|
Integral yoga is a style of yoga developed by His Holiness Swami Satchidananda, who came to the United States from India in 1966. The well-known Yogaville Ashram in Buckingham, Virginia was established by the revered guru and there are several more Integral Yoga centers all over the country.
Integral yoga is a gentle form of yoga that combines hatha practices, breathing exercises, chanting, meditation and kriyas. It endeavors to integrate the mind and body with the spirit and in the process leading people to balanced, peaceful, joyous and useful lives. It is with this purpose that several branches of yoga have been integrated into one.
Integral yoga is a scientific system for the congruous development of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the individual. It draws on the following branches of yoga:
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga primarily takes care of the body. Physical aspects of the individual are worked upon with techniques like asanas (postures), pranayama (control of the breath), mudras (focus), kriyas (cleansing actions), yogic diet, and deep relaxation. Hatha yoga is focused on strengthening and purifying the body.
Raja Yoga
Raja yoga works on balancing and controlling the mind. The mind is the most powerful creation in the universe. Raja yoga helps in understanding it in order to restrain it. It makes use of ethical practices, concentration and meditation techniques.
Bhakti Yoga
The word bhakti means devotion; devotion to the Divine. The path of devotion can be practiced by everyone irrespective of religious beliefs. All that is required is faith and the knowledge that God is always there with us. Bhakti yoga develops that kind of devotion. It makes us feel 'protected'.
Karma Yoga
Karma yoga is the path of action and selfless service. It teaches us how to perform service without attachment to the fruits of service. Karma yoga is the greatest yoga because we do something or the other throughout the day, and therein lies our opportunity to detach ourselves from the results of action.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is the path of wisdom through intellect. It teaches those with intellectual nature how to observe the play of Maya, the great illusion that blinds us from the reality; the reality of who we essentially are. Jnana yoga helps us realize Oneness with the entire universe. This path requires a sharp and subtle intellect.
Japa Yoga
The word japa means repetition of a mantra. A mantra is a sound structure of one or more syllables representing a particular aspect of the Divine. Japa produces concentrated vibrations that pervade the whole of the individual's system. It brings healthy effects on the body and soothes the mind. It awakens dormant capabilities that the individual never knew he or she had.
Is Integral Yoga for you?
Integral yoga is for those who wish to explore their potential in all spheres of life like physical, mental and spiritual. Classes are gentle and noncompetitive.
|