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If you thought that yoga was all about fitness, then may be its time you should give it a second thought. Yoga is not just all about fitness. Instead it is way of living that aims at both physical and emotional well being. Sivananda yoga is one such form of yoga that is not just about poses and physical practice. Founded by Swami Sivananda, this yoga exercise will help you be at peace with yourself.
While all yoga forms make use of the five basic yoga principles, the Sivananda yoga stresses on these principles more than others. These include proper exercise, proper breathing, proper diet and positive thinking. Proper exercising refers to performing the yoga postures which are unchanged from other forms of yoga. Yoga exercises such as pranayama teach you proper breathing. And proper diet implies a completely vegetarian diet.
Unlike other yoga exercises and forms, the Sivananda yoga lays down four paths. These are karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, raja yoga and Jnana yoga. Let us know each of these one by one. The first path i.e. karma yoga states the path of action. As per karma yoga, you should clean the heart to keep it free from any negative or ill feelings. Also you are asked to act selflessly so that you ad others around you too can benefit. Writing and reciting mantras will help you follow this path.
The bhakti yoga or the path of devotion asks you to transforming your emotion into unconditional love. This path treads its route to God, the ultimate being and thus aims at spiritual well being. To follow this path you should chant, sing, pray and worship making you calmer soul. By following this path you shall be one step closer to God.
Mental energy can be more powerful than even the strongest of physical energy. The third path or the raja yoga asks you to use this mental energy in a positive form. Your thoughts, the physical energy of your body and your emotions are routed in a positive direction. To incline your mind and body towards the positive front, meditation and relaxation exercises are practiced.
Knowledge is power and this is why the Sivananda yoga specifies the last path as the path to seek knowledge or jnana yoga. This path specifies you to ask and inculcate your knowledge about things around, your spiritual and emotional well being.
If you want to practice Sivananda yoga in the best possible manner, it is imperative that you be dedicated to the five principles and follows the four paths with your heart. Only on doing so will you be able to realize your ultimate aim- God.
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