The Yoga Studio

The practice of yoga is one of the world's oldest systems of self healing. It began in India thousands of years ago and is still continuing and flourishing today.

Because yoga strengthens weak and ailing bodies and calms anxious, stressful minds, many people in the west have become interested in this ancient practice.

The practice and goal of yoga is to still the mind so that we can be at peace with life instead of struggling against it. There are many types of yoga practices. They all involve learning skills that allow the experience of being in the present moment, with full body/mind focus. The yogic state of present moment awareness is called Samadhi or our true nature.

Yoga involves gently disciplining body and mind to achieve, through balance, a state of harmony.
Yoga is not just a series of physical or mental exercises, nor is it just a philosophy; it is the theory and the practice of becoming healthy, strong and content; learning how to be at peace, at one with ourselves and our universe.

Over the centuries different pathways or schools of yoga have developed suiting different personalities. In the western world hatha yoga has become one of the most popular forms, although today an integrated system is often taught. There are several million people today who practice some form of yoga.

Most of us know Yoga firstly as a type of physical keep fit system. This type of yoga is known as 'Hatha Yoga'. Indeed many Yoga students do not know that Yoga is fundamentally a philosophy that teaches many ways or practices to ' Self-realisation' of which Hatha Yoga - (which focuses mainly on breathing and posture work) - is only one. Other Yoga practices include sitting meditation (as practiced in Raja Yoga); self understanding (as is practiced in Jnana Yoga); selfless service (as practiced in Karma Yoga)' and celebration of, or devotion to life itself (as practiced in Bhakti Yoga). Hatha Yoga, as a form of physical exercise is of tremendous value to our health on every level and practiced along with other Yogas can become a beautiful journey of Self-discovery.
Yoga offers many benefits.
Hatha Yoga works by releasing tension from the mind and body. Our energy levels increase when we release tension. The yoga poses help stretch away physical tension and tone muscles, joints and the spine, which improves posture in general. Good posture prevents and eases backache, increases energy and boosts self-confidence.
The yoga breathing exercises quieten the mind, calm the emotions, and through increased oxygen intake, nourish all the cells of the body.
The hatha yoga relaxation techniques and meditation practice keep the mind sharp, improves awareness and encourages a happy and peaceful attitude towards life.

Hatha yoga which includes breathing exercises, stretching exercises, and relaxation techniques seems to have developed at least 1000 years ago, although its origins are quite obscure. One of the concepts behind hatha yoga is that in order to experience true well-being we need to understand and care for our bodies.

Medical research on hatha yoga shows that it can restore health to some, alleviate illness for others and to some extent slow the ageing process.

Hatha yoga involves working a series of postures that exercise virtually every part of the body. And yet no one is too old to practice, for there are gentle poses as well as the more difficult. In fact our attitude, rather than the perfection of the pose is the most important factor.

"The posture becomes perfect, when the effort of achieving it vanishes." ----The Yogabhashya

The breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, meditations and lots of the postures are available to all, regardless of age or state of health.

Those who are not so able physically gain greater mobility by practising the postures, and the ability to control pain by practising yoga breathing.
Those who suffer emotional swings find calmness in the breathing and relaxation exercises.
Seekers of self awareness increase their understanding through hatha yoga practice. Anyone regardless of their age, state of health or religious belief can practice and therefore benefit from hatha yoga.

You can expect, from regular Hatha Yoga practice, an improvement of your general well-being, perhaps release from back pain, freedom from insomnia, indigestion or tension headaches, and more willpower and self-esteem. In time with continuous regular practice, you will notice a change from deep within, a growing awareness of a state of inner peace. Yoga works slowly and gently, so you need to be patient. It has been likened to the way water gradually changes the shape of a rock or cliff, yoga over time changes our state from dark or unwell, to light and vibrant.
While the practice of Hatha Yoga improves health and releases tension, you may find to begin with that you feel more under the weather. Please do not be anxious, and do discuss any problems with your teacher. Sometimes new students experience symptoms such as an increase in spots, headaches, and irritability, which is due to the cleansing process of Yoga and will pass, though it could take some weeks or even months. Try not to give up your practice; releasing years of tension can take some time. The cleansing effect does not happen to every student, and is a positive sign that your practice is working. This cleansing process can also occur when advancing your practice.

Hatha yoga is not a religion. It is a journey of self discovery and the development of a joyful attitude to life. It gives us the energy to lead a more fulfilling life.

The self discipline we develop through regular practice builds up a wealth of inner strength. Practice induces a sense of well being, which is so desperately needed by many of us living in a fast, materialistic, competitive and stressful society. Yoga teaches us how to relax, and once achieved relaxation becomes more and more a state of being. Those upsetting complaints that often plague us such as frequently feeling tired, being overwhelmed by stress, finding it difficult to sleep, suffering from periods of depression, or any of the physical problems living often brings us such as headaches, backache, upset stomach can be significantly eased or even eradicated by the practice of yoga.
Although the practice of yoga cannot take away the ups and downs of our lives, it can make us stronger physically, emotionally and mentally, so that we are more able to cope. Best of all, the graceful postures, slow breathing exercises, self awareness meditations, and tranquil relaxations are a pleasure to perform and experience.
Most people say they feel 'wonderful' after a yoga session.

YES. Yoga emphasises the importance of practising non-violence or ahimsa, so remember to treat your body with care and respect. If you are being competitive, you create an inner conflict and tension. Try not to compete with others, or with yourself. The best posture that you can do at any given moment is the perfect posture.

The Yogabhashya states, 'The posture becomes perfect, when the effort of achieving it vanishes'.

When practicing try to stay mindful, and learn to practice without competing. It can take time and patience to learn how to relax while practising, yet once mastered your session will become a joyful experience.

In order to receive the benefits Yoga has to offer, we have to practice. To practice requires a certain amount of discipline. It is difficult to persevere at anything, even if we know our perseverance will bring us a better quality of life. However, if we do not care for the body it will become weak and more vulnerable to disease. If we do not calm the emotions, they will overwhelm us. If we do not still the mind it will have us running round in never ending circles, preventing us from resting at the place, which in Yoga, is called our 'true nature', a contented, alert and relaxed state.

HOW CAN I INTEGRATE AND EMBRACE A YOGIC LIFESTYLE INTO THE EVERYDAY WORLD ON A DAY TO DAY, EVENT BY EVENT, MOMENT BY MOMENT LEVEL?

3.Tuck under your tailbone, lift your spine, drop your shoulders and draw in your chin.

6. Surround yourself with white or golden light. Feel its protection and energy.

7. Notice you do not manage on your own. The earth supports you. The air sustains you. Food and liquids nourish you. Friends and even strangers are often caring. You are not alone or separate.

11. Train your mind to stay focused on this moment. Let go of thoughts of the past or the future.

15 Do nidra/relaxation practice (a bit like a siesta), every day. Give yourself 10 minutes rest.

18. Realise this is your life and you are living it. Make it a life you are happy with.

19. Move your awareness down into your body. Move out of your head, soften down into your body.

20.A yogin or yogini would strive to be upright and capable. Steer your own chariot.

Yoga teaches that our natural state is a relaxed state. When in the relaxed state we are connected to the wisdom of our being. In yoga that is called our 'true self' or 'real self'.
When we get tense, anxious or agitated we lose that connection. The word and the practice of yoga means to have that connection, to be united with our true state.
Our upbringing, our habits and our reaction to the daily world creates tension. Being tense uses up our energy. The asanas/postures and pranayama/breathing exercises release tension and restore energy.
We can be relaxed and energised at the same time. Indeed the yogic state is just that ...calm and alert, relaxed and energised.
Yoga nidra also releases tension and increases energy. Meditation, asanas, pranayamas and nidra ALL release stress and tension and create the calm alert state.
Nidra is practised in savasana at the end of a Hatha session after asanas have stretched bodily tension away and pranayama settled the emotions and focused the mind. A perfect time for body and mind to experience an even deeper rest where connection with and development of wisdom can occur.

Following habitual behaviour learnt from others such as worrying or being angry.

Moving too fast, thinking too fast, reacting emotionally too fast... being compulsive.

Find out what causes your anxiety and stress then from that observation work out how to look after yourself better.

Practice hatha for 10- 20 minutes every day. Be patient it takes time to change habits.

You could receive extra help from a counsellor, or mindfulness practice, or from good quality CBT.

Start by buying a cushion. Vow to sit on your cushion and observe your breathing for one minute a day for 3 days. Then 2 minutes for 3 days, build up to 10-20 minutes a day. Keep a record of your experience. You could join a meditation group.

Ask yourself 'What do you need most?' How much time have you got to practice at home? Look in your Saraswati yoga studio manual (click here for a copy) on the page 'How to create a balanced session'. Plan a session from the manual including your favourite postures, include the 4 spinal movements. Choose your favourite breathing exercise/ meditation/relaxation. Experiment. Give each home plan some time, be a scientist, keep a record of how you feel during a 6 week practice. Review your plan from those results.

The word "philosophy" comes from the Greek (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom".

Yoga is all about the love of wisdom, taking a wise position, living from wisdom, discovering the truth of things. There is a lot of wisdom in yoga philosophy
Of course it depends where you look. There is some not very rational stuff in some of the yogic writings as well.
Yoga philosophy attempts to answer the problems of being human and of how to overcome human suffering.
Buddha lived 2600 years ago. He taught many skills that really do help ease suffering.
Buddha's teaching in The Dhammaphada explains that... "our thoughts create our world."
You might like to read Buddha's little book of wisdom...The heart sutra... The Karaniya metta sutta

Yoga is described in several works including
The Yoga sutra of Patanjali (Raja Yoga) from approx 2200 years ago ... The yoga sutra teaches 8 limbs of meditation and how to understand the mind and how to still it and how to behave, suggesting a yogin create a state of contentment. The Sutra teaches how to overcome negative emotions and states by nurturing the opposite.

The Upanishads were written by priests who practiced meditation and taught about the unity of life.
The Katha Upanishad teaches how to practice self control with a lovely description of a Chariot. It also teaches the concept of discriminating what is healthy from what is harmful in the description of Preya & Shyreya
The Isha Upanishad teaches that 'All is one' in a beautiful poem.
Both written 2200 years ago

The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the story The Mahabharata. It's date unsure, possibly 2200 or 1800 years ago. The Gita debates which yoga is best Karma or Jnana.

There are many wise words written in the mentioned yoga texts above that are still relevant to us today and can be very helpful.

For more information about our yoga classes
please email: saraswati@blueyonder.co.uk