yoga and spirituality

jim · 01-03-2004, 11:10 AM

Hello,

I am most interested in the spiritual aspect of yoga. Is Hatha yoga considered to be one of the more spiritual types of yoga. If not, which type or types are? Thank you.

Jim :P

fiona4ever · 01-03-2004, 04:09 PM

It sounds like you are new to yoga. I am fairly new too. What I have found though, is www.yogajournal.com. This is the website for the popular Yoga Journal magazine. On there there are basics for beginners, such as The branches of Yoga. Hatha yoga is one of these branches. It promotes discipline in the physical aspect. Another branch is Raja yoga, which seems to be focused on meditation which can often lead you to a more spiritual approach to life. Also of interest may be Jnana or Bhakti yogas. Keep in mind that you don't have to pick one branch exclusively. They often overlap.
Within the branches there are also the 8 limbs of yoga, otherwise known as the 8 fold path I think. These limbs are goals for every yoga practitioner to strive for integrating into life. They include ethical standards, discipline and spirituality, physical postures, breath control, sensory transcendence, concentration, meditation and enlightenment.
I apologize if any of this is misinformed, because I am a newbie as well, but I strongly suggest www.yogajournal.com. It has helped me out a bunch.

Chandra · 02-03-2004, 06:04 PM

Books of interest include:

Mukunda Stiles: Structural Yoga Therapy
Desikachar: The Heart of Yoga

Desikachar is the son of Krishnamacharya, who was the instructor of Iyengar, Pattabi Jois, Mohan, Indra Devi, and many others, really the grandfather of Yoga in America. You may also enjoy reading from the works of Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of the Self Realization Society. Mukunda Stiles is my own spiritual teacher, and the honored guest of this site. You will find a list of spiritual books which he recommends on his web site.

My own orientation is toward the wholistic integration of the person, which very much includes the Spirit, or spiritual awareness, as well as body and the mind.

Thanks for your posts, and as always, there is room for others to participate in this topic.

Namaste,
Chandra

gofigure · 02-26-2004, 11:13 PM

Yoga, in it's original form, is a very spiritual practice...but yoga is more then postures. The main text of yoga, the Yoga Sutras is a very mystical book about higher levels of consciousness.

In the traditional physical culture and the postures is a great starting place...but there is much, much more to yoga. The exact definition of yoga in the Yoga Sutras is

Yoga is the control (or inhibition) of the modifications of the mind.

Yoga is very deep and very profound. It addresses who we actually are...not as a theory...but experientially.

If you want to read more find

Yoga and Psychotherapy by Swami Rama and Dr. Ballentine

Or

Holistic Health by Swami Rama

A great book for inspirtation is

Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda

Yoga is very ancient. It pre-existed Christianity and Buddhism. When Islam came along it combined with yoga to produce the mystics called Sufi's. Buddha studied and practiced yoga.

Go into the original text and some works of the great teachers like Ramakrishna or Swami Rama. Its a path of great beauty and wonder.

Stephen

01-03-2004, 04:09 PM	#2
fiona4ever Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: server Posts: 4	It sounds like you are new to yoga. I am fairly new too. What I have found though, is www.yogajournal.com. This is the website for the popular Yoga Journal magazine. On there there are basics for beginners, such as The branches of Yoga. Hatha yoga is one of these branches. It promotes discipline in the physical aspect. Another branch is Raja yoga, which seems to be focused on meditation which can often lead you to a more spiritual approach to life. Also of interest may be Jnana or Bhakti yogas. Keep in mind that you don't have to pick one branch exclusively. They often overlap. Within the branches there are also the 8 limbs of yoga, otherwise known as the 8 fold path I think. These limbs are goals for every yoga practitioner to strive for integrating into life. They include ethical standards, discipline and spirituality, physical postures, breath control, sensory transcendence, concentration, meditation and enlightenment. I apologize if any of this is misinformed, because I am a newbie as well, but I strongly suggest www.yogajournal.com. It has helped me out a bunch. __________________ Life is short. Hug your dog and someone you love everyday.

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01-03-2004, 11:10 AM	#1
jim Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2	Hello, I am most interested in the spiritual aspect of yoga. Is Hatha yoga considered to be one of the more spiritual types of yoga. If not, which type or types are? Thank you. Jim :P

02-03-2004, 06:04 PM	#3
Chandra Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: yoga teacher, massage therapist Posts: 243	Books of interest include: Mukunda Stiles: Structural Yoga Therapy Desikachar: The Heart of Yoga Desikachar is the son of Krishnamacharya, who was the instructor of Iyengar, Pattabi Jois, Mohan, Indra Devi, and many others, really the grandfather of Yoga in America. You may also enjoy reading from the works of Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of the Self Realization Society. Mukunda Stiles is my own spiritual teacher, and the honored guest of this site. You will find a list of spiritual books which he recommends on his web site. My own orientation is toward the wholistic integration of the person, which very much includes the Spirit, or spiritual awareness, as well as body and the mind. Thanks for your posts, and as always, there is room for others to participate in this topic. Namaste, Chandra

02-26-2004, 11:13 PM	#4
gofigure Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Counselor Posts: 3	Yoga, in it's original form, is a very spiritual practice...but yoga is more then postures. The main text of yoga, the Yoga Sutras is a very mystical book about higher levels of consciousness. In the traditional physical culture and the postures is a great starting place...but there is much, much more to yoga. The exact definition of yoga in the Yoga Sutras is Yoga is the control (or inhibition) of the modifications of the mind. Yoga is very deep and very profound. It addresses who we actually are...not as a theory...but experientially. If you want to read more find Yoga and Psychotherapy by Swami Rama and Dr. Ballentine Or Holistic Health by Swami Rama A great book for inspirtation is Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda Yoga is very ancient. It pre-existed Christianity and Buddhism. When Islam came along it combined with yoga to produce the mystics called Sufi's. Buddha studied and practiced yoga. Go into the original text and some works of the great teachers like Ramakrishna or Swami Rama. Its a path of great beauty and wonder. Stephen