Written By Iderah S. Roeck

Yoga’s birth came 5,000 years ago, in India. Originally yoga was designed to strengthen and align the body and focus the mind for meditation. Today it is also designed for this and for exercise. The word yoga literally translated means “to yoke” or “to join.”  In practicing of yoga we are combining the mind, body and soul into one, joining or yoking into a cohesive package. Yoga being one of the oldest holistic health care systems, connecting the mind with the body – teaching that emotional, and spiritual, aspects are indeed connected to the physical body – Can help heal aliments, diseases and environmental stresses. Yoga is good for you!

Yoga is not a religion. Yoga is a spiritual discipline with a code of ethics toward yourself and others. It is a system to help the student to heal the mind, or quiet the mind – To help the body combat our loud and stressful environment.

Every human being on our planet, on earth has 50,000 to 80,000 thoughts every day, often the same thoughts recycled muddling, darkening our minds. This leaves little room for progress, or relearning. Using Yoga asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing), one helps clear the clutter of the stressed mind. One learns how to calm without the aid of outside stimulates. Without the world’s influence, without the clutter, one can learn to heal themselves.

Yoga is a discipline and must be practiced, meaning, constant attention to the ethics, postures, and breath. Learning something new each time, while hearing different parts of your physical, emotional and spiritual body and responding to them. In this process, the student gains experience, self-knowledge, patience and persistence to take out into the world to use for the good of man and self. Through practice (asana and pranayama) one learns to focus the mind on one thing at a time. When the mind is focused the nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems respond by slowing down, allowing for a calm to fall over the physical body, mind and soul. This helps one to feel centered, think more clearly and feel grounded. That calm helps the body to release the unnecessary tension and long held emotions, we all carry. Practicing and repetition of yoga postures (asana) breath control (pranayama), aligning the bones, joints and muscles, producing flexibility and strength – Benefits from practice accumulate over time.

Regardless of your physical size, strength or flexibility, everyone can do Yoga. Young or old, male or female, everyone can benefit from a yoga practice. It has taken your entire life to get to where you are today. Environmental, heredity, job, family etc., have made you what you are right now. Knowing this is the first step in the change you can make for a healthier you, a happier you. Yoga is in the journey, yoga is meant to be explored, it is not a quick fix, it is not about the destination; it’s about the process. Take your time to get to know yourself again. Taking the time, energy, and desire to change your health starts with you. Remember to never forget to nurture yourself.

Asanas can be practiced any time of the day, in the morning your body is stiffer but your mind is sharp, in the evening practice the mind is dull but the body is loose. When you practice is a personal choice. Depending on what type of yoga you choose to do, will decide the speed, rate, and way your get to and stay in asana (posture).

There are six branches (types) of yoga, Raja Yoga-focus and meditation, Karma Yoga-performance of a selfless service, Bhakti Yoga-heart and devotion, Jnana Yoga- wisdom and knowledge, Hatha Yoga- physical and Tantra Yoga- ritual. The yoga you are doing with me today is Hatha Yoga and branching from this broad category is Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa yoga is made up of a physical exercises connecting movement and breath, this connection is further connected by a sequence or group of asanas.

Vinyasa is a Sanskrit (Indian) word coming from the prefix vi, which means variation and a suffix nayasa, which means “within prescribed parameters.” The parameters with respect to the asanas contained in Yoga Sutra of Patanjali are Steadiness or the ability to remain steady in a posture or balanced. Comfort or the use of the breath and close attention to the mind, ensure the joy and relaxation for the practitioner. The third parameter is smooth and long breathing; this also ensures joy and relaxation. No panting, no increase of heart rate, slow long breaths in conjunction with the asanas.

Each sequence is called a “vinyasa.” “To flow” through a vinyasa is what you will be doing in class. Remembering to breathe in conjunction with the vinyasa or asana will promote balance and calm, as well as tone internal organs and muscles, depending on the particular pose. The progression of vinyasa starts and ends at the knuckles, fingers, wrists, elbows, and the shoulders, then the neck, thorax, thoracic spine and lumber spine, to the hip joint and the pelvis, the knees, ankles and feet. Thus the entire body is involved. In the vinyasa school of yoga there are hundreds of posture’s and sequences. It would take years to learn them all. All are meant to heal pieces and parts of your, physical, mental and spiritual being.

Tadasana is an asana that starts and finishes most vinyasa sequences. This asana is done standing, toes spread wide, feet together or hip distance apart, knees pulled up to the thighs, pelvic slightly lifted (lift belly by pulling bellybutton toward spine) shoulder blades slide down the back, shoulders relaxed away from ears, arms hanging down on each side of the body, chin parallel with the earth, eyes fixed or closed, and top of head reaching toward the sky. Standing in this posture will insure a balance much needed for daily life and needed for the continuation of vinyasas.

Standing will help you to notice the parts of your body sometimes forgotten, like your feet. Knowing that these two pieces of our bodies are what holds us up, and that you have to walk on them for hopefully 100 years. We expect them to do what is meant for them to do, Hold us up, walk, run, stretch, we cram shoes of all kinds around them etc., while often we forget to love, and take care of them. Remembering to take care of our bodies, specifically our feet will help us to be more aware of each part, each breath and each thought.

Yoga is a way of life, introducing it into your life will only give constant rewards. Slow or fast, strong or weak, big or little, yoga is a good thing for all. There is yoga for you. There is a yoga you can connect to. The fun part is finding which one; by practicing all of them you will see and feel results, while finding your yoga.

I have practiced Yoga for ten years and have many wonderful things to say about it. I have had the flow of my practice speed or slow, Life happens. I continued to return to it, to practice on and off my mat; using the yoga time for me to shut the world out, for just those moments. Five minutes or two hours, whatever time I had, or energy I had, I would do asana, pranayama, meditation, sometimes everyday, sometimes once a month, at home or at a studio. This is why I love yoga there is no feeling of guilt when I don’t practice, my body wants to go back to yoga, my mind remembers what yoga did for it, and my spirit knows what is missing. I have learned much about myself and others on this journey. I am graceful now, I am softer, I am easier, and I am calmer. I am happy with yoga. Yoga is a gift from God, and I thank thee.

Iderah S. Roeck is a Vinyasa Yoga intern (Yoga teacher in training) from Norfolk, Virginia.

Tags: sanskrit word, tadasana, vinyasa, vinyasa yoga, yoga is a discipline

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 11th, 2009 at 5:24 am and is filed under Guest Authors, vinyasa yoga. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.