History of yoga. The philosophical doctrine of yoga in India What is the oldest yoga

Personally, I, like many Soviet people, heard about yoga almost from early childhood. In the Soviet Union, the attitude towards yogis was the warmest. We all knew that yoga is supposedly a folk Indian gymnastics that was said to be 4000 years old. And the exercises in this physical education are so strange because in the Indian climate it is hot to run and jump, but you can only stand on your head.

We were convinced that the system of yoga exercises is needed for "health" and "good physical shape." Some of us have seen the Soviet media product - the film " Indian yoga. Who are they?". They showed that yogis rest on nails, eat glass and do other unthinkable things. I remember that when I first got my hands on the book about yoga Patanjala-Darshan "Yoga Sutras", I was very surprised, so as it turned out that yoga is completely, completely different, something that does not correspond at all to the popular idea about it.

And now it seems that yoga is not only good and useful, but also "cool". Stars and movie heroes "practice" yoga. To the words "health" and " physical form", which, as it seems, she carries with her, the words "harmony" and "perfection" are added to our minds. The vast majority of us, one way or another, have come across yoga. If not directly personally, then we probably know those who And certainly we were invited to try it ourselves at least once.Therefore, the question naturally arises: what is it and how should we relate to it?

So is it useful or not

When we talk about centenarians, then, of course, we remember the Caucasus or Japan. Somehow it is not heard that there is someone in India whose life expectancy is longer than others. There, in India, in the 1980s, for the only time in its history, a general medical examination was carried out. If it turned out that yogis are healthier than all other Indians, then it would be a real world sensation. But, instead, it turned out that yogis, of which there are several million people, live on average even less than an ordinary resident of India and get sick no less than others. But, as the survey showed, they have specific diseases. For example, cataracts of the eyes, because they have to constantly concentrate their gaze on the sun, joint dislocations, arthritis and arthrosis due to frequent exposure to unnatural positions for a long time. Yogis suffer from a bunch of diseases of the upper respiratory tract And gastrointestinal tract, because every day they do enemas, clean the nasopharynx with tourniquets, which over time practically destroys the mucous membrane in the intestines and nasal cavity. For example, some experienced yogis swallow one end of a long tourniquet, and when it comes out of the anus, they begin to move it back and forth, thinking that by doing this they "cleanse" the intestines. This "practice" leads to gastritis, colitis and proctitis. Such are the things...

What is yoga?

What do we mean by this word? Most often, we are talking about the fact that yoga is a set of exercises, including breathing, which help a person become healthy, strong and achieve harmony. But this is not entirely true! Physical exercises are in yoga only a means or tool in spiritual practices. According to the principle that yogis call the "law of conjugation" and for some reason they take it on faith, it is believed that by influencing the body by taking various postures, the yogi "gets an effect on subtle body", that is, it affects the soul and spirit. This is the main thing in yoga. In other words, yoga is not just health system not philosophy or science. This is religion.

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Read on the topic:

India is a country of paganism, religious intolerance, monstrous rites and the wildest superstitions.- selection of publications
Hinduism has caused a lot of evil- Elder Paisius the Holy Mountaineer
- Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania His Beatitude Anastasios Yiannoulatos
Yoga is a spiritually dangerous practice- Hieromartyr Daniel Sysoev
Can a Christian practice yoga?- Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov
Yoga is the way to death- Cathedral blg. Prince Alexander Nevsky
Yoga and Orthodoxy- a film by Sergei Andryushkin
Yoga - healing or occult evil?- Andrey Solodkov
Sky storm or relaxation? Why is yoga so popular among modern citizens?- Dmitry Petrovsky
Tantra yoga: beyond good and evil- Regina Krauklis
Did Hindus come up with a good religion?!- Deacon Mikhail Plotnikov
Is the meaning of the concepts "religion" and "yoga" identical?- Vitaly Pitanov
Hatha yoga: health at the cost of eternal life?- Vitaly Pitanov
Mantra yoga, meditation and Orthodox prayer: a question of compatibility- Vitaly Pitanov
Five Ways to "Salvation" Offered by Modern Gurus- Vishal Mangalwadi

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Where did yoga come from?

Of course, the easiest way to say is that over the centuries, sages and ascetics, through trial and error, created this system. But if so, who are they? Who came up with "asanas", "mudras" and all these techniques? Do you know the name of any of these people? No… Instead, the famous authors of the most ancient yogic books give another name. Shiva. Who is this? It turns out that Shiva is one of the Indian deities, along with Brahma, Vishnu, Shakti and others. He has a wife Parvati, a daughter Manasi and sons - the god of war Skanda and the god of learning Ganesha. On his forehead he has a third eye and a design made with sacred ash, which is obtained from the dung of cows or burnt corpses. His retinue consists of spirits and demons who accompany him of their own free will. The following fact is interesting, in my opinion, directly related to the theme of the emergence of yoga. Shiva is believed to have smoked marijuana. Therefore, in Hinduism, some consider this activity an approach to Shiva, his blessing. And at present, the holiday of the "great night of Shiva" is met with the smoking of that very grass.

Maybe an atheist will say that all this is just a folk epic. But for a Christian, all this information is of fundamental importance. We have to admit that the emergence of yoga is explained not by physical, but by spiritual reasons. Its founders are supernatural personalities, about whom the Bible says in Russian: "all the gods of the peoples are idols", and in Slavonic: "all the gods of the tongue are demons" (Psalm 95:5) All these personalities are fallen angels, envious of man because man, unlike them, can gain eternal life. Their desire is to destroy as many human souls as possible.

What is the purpose of yoga?

Could it be that, despite its obviously demonic origin, yoga was at least "neutral" spiritually? There is a text called the Narrative of Hatha Yoga, which yogis call an "ancient treatise" and a "rare manuscript." He explains the purpose of yoga thus. It seems that every person before his birth lived millions of lives in the bodies of animals. And so, living in the body of this or that animal, the soul, allegedly, fulfills or does not fulfill the commandments of the life of this animal. And everything that the soul did not fulfill in the body of an animal, as if, is transferred to the human body, like pollution or seeds of diseases. This is called the word "karma". Yoga burns karma. This, and not at all exercise, explains the expected healing effect. The practice of yoga has eight steps. The first four are called hatha yoga. These are: self-restraint, devotion to spiritual practices, unification of mind and body (this is what various postures are used for) and breath control. These are the lower levels. They are considered meaningless without the higher four called raja yoga. These include: distraction of the senses, concentration of the mind, meditation, and, finally, "realization of one's true nature." As you can see, physical and breathing exercises in this series are not just secondary, but generally look insignificant. And here's the main thing! The purpose of all this is the disappearance of the idea of one's own individuality and the merging of consciousness with the "cosmic absolute".

How can you comment on all this? The idea of the transmigration of the soul clearly contradicts the Holy Scripture, which says: "it is appointed for men to die once, and then judgment" (Heb. 9:27). Man (and only man) was created by God in His image and likeness. It is impossible to humiliate the image of God by believing that the soul of a person can move into an animal and back. And how can one agree with the idea of "burning karma"?! We know that there are sins in the world. A person receives forgiveness of sins in repentance. For our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died on the Cross. It is His death that makes cleansing from sin possible. If it were possible to work off "karma" through rebirth or some kind of practice, then it would not be necessary for the salvation of the world to incarnate and die on the Cross for the Son of God. Therefore, he who believes in "karma" and rebirth does not believe in Christ, and he who believes in Christ cannot believe in "karma" and rebirth. Further. The personality of every person is precious in the eyes of God. And the meaning of spiritual life is not "fusion" or "dissolution", but a return to God and eternal communion with Him.

Why don't instructors insist on this?

Yoga is a complex and serious spiritual system. In my opinion, a rather sinister system. Why, then, most often you have to hear only about exercises, healing, balance, present in yoga. There are people who are sure that there is nothing inappropriate for a Christian to straighten his spine or develop his joints in a yoga room. Why, they say, delve into this mysticism, just work out - and be healthy! If you don't want to be a pagan, they say, don't be. Believe, they say, whatever you want, just be kind and good, as yoga teaches, and you can practice. They even eat, they say, everything is possible, and not just boiled plants and cow's milk. For a long time I could not understand why it is pretended that the most basic thing in yoga - its spiritual side, is not so important. Then it turned out that there are two principles in yoga. This is the principle of perfection and the principle of energy. The principle of perfection is that any exercise, no matter how it is done, by the very fact of its performance, becomes done perfectly.

The principle of energy is formulated by yogis as follows: “just as a ball in a funnel always rolls into the neck if it is thrown into it, similarly, when we approximately do this or that exercise in yoga, we excite energy, and the energy acts on the body in this way that bends (transforms) the body in the way necessary for yoga." Thus, one cannot simply "try" yoga. You can't be half yogi. Shiva knew what he was teaching. One has only to make one movement, and the path to death (that is, to liberation from) individuality and to the dissolution of consciousness in space begins. There is no compromise. Either you are a yogi or you are not a yogi.

I don’t know how anyone, but this information disappoints me. How good it would be if yoga turned out to be a wise science of harmony! The doctrine of the balance of the soul and the health of the body! But with all due respect to the opinions of others, I undertake to assert that yoga is a pagan occult religion. The benefits of it for its followers are very, very doubtful, and the harm is obvious. This is the risk of destroying the soul by betraying Christ.

In the time of the martyrs, in the first centuries of Christianity, it was, in principle, not difficult to avoid death for the faith. For example, under Emperor Trajan, at the beginning of the 2nd century, if a person was accused of Christianity, and the accusation was proven, then anyone could receive forgiveness in court. To do this, you just had to make a libation or smoking in front of the image of the emperor. As we understand, after that it was possible to be free and believe in anything. But thousands and thousands of Christians went to their death because they knew that this simple action, sacrifice to an idol, means renunciation of Christ. They didn't want to have anything to do with false gods, which are demons. Because there is no compromise. Either with Christ or not.

Prepared by:

Vitaly Yurenko, archpriest

Head of the Missionary Department of the Berdyansk Diocese

Russian Orthodox Church

Now, such a direction of self-improvement as yoga is gaining great popularity. It has already gained recognition in the East and has become a fashion trend in Europe. It is the oldest system of meditation practice. Over the course of many centuries, it has undergone significant changes, and has acquired the form of a useful practice for the soul and body. In the generally accepted sense, what yoga is, how the teaching is described in the text of the Kathaka Upanishad in line 11 of chapter 3.

What does the word "yoga" mean?

Based on their Sanskrit, "yoj" means unification, connection, finding harmony, etc. The first mention of the word is found in the Rig Veda, one of the four parts of the most ancient Indian Vedas. In them, yoga means harness.

Historical reference

The history of the emergence of yoga is the road to the improvement of the spirit and the achievement of sublime knowledge. The Aryan culture of past India is not the only primary source of yoga. Its history has an inseparable connection with Hinduism, it is a universal teaching. Based on the ancient Indian texts - the Vedas, and archaeological finds, we can say that the yoga system originated in ancient India.

Preclassic period in teaching

The foundations of yogic practice originate in the Indus-Saraswati civilization more than 5 thousand years ago in northern India. The ancient sacred Vedas mentioned yoga. These are a kind of collections of spiritual texts that contained songs, mantras, ritual rites used by brahmins and priests. Thanks to such people, the doctrine was gradually improved and developed. They described meditations and views in the Upanishads, a huge book of over 200 texts. The most famous and popular is sacrificing during the ritual, they learned this from the Vedas, thereby learning to lower their ego through self-knowledge, action and wisdom.

classical period

At the stage, which is called pre-classical, yoga was a combination of a wide variety of teachings, opinions, views, which were sometimes in conflict. The classical stage is characterized by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - this is the first systematic definition of yoga teachings. The text was written in the 2nd century and contained the path traversed by Raja Yoga (classical). Patanjali reorganized yogic practice into the so-called "eight", where the stages of achieving samaya (enlightenment) were described step by step. The Yoga Sutras are considered fundamental to modern teaching.

Postclassic period

Masters of yoga practice, centuries after Patanjali, founded a systematic set of exercises, the purpose of which was to improve the physical condition and extend the life of the yogi. Human body was perceived as a tool to achieve nirvana. The Vedic teaching was refuted. Tantra yoga used sharply opposite methods of cleansing the body and mind, untangling the knots of the physical essence of a person. Thus, this practice of spiritual-physical connections, which were concentrated on the body, has already reached more modern stage teachings - Hatha yoga. This type is mistaken for yogic practice in the modern world, but this is only a small part of it.

Yoga in Buddhism

The teachings of yogis have an inextricable relationship with the ancient Indian religions. For example, yoga influenced Buddhism, which is characterized by asceticism, spiritual pursuits, and the achievement of trance.

In Cittamatra Buddhism, a Buddhist branch of Mahayana philosophy that originated in the 5th century in India, yoga is the basis of practical exercises leading to the bodhisattva - awakening, enlightenment.

The main feature of Zen Buddhism is a direct approach to yogic teachings. This direction of the Buddhist religion is one of the types of Mahayana Buddhism. In Western countries, Zen develops simultaneously with yoga. There are undoubtedly similarities between these areas. This should be taken into account, since the meditative school of Zen Buddhism has yogic meditations in its roots.

For the Buddhist religion in general, and partly for Zen, certain fundamental parts of yoga are of great importance.

Meditation is also a component of Tibetan Buddhism. In the Nyigma branch, yogis gradually move to higher levels from maha yoga and annu yoga to the highest stage of ati yoga. In other traditions, the analogue of this stage is anutara yoga.

Practice 108 postures that teaches you to control your breath and heartbeat, refers to other yogic systems. The pace achieved during the lesson is called trul-khor.

Tantra yoga

It is believed that tantric practice can change a person's attitude to the social, religious and logical universe, where he exists. Through Tantrism, the consciousness of the individual recognizes that the nature of reality is merely an illusion. In this way he is freed from the chains of maya and strives to achieve mukti. This path connects the Tantric teachings with Indian religions (meditation, withdrawal from society), the basis of which is a short-term or permanent renunciation of relationships with society. During training, a person receives instructions about meditation techniques. In particular, this applies to the technique of meditation on the chakras - one of the subspecies of kundalini yoga, the main purpose of which is to place the Deity in the heart chakra for worship and training.

Yogic teaching in Islam

The Indian practices of yogis had a significant influence on tasawwuf. The ancient Indian scripture on yoga, Amritakunda, was translated into Arabic and Persian in the 11th century.

Individuals who held leadership positions in Malaysia's Islamic clergy signed a fatwa for Muslim yoga practitioners in 2008. It was described that the yogic teaching contains parts of the religion of the Hindus. Thus, occupations for Muslims are recognized as blasphemous and sinful. Malaysian yoga gurus criticized the document as an insult. The fatwa allowed hatha yoga (body exercises), but it was forbidden to practice mantras.

Yoga in Christianity

Yogic teaching in the Orthodox religion

Historical figures in the field of religion note the analogy between the preparatory methods for asceticism, which are used by the clergy in hesychia (the practice of prayer), and the methods of practicing yoga. They prove this similarity by citing passages from the writings of Orthodox philosophers.

But historians also note that classical yoga should not be identified with the Christian religion. In yogic practices, little attention is paid to God. But their influence on hesychasm should not be underestimated.

There is also a point of view according to which there is no genetic connection between yoga and Christianity, but the achievement of ecstasy in Orthodox asceticism is similar to the state of samaya in ancient Indian practice. Among other things, there is some analogy between the procedures of psychotechniques that are used in hesychia and yoga (hold your breath, take a certain position, visualize, focus on specific parts of the body, etc.).

Historians note the strong psycho-technical influence of the "smart" prayer of the Hesychians, similar to the repetition of the "great" baktu-vishnu mantra.

In 2015, the United Nations adopted World Yoga Day. After that, the Holy Synod of Hellas Orthodox Church expressed his protest, calling the teachings of yoga the basis of the Hindu religion, which is incompatible with the faith and life of Orthodox Christians.

After this speech, many Orthodox ministers came to the conclusion that the Christian religion and yogic teachings are incompatible.

Yoga and Catholicism

Catholics do not associate yoga with attaining the true path of God. They note that the yogic teaching is not able to transform human soul to enlighten her.

What is the goal of yogis

Each yogi, practicing in this or that area of meditation, sets his own goals, which he wants to achieve. For example, to improve the physical condition or achieve mukti - liberation from the life path (from birth to samsara) and suffering through the knowledge of one's unity of the atman with Shiva. In the directions of bakti-Vishnuism, bakti is set as the original goal of meditation. In Chaitanya Vishnuism, the main thing is to gain Divine love. Having reached the goal, the Vaishnava enters the upper world, where he blissfully serves Vishnu.

Differences between modern yoga and ancient

Yoga classes held in modern sports centers, are promoted as a set of exercises that has been known since ancient times. In fact, this type of yoga is different from the traditional teachings. It only remotely resembles a real meditation practice.

Who is a yogi - we have yet to find out. Communicating with a real yogi, one can come to the conclusion that the number of his postures is limited to 7–9. In contrast to classes in the hall, where 35-40 types of different positions are practiced. A true yogi will not strive to take so many asanas. The original yoga is aimed at changing energy flows, so all exercises should be performed in a slow rhythm. As a rule, one pose should be held for at least 6-7 minutes, sometimes more time. If this condition is not met, then the main goal of meditation will not be achieved. Exercise will be comparable to regular sports.

In yogic teachings, asanas are given 20% of the total time, mostly yogis perform psychotechnical practices. In yoga classes in sports complexes, the opposite is done: most of the time is devoted physical condition body.

Positions practiced in modern society are not mentioned at all in the scriptures. The ancient texts mainly contain sitting positions, lying on the back or stomach, and some inverted asanas. The main reason is that the main task of the teaching was to achieve harmony and improve energy flows, and not improve physical well-being.

Are yoga injuries possible?

Sometimes people, practicing meditation practices, can accidentally cripple themselves. It's kind of sports injury. As a rule, some yogic postures lead to such consequences: headstand or handstand, lotus position, etc.

The reason for these injuries is the inexperience of new students or their mentors. Instructors receive incomplete and poor-quality training as yoga courses gain more and more popularity. Not all yoga teachers can correctly assess the physical fitness of those involved, and recommend not to perform certain positions in order to avoid negative consequences. Just as a new student may misjudge opportunities and try to take difficult positions without practice.

The history of yoga goes back to ancient times. According to some historians, something similar was practiced back in the pre-Vedic period of the 6th-3rd centuries BC. It is traditionally believed that yoga originated in ancient India, but there is an alternative point of view, according to which Aryans from the north brought yoga to India along with other knowledge.

P The first finds indicating the existence of yoga were found during the excavations of the cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa in the Indus River Valley, and date back to 3300-1700 BC. e. Seals (tablets) and figurines depicting people in yogic postures were found there.

As for writing, the word "yoga" is first found in the most ancient scriptures in the world - the Vedas, in its first part - " rigveda". The date of its compilation is correlated with approximately 1700-1100. BC e. The Vedas mainly contain hymns that glorify different aspects of the god. In them you will not find the line about healthy eating and physical exercises of hatha yoga. Instead, they mention the moral and environmental aspects of human society.
In writings like Brahmins and Upanishads(comments on the Vedas), yoga began to acquire a more holistic structure. The Brahmanas mention meditative techniques associated with the repetition of mantras and reveal the meaning of the sound AUM. In the Taittiriya Upanishad and in the Katha Upanishad, the term yoga takes on a more technical meaning. In general, different Upanishads tell about prana, kundalin, energy centers and channels in the human body. They also set out some of the provisions of Raja Yoga, which were later systematized by Patanjali.

The first comprehensive work entirely devoted to yoga is "Yoga Sutras" written by a sage Patanjali around the 2nd century BC This is a systematic guide to classical yoga, which is the most revered to this day. In it, Patanjali did not invent anything new, but reworked the knowledge accumulated several thousand years before him, creating a holistic and concise teaching called "Raja Yoga". Since the practice is divided into 8 parts, it is also called 8 step yoga (Ashtanga yoga). According to this teaching, the practitioner must first learn to observe the moral and ethical principles of yogis (the first 2 steps - yama and niyama), then work out his physical body (3rd step - asana), then practice breathing exercises (4th step - pranayama). In the next four steps (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi) there is a subtle work with the mind and consciousness, the purpose of which is to achieve superconsciousness.
Another important work on yoga - "Bhagavad Gita". This is a logically completed part of a more voluminous work, a monument of ancient Indian religious and philosophical thought - the Mahabharata. Estimating the time of its writing is very vague. According to some sources, the work was created somewhere in the 9th century BC, after which it appeared in the form of a text in the 3rd-4th centuries BC. According to other sources, the Bhagavad Gita was written after the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (2nd century BC). This work is one of the most revered sacred texts and is equated with such scriptures as the Bible and the Koran. The Bhagavad Gita tells of a dialogue between Kishna (the incarnation of God) and the warrior Arjuna before the start of a grand battle on the field of Kurukshetra. In the process of dialogue, Krishna gives short description various kinds yoga, of which there are three main ones: Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga and Jnana yoga.
The next important turn in the development of yoga was work. Hatha Yoga Pradipika(Clarification of Hatha Yoga), written approximately in the 15th century AD. - Swami Swatmarama. Here such techniques as asanas, pranayama, shatkarmas, mudras and bandhas are described in great detail, the emphasis is on working with the physical body, and not with the mind. In the first lines of this treatise, it is emphasized that hatha yoga is a preparatory step for raja yoga, which was outlined in the Yoga Sutras. Two centuries later came out "Gheranda Samhita", and then "Shiva Samhita". Together, these three works are the main treatises of classical hatha yoga.
Europe began to get acquainted with yoga only in the 19th century. For the first time the philosophy of yoga began to study Schopenhauer. Immediately after that, interest in yoga began to grow steadily, reached a boom in the middle of the 20th century and has not subsided so far. In the modern Western world, under yoga, many represent only a small part of it - hatha yoga (yoga of the physical body). Thus, yoga is perceived exclusively as one of the types of physical activity similar to fitness and gymnastics. Meanwhile, the yoga system was originally developed for higher purposes, such as controlling the mind and expanding consciousness. More details about this can be found in paragraph

Reading 6 min. Views 2.9k. Published on 29.10.2015

Yoga as a philosophical doctrine originates from the time of the existence of the Aryan civilization. It contains the basics of interpretation of the origin of the world and understanding of human nature, methods of spiritual self-improvement.

The concept of this doctrine has a huge number of admirers. As a special system of ancient Indian wisdom, yoga consists of theoretical and practical foundations, some sections, methods and directions. It is one of the six famous orthodox philosophical schools of India and one of the darshans.

Philosophy of classical yoga

To understand the philosophy of yoga, you must first understand its origins and theoretical foundations.

Yoga is the philosophy of ancient India, the foundations of which are set forth in the main work of this school, called the Yoga Sutra, and comments on it. Its author is Patanajali, about whom very little is known. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with.

It was previously believed that the great teacher, philosopher and yogi lived in India in the 2nd century BC. But now the opinion has become stronger that it was several centuries later - in the 2nd century AD. Patanajali acts only as the author of the work, and not the entire philosophical teaching, since the mention of the principles of yogic practice is mentioned in the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata (in part of the Bhagavad Gita). The very term "yoga" can be found in the early Upanishads, which are commentaries on the Vedas.

Let's start with the fundamental concepts of the philosophy of classical yoga.

So, all being includes two substances Prakriti and Purusha. Prakriti represents everything material in the existing world. This is something that can be seen, heard or felt in some other way, registered with high-precision instruments. We recommend that you read the information about.

Under the concept of "Purusha" lies the spiritual principle, the so-called eternal Spirit. Ishvara - God among all spiritual beings - is the manifestation of Purusha. He did not create the world and does not control it, but he is able to unite and separate the spiritual from the material. If Prakriti cannot be realized, then Purusha has consciousness.

If Prakriti is constantly changing, then Purusha is not subject to change, therefore it is outside of time and space. He is like an observer of the changing picture of the world.

Yoga is a mind and body practice that has historical roots in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.

In its five thousand year history, it is experiencing a renaissance in modern culture, replacing the loincloth with a swimsuit and a pair of leggings.

Yoga has become popular as a physical exercise based on asanas (physical postures) to promote bodily and mental control and well-being.

The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root "yuj" which means "to bind or join together".
A 2008 market study showed that about 16 million people in the United States practice it.
Most commonly practiced in Western culture is hatha yoga. "Ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon".
There are many styles. The kind practiced should depend on the individual level physical training.
Many yoga practitioners suffer injuries, among which the most common are sprains of the neck, shoulders, back, legs and knees.
The American Academy of Orthopedics believes that the benefits of exercise outweigh the potential physical risks.
It has eight levels or steps: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
The system has many potential health benefits, including easing low back pain, helping control stress, and increasing balance and flexibility.
There is some evidence that pregnant women who practice yoga are less likely to develop problems in late pregnancy and childbirth.

What is yoga?

Story

There is no written mention of its inventor. Yogis (yoga practitioners) practiced it long before there was any written mention of it. Masters have passed on knowledge to their students for thousands of years. Since yoga spread and gained global popularity, many schools of yoga have developed.

The postures currently practiced were not originally the dominant component of traditional yoga in India. Fitness has not traditionally been the main focus of the practice.

The Yoga Sutra, a 2,000-year-old treatise on yoga philosophy by the Indian sage Patanjali, is a book that provides guidance on how to gain mastery over the mind and emotions and tips for spiritual growth, providing the foundation on which all modern practices are based. It is the earliest written record and one of the most ancient texts in existence.

The postures that are now an integral part of practice in many centers around the world were not originally the dominant component of yoga in India. Fitness was not the main goal; emphasis was placed on other practices such as pranayama (extension vital energy breath), dharana (focusing the mind) and nada (sound).

It began to gain popularity in the West at the end of the 19th century, with an explosion of interest in postural yoga in the 1920s and 1930s, first in India and then in Western countries.

Philosophy

Yoga in ancient times was often expressed in terms of a tree with roots, trunk, branches, flowers and fruits. Each branch has unique characteristics and represents a different approach to life. Six branches of yoga:

Hatha yoga - the physical and mental branch - includes the practice of asana and pranayama - the preparation of the body and mind.
Raja yoga - meditation and strict adherence to the "eight steps".
Karma yoga is a path of service to the conscious creation of a future free from negativity and selfishness caused by our actions.
Bhatki yoga - the path of devotion - is a positive way to channel your emotions and develop acceptance and tolerance.
Jnana Yoga is wisdom, the path of knowledge and intelligence through exploration.
Tantra yoga is a path of ritual, ceremonial relationships.

eight degrees

Raja Yoga is traditionally called Ashtanga Yoga (eight-pointed) because there are 8 aspects of the path to be traversed. Eight limbs of yoga:

Yama - ethical standards and a sense of integrity. The five yamas are: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (abstinence) and aparigraha (non-greed).
Niyama - self-discipline and spiritual rituals, meditative practices, contemplative walks. The five niyama are: shaucha (purity), samtosha (harmony), tapas (warmth, spiritual rigor), svadhyaya (study of sacred texts and oneself) and isvara pranidhana (worship of God).
Asana is the union of mind and body through physical activity.
Pranayama is the control of the breath, which leads to the unification of the mind and body.
Pratyahara is the renunciation of the senses of perception, the external world and external stimuli.
Dharana is concentration, purposefulness of the mind.
Dhyana - meditation and contemplation - a continuous flow of concentration.
Samadhi is a quiet state of blissful awareness.

Chakras

The word chakra means "revolving wheel". From a yoga perspective, chakras are the convergence of energy, thoughts, feelings, and the physical body. They determine the perception of reality from our emotional reactions, our desires and aversions, our level of trust or fear, even the manifestation of physical symptoms.

Chakras determine the perception of reality from our emotional responses, our desires and aversions, our level of trust or fear, even the manifestation of physical symptoms.

When energy is blocked in a chakra, it triggers physical, mental, or emotional imbalances, resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion. The theory is to use asanas to release energy and stimulate an imbalanced chakra.

There are seven main chakras, each with its own associations:

Sahasrara: The "thousand petals" or "crown chakra" represents a state of pure consciousness. This chakra is located at the top of the head and is indicated by white or purple. The Sahasrara includes matters of inner wisdom and the death of the body.
Ajna: The "command" or "third eye chakra" represents the point of contact between two important energy flows in the body. Ajna corresponds to purple, dark blue or indigo, although it is traditionally described as white. The chakra is associated with the pituitary gland, growth and development.
Vishuddha: "very pure" or "throat chakra" is symbolized in red or blue. This chakra represents the home of hearing and speech, the endocrine glands that control metabolism.
Anahata: The "unaffected" or "heart chakra" is associated with the color green or pink. The main issues associated with anahata include complex emotions, compassion, tenderness, unconditional love, balance, rejection and well-being.
Manipura: The "city of pearl" or "navel chakra" is symbolized by the color yellow. This chakra is associated with digestive system, along with personal power, fear, anxiety, opinion formation, and self-centeredness.
Svadhisthana: The "pelvic chakra" is the home of the reproductive organs, the genitourinary system, and the adrenal glands.
Muladhara: The "root chakra" is located at the base of the spine in the coccygeal region. It supports our instinctive desires for food, sleep, sex and survival.

Types

Modern forms of yoga have evolved into exercises focusing on strength, flexibility and breathing in order to increase physical and mental well-being. There are many styles, none of which is superior to the other. The choice of type depends on your fitness level.

A yoga class should be chosen based on your fitness level and experience.

Types and styles may include:

Ashtanga yoga: based on ancient teachings, but popularized in the 1970s; each of the six established sequences of postures quickly associates any movement with the breath.
Bikram yoga: held in artificially heated to 38-40 ° C rooms with a relative humidity of 40%; bikram is a series of 26 roses and a sequence of two breathing exercises
Hatha yoga: general term for any type of yoga that teaches physical postures; as a rule, this is a cautious introduction to the main points.
Iyengar yoga: focuses on finding the right alignment in every posture; for this he uses blocks, belts, chairs and rollers.
Jivamukti yoga: "liberation in life". Jivamukti originated in 1984 incorporating spiritual techniques and the practice of the vinyasa style. Each class has a theme which is taught through scripture, chanting, meditation, asana, pranayama and music.
Kripalu Yoga: Teaches practitioners to recognize, accept and explore the body. Each student discovers their own level of practice. Classes usually begin with breathing exercises and gentle stretches, followed by a series of individual positions and final relaxation.
Kundalini Yoga: The word "kundalini" in Sanskrit means "flexible like a snake." This is a system of meditation aimed at releasing the energy of the kundalini. The session usually begins and ends with singing, and in between are asana, pranayama and meditation, designed to achieve a certain result.
Power yoga: an active and athletic style adapted from traditional system ashtanga in the late 1980s.
Prenatal yoga: positions carefully adapted for expectant mothers. Prenatal yoga is designed to help women through all stages of pregnancy or to help get back in shape after giving birth.
Restorative yoga: relaxing method; classes use 4-5 positions using blankets and rollers to immerse yourself in deep relaxation without making any effort to maintain the posture.
Sivananda: a system based on the five-point philosophy that correct breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise and positive thinking work together to form healthy lifestyle life. Usually 12 basic asanas are used.
Vinyasa yoga: Vinyasa classes are known for their fluid practices with intense movements. Classes are often accompanied by choreography to smoothly transition from one pose to another.
Viniyoga: Designed to be adapted to every person, regardless of physical ability; Viniyoga teachers are well trained and experts in anatomy and yoga therapy.
Yin: A calm, meditative practice also called Taoist yoga. Yin yoga allows you to release tension in key joints: ankles, knees, hips, spine, neck and shoulders. Yin postures are passive, meaning the muscles are relaxed and allow gravity to do its work.

Benefit for health

Scientific studies of varying quality have been published on the health benefits of yoga and its medical applications. Studies have shown that it is safe and effective method increase physical capabilities, especially strength, flexibility and balance. However, can the practice of yoga be useful in diseases? Below are the medical evidence and the results of modern scientific research.

Scientists and physicians conducting research related to yoga are focusing on its potential ability to prevent, treat, or alleviate certain diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, diabetes, and menopausal symptoms, and its benefits in relieving stress and coping with chronic disease or disability.

Anxiety and depression

Yoga is one of the most common ways used to deal with depression.

A 9-week course in veterans significantly reduced anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Functional indicators of mental state also improved, although the intensity of pain and physical health did not show positive dynamics.

Yoga can be an effective way to reduce anxiety and even prevent future anxiety.

An increase in blood cortisol levels is well known in depression, and yoga has been shown to reduce stress parameters, including them. Research has shown that it can act at the level of the hypothalamus to lower cortisol levels and alleviate depression.

Scientific evidence suggests that yoga can be recommended as an adjunct treatment for patients with depressive disorders and people with elevated levels of depression.

Professional musicians often suffer from high levels stress, anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders. Considering the fact that most of them started playing music before the age of 12, it is important to identify methods that will be aimed at solving these problems from a very young age.

Research has shown that yoga can be an effective way to reduce anxiety, and even prevent it in the future, in teenagers. These findings also point to a new treatment that could potentially ease anxiety and prevent the end of a musical career.

Arthritis

Scientific studies have found positive changes in the psychological and physiological outcomes associated with arthritis.

Asthma

Asthmatics who practice yoga have improvements in the proportion of hemoglobin and the antioxidant superoxide and a decrease in total leukocytes. They have better biochemical parameters. Research results have shown that it can be practiced as an adjunctive treatment in combination with standard inhalation therapy in order to improve outcomes.

Balance and falls

In the elderly, falls are a global problem. Although it is not a necessary part of aging, older people are more prone to falls, which are one of the leading causes of death and disability.

Yoga helps improve coordination and prevent falls in the elderly.

Yoga and tai chi have been shown to be effective in improving coordination and preventing falls in the elderly. They can also relieve pain and improve quality of life.

Bipolar disorder

In patients with bipolar disorder, it has a positive emotional impact, reduces anxiety, and has positive cognitive and physical effects. The most common effect of yoga was physical damage or pain.

Cognitive problems in breast cancer

Cancer patients often have cognitive problems. In addition, a decrease in physical activity usually occurs during cancer treatment.

Yoga can effectively reduce cognitive problems in patients with breast cancer.

Disability in breast cancer

Secondary arm lymphedema continues to develop in at least 20% of women after breast cancer treatment. It is characterized by pain and limitation of movement, which requires lifelong professional therapy and self-treatment.

An eight-week course of yoga reduced the hardening of the tissues of the affected arm and reduced the intensity of the symptoms. The volume of the arm with lymphedema and extracellular fluid did not increase. These benefits did not last after the sessions were discontinued.

Fatigue associated with cancer

Research has shown that yoga may be helpful in reducing cancer-related fatigue in women with breast cancer.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms seen in cancer survivors. It often has pronounced long-term consequences. Research shows that yoga can have an invigorating effect on physical and mental energy and can improve fatigue levels through this.

Cardiovascular diseases

Sedentary lifestyle and stress are major risk factors cardiovascular disease. Since yoga consists of exercise and a mindset that helps reduce stress, it may be effective for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. It can be used as an additional method of prevention in the general population and in patients at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Chronic neck pain

Yoga classes for 9 weeks for chronic non-specific neck pain led to an improvement in the condition for at least 12 months after the end of the program.

Chronic heart failure

There is an assumption that yoga classes have a positive effect on oxygen uptake and the quality of life of patients.

Yoga can be included in a cardiac rehabilitation program. The study showed that adding exercise to standard medical care in patients with heart failure improved cardiac function and reduced myocardial stress in patients with stable heart failure.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Yoga classes have a positive effect on improving lung function and tolerance to physical activity and can be used as an additional method of a pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Flexibility

Yoga classes significantly increase the flexibility of the erector spinae and hamstring muscles.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Regular and right occupation yoga combined with antisecretory drugs (proton pump inhibitors) can control severe symptoms of GERD and avoid or delay the need for surgery.

Hypertonic disease

Yoga can be part of physical activity in the treatment and prevention of hypertension, showing encouraging results.

Lower back pain

Some research suggests that yoga may be effective for chronic low back pain and that yoga may be helpful in reducing pain and using medications.

Studies have shown that a six-week yoga course is an effective early treatment for non-specific low back pain.

Researchers suggest that one of the main factors mediating yoga's positive effects on chronic low back pain is brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Comparative studies show that yoga provides greater pain relief and improved quality of life than a regular exercise program.

Scientists agree that yoga can be an effective complementary therapy for chronic low back pain.

Menopause

Researchers believe yoga is an effective complementary therapy useful to women suffering from menopausal symptoms.

mental health

Physical activity has a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Yoga improves self-esteem and body image, reduces fatigue and symptoms of depression.

metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is the medical term for a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Regular classes yoga can mitigate the effects of metabolic syndrome.

Migraine

Classes lead to a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of migraines. Scientists believe that they can be effectively included in the treatment of migraine. Yoga, in combination with pharmacological treatment, is an effective way to improve vascular function in these patients.

mother and child

Mother and child yoga classes are becoming more and more popular in postpartum period. With their help, the mother connects with her child and relaxes.

Postpartum classes help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and abdomen, as well as ease neck and back pain, and strengthen bonding with the baby.

Postpartum yoga can bring calm and a sense of well-being by helping moms improve and stabilize their emotional health and bond with their baby. In addition, mothers can focus on their relationship with their baby, repair weakened pelvic muscles, strengthen abdominal muscles, and even relieve neck and back pain. In infants, activities can aid digestion and relieve colic, help strengthen tiny limbs, improve sleep, and enhance their ability to interact with mom and others.

oxidative stress

Hypertension, especially in the elderly, is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress contributes to the development of hypertension.

Yoga is an effective way to reduce oxidative stress and improve antioxidant defenses in elderly people with hypertension.

post-traumatic stress

It significantly reduces the intensity of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and improves the functionality of traumatized people.

Pregnancy

Exercises are used for various immunological, neuromuscular, psychological and pain conditions. Recent studies have shown that it may be effective method improving the course of pregnancy, childbirth and birth outcomes.

It can help reduce stress levels, improve quality of life, and improve childbirth parameters such as comfort, intensity, and duration of pain.

Breathing and meditation techniques contribute to the health and relaxation of expectant mothers, maintain focus on helping childbirth. In order to help optimal placement of the fetus, certain postures are chosen.

The results of a survey on the effectiveness of physical exercises, including yoga, during pregnancy:

86% of women answered that exercise during pregnancy is beneficial;
83% think it's good to start exercising before pregnancy
62% believe that walking is the most beneficial form of exercise;
64% reported having exercised during pregnancy;
51% exercised 2-3 times a week;
65% believe that yoga is beneficial;
40% tried yoga before pregnancy.

Yoga reduces the physical and physiological symptoms of anxiety. Prenatal classes are useful in reducing women's fears of childbirth and preventing depressive symptoms from worsening.

Prenatal yoga can improve mood and reduce postpartum symptoms of depression.

Scientists believe that exercise can reduce stress levels, the intensity and duration of labor pain, improve quality of life, interpersonal relationships, autonomic function nervous system and comfort.

restless leg syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is a common and very distressing sleep disorder.

When practicing yoga, there is a decrease in the severity of the symptoms of this syndrome. People also experienced significant improvements in sleep, stress perception, and mood.

Dream

The increase in age is associated with physiological changes that affect sleep. In the elderly, undiagnosed and untreated insomnia can impair daily activities and quality of life. Insomnia is also a risk factor for accidents and falls, which are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the elderly.

Yoga classes improved a number of subjective factors, including:

Overall sleep quality
Sleep efficiency;
sleep duration;
Own assessment of sleep quality;
Fatigue;
General well-being;
Depression;
Anxiety;
Stress;
tension;
Anger;
Viability;
Physical, emotional and social state.

Yoga safely improves sleep and quality of life in older adults with insomnia.

stress management

Exercise can be helpful for managing stress.

Research shows that yoga classes at school can help manage stress and improve children's behavior.

Children and young people in today's world face many expectations and constant stimulation through the Internet and other media and communication technologies. One of the reasons that children experience stress and have causes with mental health is that globalization is exposing the youth of the world to various new demands, standards and options. Scientists have found that yoga can help children and young people manage stress and promote life balance, well-being and mental health.

Urinary incontinence

Yoga reduces inflammation and may help improve urinary incontinence symptoms, improving quality of life.

Body weight control

Both yoga and walking significantly reduce body mass index, waist and hip circumference, improve muscle mass and fluid content in the body, reduce the level of total cholesterol in the blood. Improve anthropometric data and blood lipid profile in people with overweight body and obesity.

Risks and side effects

Yoga is generally safe for healthy people when done properly under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

Injuries are an infrequent obstacle to continuing activities, and severe injuries are rare.

Yoga should never replace traditional medical treatment. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting classes.

Pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, glaucoma, and sciatica should modify or avoid certain yoga postures.

Beginners should avoid some difficult activities such as headstands, lotus posture, and power breathing.

People with medical conditions should consult with their doctor and yoga teacher in order to properly adapt postures; patients with glaucoma should avoid inverted positions, and patients with weakened bones should avoid strength exercises.

Do not replace traditional medical treatment with yoga or postpone a visit to the doctor. If you have an illness, please consult with your specialist before starting classes.

Publication date: 2015-10-23
Last modified: 2020-01-31

Dear visitors of the site Farmamir. This article is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a physician.