Introduction to Yoga

1. Yoga

2. Yoga for Health A Practical approach on Yoga Presented by Viswa Manavata Samstha www.manavata.org Service to Man is Service to God Email: [email_address]

10. Yama (The five Commandments for Social Discipline) 1. Ahimsa (Non-violence), 2. Satya (Truth) 3. Asteya ( Non-stealing) 4. Aparigraha (None-accumulation of wealth etc..) 5. Brahmacharya (Continence / Celibacy) The society is at peace if these social restraints are practiced by every citizen. Astanga Yoga (eight fold Yoga)

11. Niyama (Five commandments for personal discipline) 1. Saucha (cleanliness) 2. Santosha (Contentment) 3. Tapas ( the endurance to face the pairs of opposites such as heat and cold; joy and sorrow; regard and disregard etc) 4. Swadhyaya (Self Study) 5. Ishwarapranidhana ( Dedication / Surrender to god and work without selfish motives and work not for praise) Astanga Yoga

14. Pratyahara (control of senses) pratyahara (negation) is willful control of senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Well practiced pratyahara leads one to achieve the higher step of Dharana. Dharana (concentration) Dharana is connection of the mind to a particular object . Astanga Yoga

15. Dhyana ( Meditation) Dhyana also known as meditation is the constant flow of thought. This is the ultimate step which of practiced well leads to the highest step called samadhi. Samadhi (Super-conscious stage) Samadhi is super-conscious stage the highest step in Yoga. In this state one enjoys eternal bliss . Astanga Yoga

16. Obstacles to Yoga Practice: There are certain obstacles which hamper regular practice of yoga. Hence Yoga practie does not continue at the same pace with all the Sadhkas (aspirants of yoga) There are mainly nine distractions or obstacles in the practice of Yoga. Sage Patanjali has enunciated them as 1. Vyadhi (ill health) 2. Styana (Unprepared ness) 3. Samshaya (Doubt) 4. Pramada (Indifference) 5. Alasya (Laziness) 6. Avirati (Entanglement in Sense Objects) 7. Bhrantidarshana (Illusion) 8. Alabdha Bhumikatva (Lack of Stability) 9. Anavasthitathva (Slackness in Practice) One must overcome these obstacles by developing enthusiasm in Yoga to establish firmly in the Yoga Practice.

19. Surya Namaskaras

21. Asanas (Postures)

22. Pranayama / Dhyana Practice………..