There are lots of references to Yoga in Hindu scriptures, especially in the Gita, the Upanishads and other Puranas. Here's a selection of quotations from Sanskrit literature, which try to define or qualify Yoga:-
The Bhagavad Gita :-
Yoga is skill in actions.
Yoga is balance (samatva)
Yoga is known as the disconnection (viyoga) of the connection (samyoga) with suffering. Yoga-Stra.
Yoga is the control of the whirls of the mind. Yoga-Bhshya.
Yoga is ecstasy (samdhi) Maitr-Upanishad.
Yoga is said to be the oneness of breath, mind, and senses, and the abandonment of all states of existence. Yoga-Yjnavalkya.
Yoga is the union of the individual psyche (jva-tman) with the transcendental Self (parama-tman). Yoga-Bja.
Yoga is the unification of the web of dualities (dvandva-jla). Brahmnda-Purna
Yoga is said to be control. Rja-Mrtanda.
Yoga is the separation (viyoga) of the Self from the earthly (prakriti). Yoga-Shikh-Upanishad.
Yoga is said to be the unity of exhalation and inhalation and of blood and semen, as well as the union of sun and moon and of the individual psyche with the transcendental Self. Katha-Upanishad.
This they consider Yoga: the steady holding of the senses
Shlokas and Mantras
All the courses listed sbove include chanting of Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Mantras (Sanskrit)
Meaning (English)
DHYANA MANTRA
Om omkara bindu samyuktam
Nityam dyayanti yoginaha
Kaamadam mokshadam chaiva
Onkaraya namo namaha
Om shantih shantih shantihi
DHYANA MANTRA
Omkara is comprised of three letters
Aaa -Uoo - Mmm
Yogis meditate upon it daily
By meditating on it they fulfill their desires
To that very OM we salute
Om peace peace peace
YOGAABHYASA MANTRA
Om yogena chittasya padena vaachaam
Malam shareerasya cha vydeyakena
Yopaakarotam pravaram muneenaam
Patanljalim Pranjaliraanatosmi
Om shantih shantih shantihi
YOGAABHYASA MANTRA
Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind, grammar for clarity and purity of speech and medicine for perfection of health.
Om peace peace peace
PRANAYAMA MANTRA
Om pranasyedam vashe sarvam
Tridive yath pratiptitam
Matheva putran rakshasva
Shreescha pranjnaascha videhi na ithi Om shantih shantih shantihi
PRANAYAMA MANTRA
Prana the vital force pervades all the three worlds (below the earth, the earth and above the earth)
All the activities are directed by prana. To that very prana we request to protect us as a mother protects her children. We also request the prana to simulate our intellect.
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om astoma sadgamaya
tamasoma jyotirgamaya
mrutyorma amrutamgamaya
Om shantih shantih shantihi
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om, Lead me from the unreal to the real
From darkness to light
From mortality to immortality
Om Peace Peace Peace.
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om poornamadha poornamidam
Poornaatpoornamudachyate
Poornasya poornamaadaaya
Poornamevaavashishyate
Om shantih shantih shantihi
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om That is whole. This is whole
From the whole the whole becomes manifest
From the whole when the whole is negated
What remains is again the whole
Om Peace Peace Peace.
GURU MANTRA
Om Guruh Brahma Gururvishnuhu Gururdevo Maheshwarah
Guruh saakshat parabrahma
Tasmai shree Guravennamah
Om shantih shantih shantihi
GURU MANTRA
The teacher is the creator, the sustainer, and the destroyer.
To that very teacher we salute.
Om Peace Peace Peace.
SAVITRU MANTRA (GAYATRI MANTRA)
Om Bhurbhuvassuvaha
Tatsavitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dheemahi
Dheeyo yo nah prachodayath
Om shantih shantih shantihi
SAVITRU MANTRA (GAYATRI MANTRA)
We meditate upon the bright lustre of God Savitru (represented by the sun) who shall enlighten our understanding
He is the essence of earth and light. He is the complete understanding. e is the Brahman in the sphere of bhu bhuva and swah
The sun himself is the Brahman
Bhuh- the level of perception
Bhuvah- the level of conception
Suvah- the level beyond all these
AAVARTA DHYANA MANTRA
Om laye sombhodayeth chittam
vikshiptham shamayeth punaha
sakaashaayam vijaneeyat
samapraptam na chalayet
Om shantih shantih shantihi
AAVARTA DHYANA MANTRA
Stimulate the dull mind
Calm down the excited mind
Keep repeating the process of stimulation and relaxation till you experience the Bliss
After experiencing the Bliss don't disturb the mind, keep enjoying the Bliss.
Om Peace Peace Peace.
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om sahana vavatu
Sahanou bhunaktu
sahaviryam karavaahi
tejaswinaavadheetamastu
maavidvishaavahai
Om shantih shantih shantihi
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om, May that protect us both, teacher and pupil. May that cause both to enjoy the Bliss of Liberation
May we both exert to find out the true meaning of the scriptures
May our learning be brilliant
May we never quarrel with each other.
Om Peace Peace Peace.
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om sarve bhavantu sukinaha
sarve santu niraamayaha
sarve bhadrani pashyantu
maa kaschid dhukha bhaagavet
Om shantih shantih shantihi
SHANTHI MANTRA
Om may all be happy
May all be free from disabilities
May all look to the good of others
May none suffer from sorrow
Om Peace Peace Peace.
SURYA NAMASKARA MANTRA
(these chants are used along with a series of suryanamaskaras)
Om Mitraya Namaha, Om Ravaye Namaha, Om Suryaya Namaha, Om Bhanave Namaha, Om Khagaaya Namaha, Om Pooshne Namaha, Om Hiranya Garbhaya namaha, Om marichaye nama, Om Adityaaya Namaha, Om Savitre Namaha, Om Arkaaya Namaha, Om Bhaskaraya Namaha, Om Shri Savita, Sooryanaaraayanaaya Namaha.
Ailments treated through Yoga therapy
An integrated and systematic approach to yoga, which we teach has a positive effect on health. This includes both physiological health and psychological well being. Yoga is most effective in dealing with psychosomatic problems. If practiced diligently on a long term basis it can have a significant effect on a persons health both on a preventive basis and to control and cure existing problems.
High and Low Blood Pressure and Ischaemic Heart diseases(HID).
Breathing movements for heart patients & elderly people.
Migraine, Tension headache.
Anxiety neurosis, Depressive Neurosis.
Rheumatism, back pain, Arthritis.
Gastritis and peptic ulcer, Chronic Diarrhea and dysentery, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Ophthalmic disorders: short sight, long site, astigmatism, squint, initial stages of cataract and glaucoma.
Mental retardation.
Yoga-aerobics for obesity.
Meditation Pranayama and Kriyas
Pranayama Relaxing the breath consciously or slowing down the breathing consciously. Various advanced techniques are used which have a great effect on the body and mind
Procedure- All the classical pranayamas
Meditation Various kinds of meditation techniques are introduced, the individual is encouraged to progress to one kind of meditation which is most suitable to him or her.
The kinds of meditation are:
'OM' meditation with breathing
'OM' meditation with heart beats
SO - HUM meditation with breathing
Ishta Daiva meditation (meditation on personal deity)
Vipassana meditation and
Kundilini meditation
Sudarshana Kriya - a powerful breathing technique
A combination of Kapalbhati and Bhastrika with 'So-hun'. It prepares us for Meditation (so-hum) with its soothing effects.
Eye Exercises, Trataka and other Yogic Shatkarmas
These exercises relax the eyes, improve concentration and will power, and in some cases can reverse or control eyesight defeciencies.
Procedure- Eye movements, Dristhis and Tratakas( flame gazing)
Special and Advanced Yogic Techniques
Yoga Nidra- for total relaxation
Yoga Nidra is a unique Psychic development technique. Yoganidra is at the root of a great number of relaxation techniques. Yoganidra is a sleep without sleep.
It is also a powerful tool of personal transformation allowing us to free ourselves from the grip of negative thinking to make up for the lack of sleep, to boost our energies in case of nervous fatigue and to release our capacities for concentration and memorization. Doctors, Psychologists and educators will derive numerous benefits from the fantastic resources of yoganidra.
Procedure- Shavasana Position, Relaxation of the muscles by rotation of consciousness, Breath awareness and resolution, opposite feelings Image visualization, Returning to Shavasana
Vipassadhana - for perfect equilibrium
Vipassadhana is based on Vipassana Meditation, where one moves his awareness from top to bottom and from bottom to top witnessing all the sensations but without reacting to any kind of sensation. Sensation may be painful or pleasurable one should be indifferent as nothing is permanent in nature.
Procedure- Shavasana / Meditative posture, Breath awareness, Resolution, Rotation of consciousness being indifferent to the sensation, Breath awareness, Returning to normalcy.
Cyclic Meditation - to experience bliss
Based on the principle of stimulation - relaxation combined, enunciated in Mandukyopanished. The cyclic meditation brings very deep relaxation and a feeling of well being to one and all.
Much easier to perform, combine the asanas, breathing rhythms with expanding awareness, sensitization, deep relaxation and body apartness(witness)
Procedure- Shavasana-Prayer, Getting up from left, centering, Parshva chakrasana, Pada Hasthasana- 'Mmm' chanting, Ardhachakrasana- 'Aaa" chanting, sitting & lying on back without hand support, Deep relaxation- body apartness.
Pranic Energization Technique - to strengthen the immune system
Prana (vital force) is the bridge between our body and mind. In this technique using our will power to channelize our Prana in a particular direction & to particular parts within the body for stimulation and energization there by to strengthen the immune system with positive attitude.
Procedure- Meditative posture/ Shavasana, Relaxation, Breath awareness, witnessing the imbalanced flow of Prana(breath), Correctional breathing, Positive resolution, Channelization of Prana, Returning to breath awareness.
Naada Anusandhaana (exploring the internal sound) -Chanting the Sanskrit letters A - U - M and Om feeling the internal vibrations in the corresponding parts of the body and ultimately throughout the body, taking us to a state of blissful awareness.
Procedure- Meditative posture/ Shavasana
Chanting 'Aaa' three times with normal low and high pitch and experiencing the vibrations in the lower parts of the body.
Chanting 'U' three times with normal low and high pitch and experiencing the vibrations in the middle parts of the body.
Chanting 'Mmm' three times with normal low and high pitch and experiencing the vibrations in the head region.
Chanting A-U-M with 1:1:1 proportion three times and experiencing the vibrations in the respective areas.
Chanting OM with 1:2 proportion three into three times and experiencing the vibrations of OM throughout the body
RSS