The word "yoga"--from the Sanskrit root yuj ("to
yoke")--is generally translated as "union" or
"integration."
It means integration of body, mind and spirit. It’s
goal is attainment of liberation from wordy suffering and the cycle of death.
It originated in India
thousand of years ago as a physical and ethical discipline and meditation,
focused ultimately, on union with God.
The common form of yoga is the practice of concentration and meditation. It
also emphasizes on posture and breathing. Sustained single-pointed
concentration gradually leads to meditation; in which the inner faculties are
able to expand and merge with something vast. It reports the feeling of peace,
joy, and oneness.
Furthermore, it is very effective as a therapy for injuries or chronic body
problems. It combines the science of bio-mechanics with a concise set of
principles of physical alignment, that apply to everyday poses and to everyday
activities, to create a balanced energetic action in the performance of asana
and help provide physical stability that is both strong and joyfully expansive.
Ashtanga Yoga - Also know as Power Yoga. It’s the system of Yoga
taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. It literally means "eight-limbed
yoga," the path of internal purification for revealing the Universal Self.
It consists of the following eight spiritual practices:
Yama
,Niyama ,Asana ,Pranayama
,Pratyahara ,Dharana ,Dhyana
,Samadhi
The main difference of this style of Yoga to other styles is the focus on
vinsaya, which is the union of movement and breath. By synchronizing the breath
with progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat
and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. This intense
heart purifies the muscle and organs, expelling unwanted toxins and it releases
minerals and hormones that nourishes the body when the seat is massaged back
into the skin. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and
a calm mind. Through this practice of correct breathing, postures, and gazing
point, one gains control of the senses and a deeper awareness of self.