Yoga

The word "yoga" derives from the Sanskrit root Yuj ("to yoke") which means "to join" or "unite”. Basically, it is the "union of the individual Atma (soul) with Paramatma (Supreme being), the universal soul." This can be defined as union with the Divine by integration of body, mind, and spirit.

The Bhagavad-Gita distinguishes several types of "yoga", corresponding to the duties of different natures of people. In it, Bhagwan Krishna describes the following Yogas:

Karma yoga: the yoga of "action" in the world.

Jnana yoga: the yoga of knowledge and intellectual endeavor.

Bhakti yoga: the yoga of devotion to a deity.

Raja yoga: the yoga of meditation

Patanjali's text sets forth eight "limbs" of yoga practice.

1. Yama: Five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards others:

·    Ahimsa: Nonviolence

·    Satya: Truthfulness

·    Asteya: Nontheft

·    Brahmacharya: No lust

·    Aparigraha: Noncovetousness

2. Niyama: Five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards oneself:

·    Shaucha: Cleanliness

·    Santosha: Contentment

·    Tapas: Sustained Practice

·    Svadhyaya: Self Study

·    Ishwara pranidhana: Surrender to God

3. Asana: Practice yoga postures.

4. Pranayama: control of Vital Breath the “Prana”.

5. Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses, So that the exterior world is not a distraction from the interior world within oneself.

6. Dharana: Concentration, Fixing the attention on a single object

7. Dhyana: Meditation. Building upon Dharana, the concentration is no longer focused on a single thing but is all-encompassing.

8. Samadhi: Bliss. Building upon Dhyana, the transcendence of the self through meditation. Super-conscious state or trance (state of liberation).

Hatha Yoga was invented to provide a form of physical purification and training that would prepare aspirants for higher training which is called Raja Yoga. Hatha yoga is mostly yoga that prepares the body for the spiritual path via physical and breathing exercises and asceticism. It prepares and conditions the body so the mind can practice meditation more or less without obstacles.

The main component of Hatha yoga is yoga postures, or, in Sanskrit, asanas. In our times, when we speak about yoga, we usually mean physical yoga exercises or asanas. The word asana means comfortable, stable pose. The yogis have discovered that certain positions of the body can give human beings qualities that they do not have or that are in deficit.

Each of these asanas has specific physical and mental benefits.

Adho Mukha Svanasana	Downward Facing Dog
Ananda Balasana	Happy Baby Pose
Anantasana	Sleeping Vishnu Pose
Ardha Chandrasana	Half Moon Pose
Ardha Matsyendrasana	Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
Ashtanga Namaskara	Knees, Chest, and Chin
Baddha Konasana	Cobbler's Pose
Bakasana	Crow Pose
Balasana	Child's Pose
Bhujangasana	Cobra Pose
Chaturanga Dandasana	Four-Limbed Staff Pose
Dandasana	Staff Pose
Dhanurasana	Bow Pose
Eka Pada Galavasana	Flying Crow Pose
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana	One-Legged King Pigeon Pose
Garudasana	Eagle Pose
Gomukhasana	Cow Face Pose
Halasana	Plow Pose
Hanumanasana	Monkey Pose
Janu Sirsasana	Head to Knee Pose
Louisana	Pendant Pose
Matsyasana	Fish Pose
Natarajasana	King Dancer Pose
Navasana	Boat Pose
Padmasana	Lotus Pose
Parivritta Ardha Chandrasana	Revolved Half Moon Pose
Parivritta Parsvakonasana	Revolved Side Angle Pose
Parivritta Trikonasana	Revolved Triangle Pose
Parsva Bakasana	Side Crow
Parsvottonasana	Pyramid Pose
Pincha Mayurasana	Forearm Stand
Salamba Sarvangasana	Shoulder stand
Salamba Sirsasana	Headstand
Shavasana	Corpse Pose
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana	Bridge Pose
Shalabasana	Locust Pose
Tadasana	Mountain Pose
Tittibhasana	Firefly Pose
Upavistha Konasana	Seated Wide-Legged Straddle
Urdhva Dhanurasana	Wheel Pose
Urdhva Hastasana	Raised Hands Pose
Urdhva Muhka Shvanasana	Upward Facing Dog
Ustrasana	Camel Pose
Utkatasana	Awkward Chair Pose
Uttanasana	Standing Forward Bend
Utthita Parsvakonasana	Extended Side Angle
Utthita Trikonasana	Triangle Pose
Vasisthasana	Side Plank Pose
Vasisthasana Variations	Side Plank
Variarions Virabhadrasana I	Warrior I
Virabhadrasana II	Warrior II
Virabhadrasana III	Warrior III
Virasana	Hero Pose
Vrksasana	Tree Pose
Vrschikasana	Scorpion Pose

Here we give you some yoga poses that certain benefit parts of the body:

Yoga Poses for Abdominals

Boat Pose	Navasana
Crow Pose	Bakasana
Firefly Pose	Tittibhasana
Flying Crow Pose	Eka Pada Galavasana
Forearm Stand	Pincha Mayurasana
Half Moon Pose	Ardha Chandrasana
Headstand Pose	Salamba Sirsasana
Pendant Pose	Louisana
Shoulder stand	Salamba Sarvangasana
Side Plank Pose	Vasisthasana

Yoga Poses for Arm Strength:

Crow Pose	Bakasana
Downward Facing Dog	Adho Mukha Svanasana
Firefly Pose	Tittibhasana
Four-Limbed Staff Pose	Chaturanga Dandasana
Upward Facing Dog	Urdhva Muhka Svanasana
Warrior II	Virabhadrasana II

Yoga Poses for Legs

Awkward Chair Pose	Utkatasana
Downward Facing Dog	Adho Mukha Svanasana
Eagle Pose	Garudasana
Four-Limbed Staff Pose	Chaturanga Dandasana
King Dancer Pose	Natarajasana
Mountain Pose	Tadasana
Warrior I	Virabhadrasana I
Warrior II	Virabhadrasana II
Warrior III	Virabhadrasana III

Yoga Poses for the Spine

Bow Pose	Dhanurasana
Bridge Pose	Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Camel Pose	Ustrasana
Cobra Pose	Bhujangasana
Downward Facing Dog	Adho Mukha Svanasana
Fish Pose	Matsyasana
Half Lord of the Fishes Pose	Ardha Matsyendrasana
King Dancer Pose	Natarajasana
Locust Pose	Shalabasana
Plow Pose	Halasana
Upward Facing Dog	Urdhva Muhka Svanasana
Wheel Pose	Urdhva Dhanurasana