YogaCaps
Yoga
YogaCaps, Inc.
YogaCaps practices many types of yoga, with Yogic Suksham Vyayam and Freeing the Joints being the most gentle. These are "tip to toes" practices that require relatively little effort, yet yield powerful results. Also Included in our classes are Flowing with Grace, Prenatal and traditional Hath yoga. You can learn the descriptions of these classes schedule info by clicking this link.
We also teach classes on the History of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Sanskrit for Yoga and Yogic Lifestyle, and we invite you to contact us if you have interest in these topics.
Yoga works on all aspects of a person: the physical, vital, mental, emotional, psychic and spiritual. The word yoga means ‘unity' and is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means “to join”. This unity or joining is described in spiritual terms as the union of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.
The science of yoga begins to work on our outermost aspect: the physical body. Then it moves to the mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Yoga may not provide a cure for the everyday stresses of life, but it does present a proven method for coping with it. Yoga works with the five elements of nature.
Ashtang Yoga - The Eight-Fold Path
Patanjali Maharishi is considered the founder of ashtang yoga. The Eight limbs of Yoga which purify the body and mind as described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras are listed below. Numbers one and two represent bahiranga sadhana or external practices; while numbers three through eight represent antaranga sadhana or internal practices.
1.Yama or Great Universal Commandments:
a.Ahimsa (Non-violence):
b.Satya (Truth):
c.Asteya (Non-stealing):
d.Brahmacharya (Self-control):
e.Aparigraha (Unselfishness):
2.Niyama or Personal Disciplines:
a.Shaucha (Cleanliness):
b.Santosha (Contentment):
c.Tapas (Great effort):
d.Svadhyaya (Self-study):
e.Ishvara Pranidhana (Faith in God):
3. Asana or Postures
In the Yogic scriptures it is said that there were originally 8.4 million asanas. In today’s time, we know only a few hundred of them. In our classes, we practice a few postures on regular basis and also learn a few new ones in each class.
Asanas are scientific exercises. They not only make us strong and supple, but they also help to remove impurities from our bodies. They also improve the memory, concentration and will-power. Asanas differ from other types of physical exercises in that when asanas are performed, respiration and metabolic rates slow down, the consumption of oxygen and the body temperature drop.
4. Pranayam or Breath Control
The word Pranayam is comprised of 2 roots: prana and ayam. Prana means ‘vital energy’ or ‘life force’. Although closely related to the air we breathe, it is more subtle than air or oxygen. Pranayam should not be considered as mere breathing exercises aimed at introducing extra oxygen into the lungs. It utilizes breathing to influence the flow of prana in the nadis or the energy channels of the pranamaya kosha or energy body.
5. Pratyahara means control of the senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing)
6. Dharana means concentration
7. Dhyana or meditation
Meditation is a way of awakening the inner self. It disciplines and directs the mind towards a desired end. People suffering from inner conflicts due to divergent emotions, worry, anxiety, indecisiveness, and the like, greatly benefit by the practice of meditation.
If the mind is set free from the memories of past experiences (even for a few minutes), if it is absolutely tensionless and one-pointed, it’s energies can be directed towards the exploration the exploration of the unknown, the unseen, and the unheard regions. Transcendental knowledge dawns in this deep state of calmness.
Most of us know the power of Prayers. There is one very important difference between prayers and meditation. In prayers, we talk to God while in meditation we listen to God.
8. Samadhi - perfect uninterrupted concentration, totally liberated state in which heart and mind have been unified and the yogi is one with life.and Freeing teh
