Swami Satchidanand giving the First of Two Energy Enhancement Talk about Hatha Yoga and Meditation and explaining that every Yoga posture or Asana is a path to Enlightenment.
Originally the word Yoga meant Union with the Absolute or Enlightenment. He then talks about the Eight Limbs of Yoga by Patanjali - Raja Yoga - Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
What is Yoga ? The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning 'To merge, join or unite'. This implies joining or integrating all aspects of the individual - body with mind and mind with soul - to achieve a happy, balanced and useful life, and spiritually, uniting the individual with the supreme. According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ultimate aim of Yoga is to reach the state of ultimate freedom. Bhagawad Gita extols yoga's virtues, by referring to it as 'Supreme success of life' 'Efficiency in action' 'Untold happiness' 'Destroyer of pain' The whole system of Yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to gently massage the glandular systems of the body, thereby increasing their efficiency and ensuring total health. The body is looked upon as the primary instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world, and so a Yoga student treats it with great care and respect. Regular daily practice of all three parts of Yoga can help achieve a clear, bright mind and a strong, capable body. Yoga is a system for total development, across physical, mental, moral and spiritual realms. It is a way of life. It can be practiced by all, irrespective of caste, creed, sex and age.
Watch a complete demonstration of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation). It is one of the most popular and useful yoga practices. It's a combination of twelve asanas, which exercises the whole body in single stretch one by one. Benefits Of Surya Namaskar :- [1] Surya Namaskar is a complete body exercise. It keeps all internal organs, stomach, intestines, pancreas, spleen, heart and lungs, healthy and strong. Also muscles of external body parts, chest, shoulders, hands, thighs, legs becomes healthy and strong. [2] It makes spine and waist flexible by removing disorders. It improves blood circulation in the body which removes skin diseases. [3] Sun Salutation keeps the digestive system perfect. Mental and physical energy levels are balanced. It provides power to our soul and body, maintains mental peace, memory, power, strength. Reduces ageing of the body, hair fall and graying, keeps diseases away. [4] It's also very useful for women to maintain beauty, keeping the body in shape by reducing extra fat and flat abdomen. Also, helps to cure menstrual irregularity and easy child birth.
