Yogasana - Enhance Consciousness

The word Asana literally means a posture. Out of the innumerable Asanas a body can assume, 84 asanas have been identified as Yogasanas, through which one can transform the body and mind into a possibility for ultimate well-being. Yogasanas are not exercises, but rather very subtle processes to manipulate one’s energy in a particular direction.

For different kind of consciousness we experience such as emotional, psychological etc, our body takes a certain posture i.e. if we are angry, our body takes a posture, if we are in depression it takes another. If we are in peace our body takes a posture, when we are in sad our body takes another. So different kind of consciousness put our body to different posture. Based on that converse process the science of Yogasanan is developed. By consciously assuming a posture we can enhance and elevate  our consciousness level. Physical body is the easiest things to work with, hence these are all identified physical postures.

In an untrained state, the human body is a constant manifestation of various levels of compulsiveness. By consciously forming the body into a certain posture, one creates a conducive passage for energy flow that can elevate one’s consciousness. Yogasanas are a way of aligning the inner system and adjusting it to the celestial(cosmic) geometry, thereby becoming in sync with the existence and naturally achieving a chemistry of healthfulness, joyfulness & blissfulness.

What are the most important steps which every Yoga student has to follow while doing Asana? Yes, while practising Yogasanas we need to follow the below 3 stages to move towards Asana Siddhi.

Step 1:   Sthira sukham asanam (स्थिर सुखम आसनं )

Every asana should be steady and comfortable. 'Sthira' means steady or stable or grounded or strong and 'Sukha' means comfortable or easy (or 'easeful') or peaceful. Whenever you practise yoga you're trying to find that balance between these two aspects. Seeking this equilibrium is what it’s all about!

While practising Yogasana make sure that your position is balanced and stable. The entire body weight is balanced and distributed between your legs (or the applicable area), soles are grounded perfectly. You are not falling down to anyside while manintaining the posture. The stability of the posture (Horizontal/vertical/incliend etc) maintained. Also the posture is not blocking or interupting  the breathing pattern. Brething should be uniform, continuous and rythmic while maintaining the posture. The stretch or twists in body is consciously observed.

Step 2: Prayatna Saithilya (प्रयत्नशैथिल्य) 

The key to success in this regard is practice with effort, which becomes progressively easier. If you are lifting your arms up, you are fully aware that you are lifting your arm up, every inch of it. In gymnastics you simply lift it up. Your attention, your awareness is not there. In yoga, the body, breath and the mind are all united. It is slow motion, like dance, leading from one posture to another posture.

Pass your awareness to all parts of body, you figured out that there are some parts which are contracted unnecessarily such as face, neck, back , arm, , thigh etc. relax all these. Only set of muscles required to maintain the posture, should be stretched or contracted. This reduces the energy expenditure and help you to maintain the posture for longer duration. With this process your attention is already shifted to all the internal organs.

Step 3: Ananta samapatti bayam (अनन्त समापत्ति बयम )

Asana teaches us to strengthen areas of weakness, shed light on places unlit and relax areas of contraction. It encourages us to practise acceptance, allowing things to just ‘BE’ and teaches us to cultivate balance in our life - to live with contentment and ease. Having this feelings in mind just contemplate on your innerself, or try to maintain a meditive state. You can take the help of the meditation tricks which you can appply while meditating. This is called Ananta-samāpatti, merging with the infinity which is the real goal of Yoga. You can experience the expanded awareness, also the consciousness can be transformed and elevated. 

When yoga seeker follows these 3 steps while doing yogasana, it will make wonders. Yoga is not just a physical posture for  the seeker but this is the way of reliazation and liberation.

Bharath Mata Ki Jai!! 

Patanjali Yogasutra - Astanga Yoga(8 limbs of Yoga)

ASHTANG YOGA

यम-नियम-आसन-प्राणायाम-प्रत्याहार-धारणा-ध्यान-समाधीयो-ऽष्टाव-अङ्गानि I

yama-niyama-āsana-prāṇāyāma- pratyāhāra-dhāraṇā-dhyāna-samādhayaḥ-aṣṭau-aṅgāni. 

In Sanskrit "Ashta + anga" is Ashtanga. "Ashta" means Eight and "Anga" is limbs so it means Eight Limb path, ashtanga yoga is based on Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali.

Restraint(abstinences), Observance, Yoga postures, Breath Control, Sense Withdrawal, Concentration, Mediation and Ecstasy are the eight limbs of Yoga. - Patanjali's Yoga Sutras II.29

YAMA (5 conducts in life)

अहिंसा-सत्या-अस्तेय ब्रह्मचर्या-अपरिग्रहाः यमाः ॥३०॥

ahiṁsā-satya-asteya brahmacarya-aparigrahāḥ yamāḥ ॥30॥

Ethical discipline is very necessary for success in Yoga. Ethical discipline is the practice of right conduct in life. These correspond roughly to the ten commandments of Lord Jesus or to the noble eight fold path of Lord Buddha. Non-injuring (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satyam), non-stealing (Asteya), continence/celibate (Brahmacharya - acting with an awareness of higher ideals) and non-covetousness/non-greedness/non-possessiveness (Aparigraha) are the 5 component parts of Yama.

NIYAMA (5 observances)

शौच संतोष तपः स्वाध्याय-ईश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः ॥३२॥

śauca saṁtoṣa tapaḥ svādhyāy-eśvarapraṇidhānāni niyamāḥ ॥32॥

Internal and external purification/cleanliness (shaucha), contentment (santosha), self-discipline/austerity  (tapas), learning from yourself or study of religious and philosophical books (svadhyaya) and self-surrender to the Lord (iishvara-pranidhana) automatically translate into the practice of respect (niyama). Practice of Yama and Niyama will eradicate all the impurities of the mind. In fact, Yama and Niyama form the corner-stones of Yoga philosophy. 

ASANA

स्थिरसुखमासनम् ॥४६॥

sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥

Asana means a steady and comfortable posture. 

An unhealthy person cannot do yoga, so to become healthy, you have to practice various asanas. Also for mind concentration, you need to sit at one place for many hours. So you must have practice of siting for long hours.

PRANAYAM

तस्मिन् सती स्वासप्रस्वासयोः गति विच्छेदः प्राणायामः | 

“Tasminsati shwasaprashwasayorgativicchedaha pranayamaha’’ (II Sutra 49)

tasmin = in that state of asana or posture; sati = being; shwasa = inspiratory breath; prashwasa = expiratory breath; gati = movement; vicchedaha = breaking; pranayamaha = regulating the breath.

“In that state of being in asana or posture, breaking the movement of inspiratory or expiratory breath is regulation of breath.”

Prana means breath and Ayama means control. By Pranayama is meant the control of Prana and the vital forces of the body. Pranayama begins with the regulation of breath and ends in establishing full and perfect control over the life-currents or inner vital forces. In other words, Pranayama is the perfect control of the life-currents through regulation of breath. Breath like electricity is gross Prana. By establishing control over the gross Prana, you can easily gain control over the subtle Prana inside. The process by which such control is established is called Pranayama. Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

Prana is the oldest for, it starts functioning from the very moment the child is conceived. On the contrary, the organs of the body such as hearing, and so forth, begin to function only when their special abodes viz., the ears, etc., are formed. Prana is called the oldest and the best in the Upanishads because it gained the victory in the fight between mind and the five organs. In the end mind and the five organs unanimously declared: “O Master! O Prana! the supporter of this universe, and the supporter of our very lives, the first-born! Adoration's unto thee! Thou art really great. Do not depart from this body. We shall serve you. We duly acknowledge thy superiority.” Prana functions even while the mind is absent during deep sleep.

Prana is the link between the physical and the astral bodies. When the slender thread-like Prana is cut off, the astral body separates from the physical body. Death is the result. The Prana that was working in the physical body is withdrawn into the astral body. The sum total of the Rajasic portion of the five subtle elements forms the Pranas which are five in number, and separately forms the hands and the other four organs of action. The five organs of action are contained in the Pranamaya Kosha (vital air sheath). Prana digests the food, turns it into chyle and blood and sends it into the brain and mind. The mind is then able to think and do reflection (meditation) on the Self.

PRATYAHARA

“Prati” is a preposition meaning “against” or “away.” “Pratyahara” means literally “control of ahara,” or “gaining mastery over external influences.” It has been compared to a turtle withdrawing into its shell—the turtle's shell is the mind and the turtle's limbs are the senses.

It requires a long practice of few months, you can start practice of 15 minutes a day, to obtain full control over all senses, so lot of patience is required for this. When a person concentrates his mind for 2.4 seconds on a single thought/object, it is said that he achieved Pratyahara.

The best way to achieve Pratyahara is, you become observer of your mind, just observe, one thought has gone & other arrived, other thought has gone & next thought is arrived. Between two thoughts you will find there is a moment where there are no thoughts. By practice you can increase this state of thoughtless mind.

DHARNA

Dharana is the name. Dharaṇa is the sixth stage, step or limb of eight elucidated by Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga. Dharaṇa may be translated as "holding", "holding steady", "concentration" or "single focus". When a person is able to concentrate for 24 seconds (Around half Minutes) on a single object or thought. It is said that he has achieved DHARNA, it requires regular practice of few months. You have to try daily mediation for at least one or two hours, if you are following YAMA & NIYAM, then you will find that, it is very easy to do concentration.

DHYANA

When you lie in Savasana ( Savasana, or Corpse Pose is an asana usually done at the end of a yoga practice in which practitioners lie flat on their backs with the heels spread as wide as the yoga mat and the arms at the sides of the body, palms facing upward.) after a good yoga class, you tend to feel relaxed, carefree, and almost weightless. The body is free from tension, the mind is calm, and all of a sudden, there is just more space within you. This is the perfect place to continue into meditation or dhyana. Dhyana is the 7th limb of yoga, building upon asana (physical posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (control of the senses, moving the focus to the inside), and dharana (concentration). The word dhyana comes from the Sanskrit word dhyai, which means “to think of.” When a person concentrate his mind for around 240 seconds (6 minutes) on a single object or thought, it is said that he is in state of meditation. Dhyana involves concentration and meditation on a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. This deeper concentration of the mind is the instrument of self-knowledge where one can separate illusion from reality, and eventually, reach the ultimate goal of yoga: samadhi (bliss, or union with the source). According to the Yoga Sutra, the purpose of meditation is to interrupt the fluctuations of the normal mental activity such as sensory knowledge, memory, and imagination. Out of these, memory is the hardest one to quiet, as it incessantly feeds us glimpses from the past along with an endless stream of thoughts and feelings. Like any other limb in yoga, meditation is a systematic process in itself, which takes practice (and patience) to learn.

SAMADHI !!

Which having obtained, he think there is no greater gain beyond it, wherein, established, he is not shaken even by heavy sorrow.”—Bhagavad-Gita: Ch. VI-22

The fruit of meditation is Samadhi. Samadhi is super conscious state, wherein the Yogi gets super-intuitional or super-sensual knowledge and Super-sensual bliss. He gets the vision of the Lord. He is in a state of communion with the Lord. He is in full enjoyment of the Divine Ecstasy or Divine Thrill. He has seen the Light of lights now. The five afflictions, reference to which was made in Lesson I, have now come to an end. All sorts of imperfections have disappeared. Just as the river has joined the sea, the individual soul has joined the Supreme Soul. All limitations have dropped now. This state cannot be described in words: It has to be felt by actual practice. There are neither wants nor desires here. All doubts and delusions, all sorrows and tribulations, all fears, differences, distinctions and dualities have vanished entirely. This is the ultimate goal of all spiritual practices. This is the goal of life. Samadhi is the eighth step of the Yogic ladder. Intuition, revelation, inspiration and ecstasy are all synonymous terms. The meditator and the meditated, the thinker and the thought, the worshipper and the worshipped, the subject and the object have now become identical. The meditator has merged himself in the Soul or the all-pervading Spirit. All watertight compartments have disappeared. The Yogi feels oneness and unity everywhere. He feels: “I have nothing more to learn. I have nothing more to do. I have nothing more to obtain.”

That which is night of all beings is the time of waking for the illumined Yogi; when other beings are waking, then it is night for him.

Yajnavalkya, the greatest Yogi says: “By Pranayama impurities of the body are destroyed; by Dharana or concentration impurities of the mind. By Pratyahara the impurities of attachment and by Samadhi everything that hides the Soul is removed.”

Samadhi is of two kinds viz., Savikalpa Samadhi and Nirvikalpa Samadhi. 

• Savikalpa is a lower Samadhi. In the Savikalpa Samadhi the Samskaras or latent impressions are not fried in total. There is support for the mind. There is still the triad of subtle type viz., the seer, sight and seen, or the knower, knowledge and knowable. So Savikalpa Samadhi cannot give full satisfaction, full freedom, full bliss and knowledge.
• In Nirvikalpa Samadhi all Samskaras are burnt. There is no support for the mind. The mind has merged into the all-pervading Spirit. There is no triad of seer, sight and seen, and so forth. Nirvikalpa Samadhi gives full satisfaction, full freedom, full bliss and full knowledge.

https://www.ashtangayoga.info/philosophy/source-texts-and-mantra/yoga-sutra/chapter-1/

http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras-23034.htm