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Intro to Yoga. Jennifer Carmichael. The Beginning. Definition: YOGA is a sanskrit word derived from the root yuj or “union” The union is understood to be between the mind-body-spirit, popularly They are joined harmoniously, more closely in perfect balance
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Intro to Yoga Jennifer Carmichael
The Beginning • Definition: YOGA is a sanskrit word derived from the root yujor “union” • The union is understood to be between the mind-body-spirit, popularly • They are joined harmoniously, more closely in perfect balance • True meaning of YOGA is Jivatmaor the joining of the human consciousness to the Divine Consciuosness
Religious Experience • Out of respect for each other we will not be discussing the religious aspects of yoga, unless it is to better understand a point • Everyone has different beliefs and part of the prejudice against yoga is that it is a religious class, instead of a fitness class • I, personally am a Christian but believe in all aspects of yoga. While I do not chant, I do meditate in prayer. • Religion is a personal experience for each individual and it will be respected in this class
Philosphy • Who am I? • Why am I here? • What is the nature of suffering? • What is the method of escape during suffering? • These are basic questions in regards to human life
Union? • Some believe that we have an impact on the universe and the universe has an impact on us. • A perfect harmonious balance, yin and yang, black and white, for every action there is a reaction, positive and negative • Some believe that whatever we do in this life is greatly impacted by how the universe responds • Karma? God? Your understanding is accepted in this class for all intents and purposes
Types of Yoga • Jnana: union by knowledge • Bhakti: union by love & devotion • Karma: union by action & service • Mantra: union by voice & sound • Yantra: union by vision & form • Laya & Kundalini: union by arousal of latent psychic nerve-force • Tantric: union by harnessing sexual energy • Hatha: union by bodily mastery (mostly by breath) • Raja: union by mental mastery
Hatha Yoga • Ha is sun & thais moon • Most widely practised form of yoga in the west • Benefits include nervous system, glands, and vital organs health • The mind can become still and clear with this form of yoga • Pathway to Raja yoga
Asanas • Asana or posture are the way yogis purify the body of toxins, physical and mental • Yogic breathing can relieve headaches and anxiety • Proper breathing also assists practitioners of yoga in asanas • The deeper the asana the more benefit one achieves
Savasana • AKA corpse posture • Simply lying down, all limbs relaxed, neck open, slowly breathing in and out through the nostrils, eyes closed • All practices should end with this asana, find some benefit arriving early to class to lie in savasana to gain focus and clear my head of the days clutter; everything should be left at the door before class, do not bring it with you, most benefit when head is clear
Popular AsanasDemonstration • Easy (Sukhasana): Sitting cross-legged, knees pulled towards the floor, neck & spine straight, hands on the knees palm up; eventually the knees touch the floor effortlessly • Chair (Siddhasana): knees ankle width apart, arms extended parallel to the floor; squat; knees should not extend over the toes, butt pushed out, arms reaching to the front
Program planningDemonstration • Corpse (Savanasa), realxation • Spinal rock, warm up • Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) • Incline-board or tilt chair • Plough Posture (Halasana) • Fish Posture (Matsyasana) • Back-stretch (Paschimottanasana) • Cobra Posture (Bhujangasana) • Bow Posture (Dhanurasana) • Corpse Posture (Savasana)
Meditation • Uniting the spiritual self with the true self; free of ego • Allows for the experience of the one true self with the religious entity of belief • Untethering feeling • Absolute, Brahman, God, Reality, Ultimate reality, Cosmic Mind, Universal Spirit, Buddha, Nature: all are acceptable forms of consciousness beyond the physical form and can be achieved through meditation
Demonstration with class participation • Corpse • Tree • Fish • Pigeon • Warrior I • Warrior II • Warrior III • Downward dog • Upward dog • Chair • Triangle • Breathing Ensure all participants are in correct form
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Resources Hewitt, James (1977). The complete yoga book. New York, NY: Schocken Books. Micozzi, Marc (2011). Fundamentals of complementary and alternative medicine. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier