YOGA

 Yoga emerged from India and was first noted in some of the most ancient texts known to human history - The Vedas. This 5,000 year old wisdom lists Yoga (and it’s sister science, Ayurveda) stemming from a belief system called Samkhya philosophy. For centuries, this philosophy was woven into Indian culture, but a student of Yoga would be taught individually by a master, or guru. In the late 19th century, yogis began to share their beliefs and practices with the Western world, leading to the largely diversified and somewhat sporadic system of Yoga we see today. Returning to the roots of Yoga philosophy and celebrating the history of this ancient system is paramount to CJM Yoga. 

 Yoga postures, or asana, are the most recognizable form of Yoga in the West. Traditionally, postures are meant to cleanse and strengthen the physical body in order to prepare for seated meditation (although some Yoga lines reject asana entirely). Many postures have been passed down from teacher to student by the earliest yogis who first developed them and observed their effects. The poses are often named in Sanskrit after Hindu gods or creatures as Yoga developed in conjunction with Hinduism and other eastern religions. Each Yoga asana has distinct energetic effects, and mindfully sequencing postures can create balance in the body. When the body is free of imbalance, the mind is then free to begin the journey towards union with Source.  

 Yoga breathwork, or pranayama, is another form of Yoga that assists in preparing for meditation. Ancient yogis were fascinated by the respiratory system, as it works automatically but can also be controlled. They learned that by controlling the breath, they could then control the body (and further, the mind). Like asana, the groundwork for the pranayama we practice today was developed over centuries of yogis experimenting with breath control. Prana means “life-force energy” and is that which gives objects their animated intelligence while yama means “control.” By practicing breathwork, we can begin to control the life-force energy within the body and make ready for union with Source. 

The benefits of meditation, or sitting in silence and focusing the mind on a single object, are profound. The yogis knew that dhyana, or meditation, was the final (and oftentimes, longest and most difficult) step on their journey towards communion with Source. There are many ways to practice mediation, whether you are being guided through a visualization, repeating a word or phrase (mantra), or focusing the mind on a single object (like the breath). As with asana and pranayama, various types of meditations affect the energetics of the body in different ways. It is important to explore each of these forms of Yoga with the guidance of a practiced teacher.

As one furthers their Yoga practice, becoming aware of how prana (life-force energy) flows through the body is essential. Once an understanding of this evolves, one can further their practice by incorporating use of the bandhas, or energy locks. By using these techniques, large amounts of energy can be moved, released, and/or stored in the body. These practices are advanced in nature and have the potential to cause more harm than good if not observed safely. CJM Yoga offers a safe approach to dabbling in the bandhas and ultimately building them into one’s practice. 

There are many paths to reaching union with Source, and some yogis choose to use sound and the repetition of those sounds to help them along. The idea behind using mantra, a sacred sound or utterance, stems from the very foundation of nondualism in Vedic philosophy. It is believed that the Universe was created by sound and exists as that energy today. By repeating sounds in the mind, one can become that sound and join with Source. Many eastern religions utilize mantra repetition (japa) in their rituals and worship. The use of mantra in a Yoga practice can intensify the intended energetic effects, so it is wise to practice these with an experienced teacher.