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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

Autobiography of a Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda's somewhat fanstical tale Hatha Yoga Pradipka Seminal work on what yoga is, this unlike many translations lacks significant hindu baggage Holy Madness Of the crazy wisdom of godmen, gurus, cultleaders etc. A classic by Georg Feuerstein - essential reading for anyone with or intending to be with a guru or spiritual teacher Hindu Myths A tour of symbolic hindu cosmology 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 The Complete Yoga Book A background to yoga
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