padmasana

What is yoga

Yoga is the control of the fluctuations of the mind stuff it is both a process and a state. How can this be so ? Yoga is a compendium of techniques designed to assist an aspirant in the arts of living in the moment whether through the peace of mind derived from the observation of the yama and niyama, physical wellbeing through the practice of asana and pranayama or through the mental strength and clarity associated by the higher more meditative limbs pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadi.

There is a zen koan which goes something like Working on the mind with the mind causes only confusion, the yoga practices of asana and pranayama address this by working on the body to heal the diseases of the body and and through the body to heal diseases of the mind.

Yoga is not a religion it is however an ancient esoteric science where one experiments with practical techniques leading towards transendence under the guidance of an experienced teacher of trusted lineage.

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Further Reading

The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice A very usefull book covering yoga from a humanistic perspective, with practical info far beyond asana The Tree of Yoga One of the few books worth reading by BKS Iyengar The Bhagvad Gita Classical hindu work on transendence, where Krishna and Arjuna expound the principals of yoga The Complete Yoga Book A background to yoga The Serpent Power A guide to laya yoga kundalini techniques through translations of ancient texts and notes by Sir John Woodroffe (aka Arthur Avalon ) an early 20th centuary theosophical classic. Light on Yoga 1960's classic by BKS Iyengar with photographs and instructions on tons of postures, only bettered by the Bihar School of Yoga's "Asana Pranayama Mudra & Bhanda" however that has no ISBN
bharadvajasana laghuvajrasana janusirshasana