Yoga
The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. Yoga is the method to connect the mind, body, and spirit through stretching, building strength and deep breathing. Each pose or posture has specific physical benefits. Create heat in the body through movement and increase stamina and perfect alignment of the pose. The benefits of yoga are far beyond what the scientist have already discovered. Come, discover the truly transformational awakening with yoga! Yoga is much deeper than just a physical practice. At Dragonfly we believe in, practice and teach the 8 limbs of yoga.
Below find a brief overview of the Eight Limbs of Yoga
1) Yama
Yama has to do with ethics, integrity and how we practice yoga off our mat. The 5 yamas are non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-hoarding.
2) Niyama
Niyama has to do with self-discipline and spiritual practices. The 5 niyamas are cleanliness, contentment, spiritual purification, study of sacred texts, and devotion to one's higher power.
3) Asana
Asana is the physical posture and this is the limb that most of us in the west are strongest at. It's through asana that we dissolve tensions, build strength, eliminate toxins, increase mobility and circulation.
4) Pranayama
Pranayama is the expansion of life force through through breathing exercises. Did you notice the last time you got frustrated, angry, scared or anxiety ridden what happened to your breath? It probably became restricted, choppy and erratic. "Breath control leads to mind control" and if we want to really be healthy then our mind must be in state of peace.
5) Pratyahara
Pratyahara is the withdraw of the 5 senses. Our whole lives the 5 senses (touch, taste, see, hear, and smell) are inputing information into our being and pratyahara is where we turns those off so that we may turn from the outer world and experience the inner domain of the mind.
6) Dharana
Dharana is focus or concentration. Focus is like a muscle on the body, the more you use it the stronger it becomes. Dharana is like the laser beam that blasts through disctractiveness and paves the way for a calm, centered, still mind.
7) Dhyana
Dhyana is meditation or total absorption into the object upon that which is being focused on. In dhyana we dissolve separateness and experience the deep river of peace.
8) Samadhi
Samadhi is absolute, ecstatic transcendence moving beyond time, form and space. It's the goal of all yoga and the supreme state of consciousness.
Look at the Eight Limbs of Yoga as the spokes of a tire. Each one is equally important to turning the great wheel of yoga!
Yoga is so much more than the physical practice, Yoga is a way of being and living. At Dragonfly we love teaching and discussing the "whole" yoga life. Join us the first Friday of every month where we discuss yoga philosophy and how to learn to live the full yogi life.
We offer all types of yoga along with private lessons and Yoga Therapy by a Certified International Yoga Therapist. Call or click below to schedule your class or your appointment. We cant wait to share this truly life changing practice with you!
And Now The Teachings of Yoga Begin