Ashtanga Yoga Health Benefits

Do you wish to improve the quality of your life? Then try taking up Ashtanga Yoga. One of the greatest practical philosophies on earth, called Yoga, comes from India. Actually it is Ashtanga Yoga - Ashta meaning ‘eight’ and Anga meaning ‘limbs’. These eight limbs are designed to help the Yoga practitioner lead a healthy and happy life. The practice of Ashtanga Yoga helps minimize stress and tension in life – which is a good thing – or at best minimize its effect. The practice of Ashtanga Yoga is also known to enhance our powers of endurance.

The eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are as follows:

Yama consists of steps designed to help people to dwell on the good and honorable virtues in humans. It comprises a set of ethical beliefs, viz., non violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and to steer clear of envy, jealousy and other possessive and destructive behavior.

Niyama consists of steps that help us take control of our lives. Control, it is believed in Yoga, comes from personal restraint and Niyama is a combination of these checks. They are joy, patience, self study, purity and surrender to God.

Asana is the practice of doing Yoga postures for the improving the health of the body, mind and soul.

Pranayma consists of the practice of a set of breathing exercises.

Pratyahara is designed to help people isolate themselves from the hustle and bustle of the world. The point is to be able to let the mind focus withinward, thereby becoming a haven for positivity.

Dharna helps us concentrate. It helps us concentrate on personal development, to improve our understanding of our position in the overall scheme of life, and to develop long term goals in life.

Dhyana literally means meditation. It helps us focus on our mission and long terms goals through the practice of meditation.

Samadhi is the ultimate; it means attainment of a state of bliss and peace. Here lies the ability to find and focus on one’s life mission and to perennially strive to attain the final goal of personal enlightenment.

True Ashtanga Yoga has some exalted ends, hence, it is practiced in a series of stages in which the student progresses at his or her own pace. It begins with the Yoga Therapy that is a form of Yoga, intended to detoxify the body and mind. This is done to build strength and stamina, both physical and mental.

The 2nd set in the series is called the Nadi Shodhana. It is designed to help strengthen the nervous system and consists of a set of exercises that follow the same sequence as the first set of, but with the inclusion of some more.

The 3rd and final set of 4 comes from a series called Sthira Bhaga that literally means ‘Divine Permanence’. This is the final and advanced form of the practice only for those who have fully mastered the initial stages.

The pursuit of Ashtanga Yoga, is a lifetime passion and not at all easy. It calls for a lot of discipline; but the discipline is worth it.