Differences Between Asana and Ashtanga Done)
-
Upload
lim-kong-yaw -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
0
Transcript of Differences Between Asana and Ashtanga Done)
-
8/6/2019 Differences Between Asana and Ashtanga Done)
1/2
Differences between Asana and Ashtanga yoga
Hatha Yoga is one of the two branches of Yoga that focus on the physical culture, the
other one being Raja Yoga. Both of these are commonly referred to as Ashtanga Yoga,
i.e., Yoga of eight parts ('ashta' meaning eight and 'anga' meaning limbs). The eightlimbs are described below in detail. The main difference is that Raja Yoga uses asanas
to mainly get the body ready for prolonged meditation, and hence focuses more on the
meditative asana poses: Lotus Pose (Padmasana), Accomplished Pose (Siddhasana),
Easy Pose (Sahajasana) and Pelvic Pose (Vajrasana); Hatha Yoga utilizes most of the
asana poses. Similarly, Raja Yoga's use of Pranayama is also devoid of extensive locks
(Bandha). Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water, following
the same concept as the yin-yang), male and female, positive and negative, similar butnot completely analogous to yin and yang. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and
body via physical exercises, or "asanas", controlled breathing, and the calming of the
mind through relaxation and meditation. Asanas teach poise, balance & strength and
are practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for
meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment.
The Yoga of Patanjali is Ashtanga or comprised of 8 limbs, Yama and Niyama, which
are ethical obligations, Asana, Pranayama, which is breath control, Pratyahara, which issense withdrawal, Dharana, which is concentration, Dhyana, which is meditation, and
Samadhi, which is the experience of unity with God. The eight limbs are more precisely
viewed as eight levels of progress, each level providing benefits in and of itself and also
laying the foundation for the higher levels.
In some schools of thought, only Raja Yoga is considered to be Ashtanga Yoga, and
Hatha Yoga is thought to consist of six limbs focused on attaining Kundalini. In this
scheme, the six limbs of Hatha Yoga are defined as Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama,
Mudra (specific postures to help lock in the breath), Nadanusandhana (hearing of the
eternal sound within the body), the whole process cultiminating in the attainment of
Kundalini. Due to this, this version of Hatha yoga is also sometimes referred to as
Kundalini Yoga.
-
8/6/2019 Differences Between Asana and Ashtanga Done)
2/2
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is the style of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore,
India, and originally established by Sri Krishnamacharya at the Mysore Palace. The
asana sequences in Ashtanga Yoga' are largely based on Krishnamacharya's book
Yoga Makaranda. It is an energetic, aerobic style and was originally intended for
teenage boys, but is now practiced by students of all ages.
The term ashtanga, meaning eight limbs, refers to the eight limbs of yoga. In Raja Yoga,
a classical Indian system of Hindu philosophy, these were expounded by Patanjali in the
Yoga Sutras.
Ashtanga seeks to embody the traditional eight limbs of yoga (referred to as ashtanga
or Raja Yoga) as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga Yoga is said to
have its origin in the ancient text Yoga Korunta by Vamana Rishi, which
Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari at Mount Kailash,
and later passed on to Pattabhi Jois. Having taught many of the major yoga teachers of
the 20th century, such as B.K.S. Iyengar and Indra Devi, Krishnamacharya has a huge
influence on many of the modern forms of yoga taught today and played a crucial part in
their development. Today, Ashtanga remains the most faithful to his original teachings
[citation needed] to teenage boys. Krishnamacharya was well-known for tailoring his
teachings to address specific concerns of the person or group he was teaching, and Ashtanga Vinyasa is a result of this. When working under the convalescing Maharaja of
Mysore, Krishnamacharya set up a shala, or yoga school, in the palace grounds and
adapted Ashtanga practice for the young boys of about twelve years of age who lived
there. Ashtanga, therefore, is a very physically demanding practice targeted at focusing
the mind and body.