Before you go ahead and buy an shtanga yoga dvd, you should probably know exactly what is Ashtanga yoga and where did it originate from. According to Yoga Sutras of Maharshi Patanjali, it is described in Sanskrit as "Ashta + anga" is Ashtanga where "Ashta" means eight and "Anga" is limbs so it means Eight Limb path. The base of yoga sutras are the asanas, pranayamas or the dharana or the yam and niyam. Raja Yoga is also referred to as Ashtanga Yoga because eight limbs rests on where Raja Yoga means royal and also sometimes called the crown of Hatha Yoga. The enhancement in our power of concentration moves all our attention towards the source of our life form in order to become that mortal. Raja adjoins concentration after body and mind that are cleaned and trained to stay calm and conscientious. Most Ashtanga yoga DVD's have information about all of these aspects of this form of yoga.
In the year 5000 BC as illustrated in Vedic Philosophy and tantras, it is said that Yoga has its ancestry. Patanjali, great astute composed this path into a Darshan (Philosophy) where he has formulated Yoga as an Eight Limbs or Eight Fold path.
Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga (most Ashtanga yoga dvd's have information about all 8 of these limbs):
- Yama - Restraints ( harmlessness, truthfulness, non-stealing, control of senses, non possessiveness)
- Niyama (Personal Disciplines, cleanliness, purification of body, mind and nervous system, study of metaphysical principles, contemplation on God.
- Asana - A constant and comfortable pose which helps to manage mental balance.
- Pranayama - Control of breathing and life-currents .
- Pratyahara – Turning the attention within
- Dharana - Concentration on Object, Concentration of mind on one object and its field.
- Dhyan - Meditation prolonged periods of perfect concentration and contemplation)
- Samadhi - Holy Trance
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