Ashtanga-yoga is a special kind of yoga, which involves moving along the higher spiritual Path together with the parallel development of the body. This technique was proposed centuries ago by the Indian rishis of Patanjali. Ashtanga-yoga means the Path of the eight degrees, which leads to the ultimate Goal.
Ashtanga Yoga: the subtleties of the beginning of the path
On the way to the goal, you need to overcome 8 steps: yama - niyama - asana - pranayama - pratyahara - dharana - dhyana - samadhi. Each of the stages involves not only a serious passion for ashtanga yoga, but also a readiness for self-improvement.
To understand whether you are ready to go this way, you need not with considering your physical abilities, but with your spiritual readiness for change and purification of the spirit.
The first two steps are very similar, so usually they are dedicated in parallel. Their names are translated as "tension" and "relaxation". This is the basis of the foundations or the so-called psychohygienic rules of life. These rules are simple and fair, and if you understand that you can not adhere to them, then probably the Ashtanga yoga school is not for you.
- ahimsa - not causing harm to any living beings in matters, words and thoughts;
- satya - truthfulness and uniqueness of every word, refusal to lie;
- asteya - refusal of envy;
- aparigraha - freedom from everything that distracts from aspiration to spiritual Mergence with the Creator;
- brahmacharya - rejection of small earthly desires, such as glory and recognition;
- shaucha - cleanliness of the body (hygiene standards);
- mitahara - natural, pure vegetarian food;
- santosha - constant maintenance of good mood;
- svadhyana - philosophical cognition and conversations approaching Perfection;
- Tapas - fighting your vices in any way;
- isvarapranithana - the sensation of the Creator in everything that exists;
- kshama - tolerance to dissenters;
- daya - mercy, kindness to others;
- arjava - simplicity in communication, lack of arrogance;
- hry - humility, i.e. refusal of narcissism.
Books will help in the development of these ashtanga-yoga strata, but the main role is nevertheless assigned not to studying the foundations, but to their tireless application in practice.
Ashtanga Yoga: Exercises and the Way Forward
Ashtanga Yoga for beginners involves first studying the first two steps, the doctoring the spirit, and only then - the development of the third stage. If you try to ignore the previous steps, then there is a coarsening of the energy that takes you away from the true path.
Asana is a stable position of the body, which is necessary for the subsequent spiritual work. You will need a yoga ashtang rug, on which it will be convenient to comprehend the physical layer of yoga. Ideally, you need to start the morning, and preferably early - at 4-5 in the morning.
When the third stage is mastered, one can proceed to work with energy - this stage bears the name of pranayama. At this point, adepts begin to learn breathing exercises.
The next stage - pratyahara - teaches us to leave our
The sixth step is called dharana, which means maintaining the right concentration. She attributes the person to a merger with the Creator, but this is only the beginning of the path to full spiritual unity.
Then follows the stage of meditative training dhyana. Meditations are held on three levels and allow a person to experience the previously unknown sensations from the unity of consciousness and the world.
The final stage - samadhi - is the highest level of spiritual achievement. At this stage, classes are incredibly blissful, relaxing and enjoying unity with the Creator.
Ashtanga yoga is an excellent choice for those who need shelter from external problems in their own serene spiritual world. Not for nothing many Hollywood stars practice yoga.