Natural Method Yoga Studio

Now at the Walter Elwood Museum, 300 Guy Park Ave Amsterdam, NY | 518. 866~3621

Namaste!

Welcome, Friend!

Understanding What Yoga Means

Yoga is more than stretching, although that is the aspect more folks are familiar with. Yoga is a body of philosophy from India that is 5,000-7,000 years old. Along with Ayurveda (natural medicine) and Vastu (home design), these sister sciences contact vast wisdom. The philosophy of Yoga is nearly identical to Quantum Physics, only thousands of years older.

Yoga is the sanskrit word for union; it simultaneously means union with God* and union with all of existence. There are four major braches or paths of yoga:

* A personal, spiritual connection for folks of all faiths.

Karma - unselfish serving of others (ex. Mother Theresa)
Bhakti - forming a personal relationship with spiritulity (ex. those who chant of sing spiritually)
Jnana - yoga of study and meditation, wisdom alone (ex. a monk)
Raja - yoga brach of which hatha is part. This is the kind of yoga that is found more commonly in the western world.

There are eight "limbs" or pieces of Raja / Hatha yoga "sadhana" or study:

Yama (avoidances- don'ts)
Niyama (observances- do's)
Asana (poses)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (Inward focus of senses or awareness)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (super-conscious state of enlightenment, usually temporary)

The yamas and niyamas are a moral code, the principles of which are outlined below. They are blended into the natural method and all that occurs here at studio. When a class contains a meditation portion, we are working on a Dhyana practice. From yama to Dharana, these skills are being exercised in every natural method yoga class, including bellydance. Our studio stays quiet during class to allow the energies to draw inward. During final relaxation we let our circle of awareness expand to allow reconnection with Mother Nature and Self. Samadhi is a state of heightened awareness, similar to the sublime and surreal feelings of being first in love or deeply moved or inspired. It is a hope that students will find that place from time to time, on or off the mat.

The yamas are:

ahimsa: non-violence & non-harm (to self or other living things)
satya: non-lying (truthfulness)
brahmacharya: not wasting & moderation
asteya: avoidance of stealing or stolen goods
aparigraha: not accepting bribes

The Niyamas are:

saucha: purity/cleanliness
santosha: contentment
tapas: austerity or diligence
swadhyaya: self-studying to develop awareness & wisdom
ishwara pranidhana: surrendering to accept the natural and perfect flow of reality (This does not imply abandoning effort - just practicing acceptance of what is and loving value of all life & experience.)





Now at the Walter Elwood Museum, 300 Guy Park Ave Amsterdam, NY \| 518. 866~3621
Namaste!		Welcome, Friend! Understanding What Yoga Means Yoga is more than stretching, although that is the aspect more folks are familiar with. Yoga is a body of philosophy from India that is 5,000-7,000 years old. Along with Ayurveda (natural medicine) and Vastu (home design), these sister sciences contact vast wisdom. The philosophy of Yoga is nearly identical to Quantum Physics, only thousands of years older. Yoga is the sanskrit word for union; it simultaneously means union with God* and union with all of existence. There are four major braches or paths of yoga: * A personal, spiritual connection for folks of all faiths. Karma - unselfish serving of others (ex. Mother Theresa) Bhakti - forming a personal relationship with spiritulity (ex. those who chant of sing spiritually) Jnana - yoga of study and meditation, wisdom alone (ex. a monk) Raja - yoga brach of which hatha is part. This is the kind of yoga that is found more commonly in the western world. There are eight "limbs" or pieces of Raja / Hatha yoga "sadhana" or study: Yama (avoidances- don'ts) Niyama (observances- do's) Asana (poses) Pranayama (breath control) Pratyahara (Inward focus of senses or awareness) Dharana (concentration) Dhyana (meditation) Samadhi (super-conscious state of enlightenment, usually temporary) The yamas and niyamas are a moral code, the principles of which are outlined below. They are blended into the natural method and all that occurs here at studio. When a class contains a meditation portion, we are working on a Dhyana practice. From yama to Dharana, these skills are being exercised in every natural method yoga class, including bellydance. Our studio stays quiet during class to allow the energies to draw inward. During final relaxation we let our circle of awareness expand to allow reconnection with Mother Nature and Self. Samadhi is a state of heightened awareness, similar to the sublime and surreal feelings of being first in love or deeply moved or inspired. It is a hope that students will find that place from time to time, on or off the mat. The yamas are: ahimsa: non-violence & non-harm (to self or other living things) satya: non-lying (truthfulness) brahmacharya: not wasting & moderation asteya: avoidance of stealing or stolen goods aparigraha: not accepting bribes The Niyamas are: saucha: purity/cleanliness santosha: contentment tapas: austerity or diligence swadhyaya: self-studying to develop awareness & wisdom ishwara pranidhana: surrendering to accept the natural and perfect flow of reality (This does not imply abandoning effort - just practicing acceptance of what is and loving value of all life & experience.)