainly, through its many texts (see kaularvatantra, mahanirvana tantra) and teachers (e.g. Abhinava Gupta, Ramakrishna, a saint who practiced Kali bhakti, Advaita Vedanta and tantra, etc.) seems odd and highly arcane at times, it is transparent as being completely yogic. Also, injunctions are made that most people are not suitable for Tantra, especially those of pashu-bhava (animal disposition). This implies that anyone who has not observed celibacy, honesty, respect of elders, bodily cleansing, ritual cleansing through prayer, and various other processes for up to twelve years at a time, and still retains base desires, greed, sexual motivations, etc. one is not fit to practice Tantra. For this reason, even more stringently than other Yogas, Tantra, both Hindu and Buddhist, remains a strictly Guru-initiated system that as yet finds few true adepts outside of India. ==Teachers== Traditionally, knowledge of yoga has been passed down through the generations from teacher to student. In Sanskrit, the teacher is called the guru, and a disciple is called shishya. Emphasized to varying degrees by all schools of yoga, in some the Guru takes on quasi-divine proportions. The Guru guides the shisya (student) through yogic discipline from the beginning. When doing yoga, the student is urged to look long and hard for a sadguru (True Teacher) and then devote himself to imbibing that Guru's learning. Beginning with the arrival of Swami Vivekananda in 1893, there has been a steady flow of learned teachers that have brought the transcendental message of Yoga to the West. Although the influence of these Yogins is deeply inscribed into the surface of the modern yogic ethos, both in India and America, a proliferation of 'yoga clinics' and non-spiritual yoga systems has been seen in the West, especially in the United States. While many Americans view it as an exercise system that simply enhances one's health, a much greater number in India (and a minority in America) still see it as it has been for over 5,000 years, whether in the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras, the writings of the Dalai Lama, or the "Yoga Boom" of the twentieth century, a system of spirituality universal in its application. === Great Modern Yogis === ---- First brought into America as early as the 1890s by the great yogi and disciple of Shri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu representative in the Chicago Parliament of World Religions, Yoga has also been transported in the arms of many other great yogis and formed into stratified schools seeking to propagate Yoga in its great spiritual context. But these teachers have made their imprint in both India and America, and continue to serve as modern embodiments of Yoga. Swami Rama Tirtha, who came from a deep yoga tradition in the Himalayas of India, was the founding spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. He was the first yogi to come to America and be subjected to the scrutiny of modern science. Among other things, he stunned doctors by stopping the beat of his heart completely for several minutes. Many modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from the school of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught in Mysore, India from 1924 until 1947, at which time he moved to Madras, where he taught until his death in 1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing Yoga in the West were Sri K. Pattabhi Jois famous for popularizing the vigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa style, B.K.S. Iyengar who emphasizes alignment and the use of props, Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V. Desikachar who developed the Viniyoga style. Desikachar founded the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Madras (now Chennai), with the aim of making available the heritage of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya. Other great yogis are Paramahansa Yogananda, practitioner of Kriya Yoga who arrived in America as a powerful example of the universality of Yoga. Sporting a cross, he came to the U.S. with the Hindu Bhagavad Gita in one hand and the Christian New Testament in the other, speaking to his disciples in pluralist ideology with Yoga as the binding force. Sri Aurobindo, referred to as Aurobindo Ghosh by those who consider him as merely a philosopher rather than an Avatar, was not simply an intellectual genius born in West Bengal and educated in the best university in England. His masterful translations and interpretations of Hindu and Yogic scriptures are mystic and esoteric, and often are the opposite of what you will find in Max Muller's and other purely intellectual translations of the sacred Sanskrit texts, among which his translations/commentaries on the Hindu texts of the Upanishads and Gita are mystic in nature, and his epic Hindu/Yoga poem Savitri is a treasure of Hindu Yogic literature, formally being the longest poem ever written in English. Beyond this, his personal life is a fascinating testimony of the life of a true yogi. After the goddess Sri entered his being, he became Sri Aurobindo. Besides his influence and scholarly writing on Yoga, he also founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, that continues to propagate the practice of Integral Yoga, which is a Tantric synthesis of the four main Yogas (Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Raja). Gopi Krishna was a Kashmiri office worker and spiritual seeker who was born in 1903, and wrote autobiographical accounts of his spiritual experiences with Yoga. His most famous one is "Kundalini": Path to Higher Consciousness." Gopi Krishna's graphic accounts of his experiences stand out as among the clearest journals documenting a spiritual transformation. They are highly recommended as reading for anyone interested in Yogic phenomena. Swami Sivananda (born in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India in 1887), one of the greatest yoga masters of 20th century has authored over 200 highly inspiring books on yoga. Sivananda has also established Sivananda ashram of Rishikesh, India and is the founder of Divine Life Society. His disciple, Swami Satyananda (born in Almorah, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1923), has established International Yoga Fellowship movement, Bihar School of Yoga and Bihar Yoga Bharati, world's first university on yoga. The university is now headed by his disciple, Swami Niranjananda. Another disciple of his, Swami Vishnu-Devananda, has founded the international yoga vedanta centers in the west. Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, Bengal, India, 1921-1990 is a great master of tantric yoga. His teachings incorporated full system of Raja Yoga with advanced meditation techniques from the tantras. Social movement Ananda Marga is based on his teachings called Ananda Sūtram given in traditional form of slokas (aphorisms) in sanskrit language. Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swamiji) comes from Rajasthan, India, and has been living in Vienna, Austria since 1972. Swamiji is the author of the scientific master-system Yoga in Daily Life and founder of the International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship and ''Yoga in Daily Life'' ashrams and centres worldwide. He also inspired the foundations of the ''Yoga in Daily Life Youth Union'' and the ''Ayurveda Academy of Yoga in Daily Life''. : For a list of some modern styles of Yoga popular in America, Australia, Europe and India, see the List of yoga schools page. ==See also== *Chakra *Hinduism *Hindu Philosophy *List of Hatha Yoga Postures *Naked yoga *Prana *Seven stages (Yogi) *Yoga (alternative medicine) *Tsa lung Trul khor ==External links== * [http://www.findyoga.com Find Yoga] Find a yoga class in America * [http://www.atmajyoti.org/med_foundations_of_yoga.asp Foundations of Yoga exposition on prerequisites for Yoga at Atma Jyogi Ashram site] * [http://www.dailyom.com/ DailyOM] Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy & fulfilling day. Includes many articles about yoga. * [http://www.yogadex.org/ Yogadex] Directory of yoga teachers and classes * [http://www.yrec.info/ Traditional Yoga Studies Interactive] * [http://www.orientalia.org/dic1.html International Yoga Dictionary] * [http://www.wasauna.com/bikram-yoga-faq.html Bikram Heat Yoga Information] * [http://www.sanskrit-sanscrito.com.ar Sanskrit, Indian philosophies, Mantra, Hatha Yoga] * [http://www.atmajyoti.org/meditation.asp Aspects of Yoga] Articles on meditation, japa, and other facets of Inner Life * [http://www.cyberastro.com/health/yoga/ More information about yoga and practicing methods] * [http://www.stafforini.com/yoga Pablo Stafforini's Yoga page]. Suggests a daily routine of ''asanas'', with images and detailed description of postures. *[http://www.acalayoga.blogspot.com/ Translations from Sanskrit; quotes from Ramana Maharshi; information on Sabdapurvayoga] *[http://www.glossary.religiousbook.net/terms/yoga.html Yoga] definition by Spiritual Glossary *[http://100megsfree.com/yoga/ Worldwide links to Kundalini Yoga Classes] many articles about yoga, meditation, postures classes and many links to yoga directories *[http://www.yogaesoteric.net/content.aspx?lang=EN&item=0 YogaEsoteric] *[http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm Stress Relief: Yoga, Meditation, and Other Relaxation Techniques] *[http://myprimers.com/my_primers/yoga_at_desk/index.html Free 7 minute video for doing yoga while at your desk] *[http://www.krishna.com Krishna.com] Bhakti-yoga site. Yoga Philosophy Meditation Mind-body interventions hi:योग lv:Joga simple:Yoga vi:Yoga
Yoga
This seems to me to be all about hatha yoga. What about karma yoga and bakti yoga and the other kinds? User:Slrubenstein :Oh, absolutely right. The page needs lots more info. But many visitors will come here for info on hatha, so it should remain fleshed out and near the top. But we're definitely hurting for material on karma, bakti, raja, kundalini, etc. I've done some bolstering, and will fill in more when I have a chance, but will go lightly, hoping real expert in those branches comes by to really elucidate.User:O. Pen Sauce 07:39, 4 Nov 2003 (UTC) Lately, I was at a class that started off with hip/hop music as part of the intitial stretching. This was rather unsettling, I walked out of the class and left a note for the instructor. I met her later and she agreed that the music was inappropriate, that it was experimental, it was given to her from the club, she had not previewed it and that she would not use it again. However, this deviation is alarming and it should be noted that either no music or calming music should be played during yoga class. :Personally agreed, but to aspire toward the all-essential Wikipedia neutral point of view, we mustn't make such judgements in the entry, IMO. User:O. Pen Sauce 07:39, 4 Nov 2003 (UTC) ==todo== * integrate list of yamas & niyamas from Ashtanga Yoga page. * diferentiate ashtanga yoga as a generic term from the ashtanga yoga of pratabbi jois. * uh, what happened to yoga between 200 ad and 1931? * as mentioned above, other forms of yoga. User:Jfeckstein 03:21, 6 Aug 2003 (UTC) * better definition that summarizes better what yoga is. --User:Arjuna 17:52, 23 Jul 2004 (UTC) * remove discussion of Bhagavad Gita and merge it into existing article on Bhagavad Gita; replace it with a short summary and a link to Bhagavad Gita article. * in the Bhagavad Gita section, there is no citation after the quotes so the reader doesn't know what translation the B.G. quotes are taken from ---- I am not sure about listing qi here. It doesn't seem to belong. Anyone disagree with removing it? :yeah, agreed, I'm removing it. Also, re what happened to yoga between 200 ad and 1931 (above), it followed a pretty traditional course, apparently (there's not a whole lot of history...it's been passed on by verbal tradition). It's only started exploding and fracturing in this century.User:O. Pen Sauce 06:00, 5 Nov 2003 (UTC) RE: (Yoga between 200 ad and 1931) It didn't suddenly start "exploding and fracturing in this century." It's always been a healthy and vigorous part of everyday, practical Hindu and Buddhist cultures in India and beyond. Indeed, Tantra itself is an outgrowth of yogic practices coupled with beliefs in the continuation of the Hindu Vedas into an Agamic line. Some of the greatest texts of yoga and tantra and vajrayana buddhism were all written between 200 and 1931 ad. The only difference in the last century is that Yoga spread to the West, which doesn't suddenly limit its healthy proliferation and life in India. == YREC == Removed plug for YREC as it is not appropriate in Wikipedia. --------- what about shabd yoga? and lets see, whats that uys name. kriya yoga. : Yoga is a teaching of wisdom and knowledge which has been transmitted to mankind from the great Yogis and Rishis of ancient times, though its geographical origin lies in India, it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge. Certainly this can be said in a less glowing fashion. --User:Feitclub 21:16, Sep 17, 2004 (UTC) == "...it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge." == Since this is meant to be an encyclopedia article, perhaps we could cut down on the metaphysical lingo? : I agree. I came to this page to learn something about yoga, but found the entry filled with technical words that presumably only mean something to someone versed with Hindu/Yoga terminology. Remember, this is an encyclopedia article not a religious tract or 'how-to' paper. The tone should be objective and not presume that the reader believes the views described. Please look to articles on other religious practices as style guides. : I hate to be critical, the authors have obviously got good knowledge of the area, but need to present it better. User:Ashmoo 05:59, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC) ===Evil?=== Nothing about how Yoga is seen as evil by many Christian churches? Nothing about how yoga may lead adherents unwittingly, into devil worship (say some Christians)? User:The Number 02:46, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC) :I think your many Christian churches think it is evil as they regard all other religions as evil. I think such a section would be best included in the entry of the church in quesion. User:Ashmoo 05:38, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC) == Why the accent mark? == Is the accent mark over the 'o' in the word Yoga really necessary? I've done a fair amount of reading on yoga and this site was the first place I've seen it. If the consensus is that it is necessary, then shouldn't it be everywhere, including the title (with 'Yoga' being a redirect to 'Yôga')? :::Time to correct longstanding bad habits, say I. Unicode finally provides the facilities, so let's "clean up our acts." That said, note that tranliterating non-roman scripts into English, a language without diacritics of any kind (except possibly dieresis), will require tolerance of a great deal of mixing for the time being. How many of us English speakers are willing to update Hawaii to Hawai&lsquot;i, for example? That's the official orthography in the state, but not outside or with the US government. User:Maynard Hogg 01:14, 2005 Mar 7 (UTC) :::: However much I sympathise with you, Wikipedia isn't an English spelling reform advocacy group. The standard English spelling is yoga without the diacritic, so I think we are obliged to use it, until the spelling changes in the community at large. User:Ashmoo 02:54, 7 Mar 2005 (UTC) === The spelling in other western languages === I removed the following content from Terminology: :ioga (common adulteration in the countries in which Portuguese is the official language) The reasoning: it's an offense to Portuguese speaking people. I included also the name of the article in other languages, that doesn't write yoga. I suppose that, as in Portuguese we have the word ioga in the dictionary, the same happens in other countries. [http://pt.wikipedia.org/Usuário:Ligia Lígia] == Bhagavad Gita == Also, the picture in the Bhagavad-Gita page seems to have nothing to do with the Bhagavad Gita! It is a very nice picture, though. Wouldn't it be better to move it to an article on traditional Indian dance? == Yoga and Hinduism == I think we need to improve the explanation of yoga's relationship with Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma). The current wording of the first paragraph seems to give the impression that yoga is part of Hinduism. This could lead to a false assumption that only Hindus can practice yoga. (There was no response for several days so I commented it out.) A better wording should be found, explaining that, while commonly associated with Hinduism the religion, yoga itself is not a religion nor part of any religion. Rather, it is a "spiritual science" or path of spiritual practice that enables the practitioner to experience the true meaning of spiritual principles common to all religions and realize them within the practitioner's own self. References to Hinduism should be taken out of the introductory paragraph and the explanation of yoga's relation to Hinduism that we agree on could be made a separate paragraph or section. The section could carry a subtitle like "Spiritual Dimension of Yoga" or simply "Yoga and Hinduism". (I did this, except the title is "Yoga and Religion".) I realize this may evoke some discussion, so I wrote it here first so we can discuss it before making the necessary edits in the article. As yoga practitioners, I believe we have a duty to make the article as all-embracing as possible, as yoga is all-embracing. Not just limit it to Hinduism. We could also discuss how the esoteric and monastic traditions in other religions are similar to yoga. (Again, there was no comment for several days so I went ahead and edited the article in this vein. I'm open to any discussion.) User:Smithfarm 15:05, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC) : But historically, Yoga is a part of Hinduism isn't it? See my comment in "...it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge." My objection to the current intro, as written, still stands. I don't really understand your point. What I hear you saying is that the intro should talk more about the historical origins of Yoga. Correct me if I'm wrong. I certainly wouldn't object if the introduction mentioned that, according to historians, yoga probably originated within the wider context of Hindu culture but that there is no way to be sure. For their part, yoga teachers say that yoga was taught long, long before the invention of written language and its origins are too ancient to trace. Also, let us not forget that Wikipedia already has a History of Yoga article. We could link to it in the first paragraph in addition to the current link which is buried at the end of the article. Obviously this article needs a ton of work but arriving at a consensus on the first paragraph would be a good start. I wouldn't agree with language that states or implies that yoga is "a part of" or in any way "limited to" Hinduism. That was my objection to the previous first paragraph that I commented out. Hinduism is a religion, yoga is not. Thanks to Swami Vivekananda and those who followed him, the days when yoga was exclusively a "part of" the Hindu cultural context are long gone. But we could say that, historically, yoga has been and to a certain extent still is seen by many as associated with Hindu culture. I wrote two more paragraphs but decided to move them to my talk page. User:Smithfarm 10:43, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Removed Content Here == In the ongoing process of cleaning up the article, I removed the "Yoga Sutra and its followers" section. Parts were integrated elsewhere in the article and the unused portion of the text follows here. --User:Smithfarm 20:28, 26 Mar 2005 (UTC) : While meditative practices like asanas (postures) and pranayama (breath control) existed long before Patanjali, his brilliant eight-limbed system was what became the standard for almost all yoga schools that followed. Raja Yoga, being difficult to achieve (one must be focused on the Supreme), several Guru (teacher) lines came to make firm methodologies of realizing it. :A side note on the Guru: Acknowledged as a siddha (adept) who has attained the eight siddhis (powers) afforded by yoga (they range from transportation of the mind to anywhere into the universe to the only truly desirable power, samadhi), == Suggestions for new bits == I have a few suggestions for your excellent article. I'm very unfamiliar with yoga, but am thinking of taking it up. I looked at my local gym and discovered a list of various different types of yoga. I thought I would have a look at wikipedia to help decide which one would be the best one for me. However, your article didn't really help me with that. Could I suggest that you include something along those lines? The ones listed at my gym were Hatha, Iyendar, 'dynamic' and Ashtanga. My specific questions are: *What is the difference between those types and how do I decide based on my level of interest in flexibility/cardio/meditation/spiritual aspects versus physical exercise? *Should I even be considering my local gym or would a yoga centre be better? I understand there are some debates about whether it should even be considered 'exercise'. *Does it have any relationship to Pilates? What are the common themes and differences? Thanks.
Yoga
Yoga is one of the six philosophies/schools of Hinduism. It also refers to many meditative and spiritual practices within the Hindu religion. There are several systems and types of yoga, among them bhakti, jnana, karma and jnana yoga. The most popular in the West is hatha yoga, a physical system of bodily and spiritual control developed by Hindu tantrics. Hinduism Philosophy Meditation Mind-body interventions
Yôga
#REDIRECT Yoga
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Y
Words begining with Yoga:
YoGa
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga
Yôga
Yoga,_Tokyo
Yoga-darsana
Yogacara
Yogacara
Yogacarabhumi
Yogacarabhumi-sastra
Yogachara
Yogananda
Yogananda_Image_Gallery
Yogananda_Image_Gallery
YoGas
Yogas
Yogaswami
Yogaville
Yoga_(alternative_medicine)
Yoga_(alternative_medicine)
Yoga_(place)
Yoga_in_Daily_Life
Yoga_in_daily_life
Yoga_Nidra
Yoga_positions
Yoga_Sutra
Yoga_Sutra
Yoga_Sutras
Yoga_Sutras
Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali
Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali
Yoga_tokyo
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