The Yoga rules

By Paul Jerard

Everyone wants to be in better shape. There are multitudes of exercise programs and fitness regimens out there. New-fangled machinery and tools are constantly showing up on television, promising instant results; but these new ideas still can't stand up to the ancient art of yoga.

The history of yoga dates back millennia. It's believed that yoga originally developed in India. The word yoga is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to "uniting." While it is connected to many Indian religions, it's not a religion itself. Yoga is regarded as both a philosophy and a science.

The earliest discoveries of yogic positions are the Indus Valley seals. Dating to the third millennium B.C., these seals show figures in different poses. These are believed to be the precursors to the modern form of yoga. Some archaeologists suggest that these positions were performed by humans and deities in ancient beliefs.

John Marshall discovered the most famous of these seals, the Pashupati seal. He claimed that it represented a Shiva figure, though modern archaeologists dispute this. There is still debate on whether these seals represent yoga at all.

Yoga is a 5,000 year old practice, but began appearing in Sanskrit texts much later. Some of these texts, called the Upanishads, outline many principle beliefs of Hinduism including the philosophy of yoga. Later, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras united many texts to form a grand summary of early yoga. The Yoga Sutras connect these practices to the Hindu belief system.

Quieting the mind, tranquility, and being present in this life, are some of the primary goals of yoga, as prescribed by Patanjali. At the time of this writing, becoming a yoga instructor is a part of mastering this discipline. By helping others, we also achieve a tranquil state of mind.

ฉ Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html