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Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is a very specific system of yoga that is
taught at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in they city of Mysore, in India. Ashtanga Yoga works to synchronize the breath through a series of postures. These
specific postures are designed to generate an intense internal heat in your
body and to make you sweat profusely, in the process releasing the toxins from
your organs and muscles.
Fans of Ashtanga Yoga say that it leaves them feeling light and strong, with
improved circulation, flexibility, and a calm mind.
Ashtanga yoga consists of eight steps, each of which has to be mastered
before moving on to the next step. The first step is Yama, or control. This
pertains to moderating all desires and appetites, including that for food and
sex, and regulating the emotions such as anger, compassion, and honesty.
The second step is Niyama, or rules of conduct. This relates to being
content and having a spiritual outlook in your life.
The third step is Asanas (or postures). There are a total of 48 postures,
and at least one of them must be mastered to the point where you can hold the
posture and relax into a state of deep meditation.
The fourth step is Pranayana. This involves being able to control your
breath, and learning to use three different kinds of muscular control in the
process.
The fifth step is Pratyahara (or withdrawal of sensory perceptions). This is
a progressive practice that gradually gets you to the point where your mind and
breath are so still, your senses are absorbed into kundalini energy.
The sixth step is Dharana (or concentration). This involves the use of a
mantra (a deeply personal sacred sound that you repeat over and over) to deeply
concentrate on the six chakra energy centers, starting with the first and
graduating to the seventh chakra.
The seventh step is Dhyana (uninterrupted meditation). Your ego, mind, and
intellect completely dissolve into the universal consciousness.
The eighth and final step is Samadhi (or complete equilibrium). You are one
with the universal mind. When you reach this state and are able to stay there
at will, there is no longer any need to practice Ashtanga Yoga any longer,
because the ultimate goal has been met.
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