Yoga: A Gem for Women - Is Yoga Ideal for Women?

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Is Yoga Ideal for Women?

 

In Chapter VI, Geeta entitles the chapter as, "Is Yoga Ideal for Women?"
You may wonder how this chapter differs from when she asked in Chapter IV "if women were eligible for yoga? "

 

                   Let's find out...:)

But I'm sure you've already guessed the answer!

'Yoga", Geeta writes, "helps woman to fulfil her tasks as well as to maintain her completion, lustre, and femininity. She no longer needs cosmetics, as proper circulation makes her skin glow.  It is no exaggeration to say that yogic practices are ideally designed to help her in all conditions and circumstances of her daily life."

Geeta describes how yoga is an ideal exercise because it exercises the entire body and brings lightness to the body, ability to work and resistance from disease.
Yoga improves respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, glandular, genito-urinary and eliminatory systems.

Geeta writes about the 5 sheaths or layers, which are Annamaya kosa (outer sheath), Pranamaya kosa (physiological body), Manomaya kosa(psychological body), Vijnanamaya kosa (intellectual sheath) and Anandamaya kosa (spiritual body and innermost sheath).

The sheath, like the 8 petals of yoga are all interdependent and interpenetrating.  Asana and Pranayama brings total attention to all the sheaths from the physical to the spiritual - and vice versa.

Geeta writes much more very interesting and inspiring things about yoga in this chapter. 
I love how she describes it as a special gift. I think sometimes we don't always remember this, but it is a gift that I feel very lucky to have found and incorporated into my life.

I hope you will give yourself the gift of yoga today!
Try a few poses like sirsasana, sarvangasana, halasana or setubandha sarvangasana - Geeta writes these poses supply fresh blood to the brain and keeps it alert, active and at the same time in a restful state.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 



Yoga: A Gem for Women - The Nature of Health

Yoga: A Gem for Women - The Nature of Health

 

Chapter Five Geeta writes about the Nature of Health, with information about the Importance of Health, Definition of Health, and How Health is Achieved. 
She also writes about the Nature of Disease and the Health According to Yoga.

Geeta says that, "No amount of wealth can equal health."  Which I'm sure most of us have heard in some form or another.  I know from travelling a bit over the years that some of the most content people, people who seemed to enjoy life were not those that necessarily had a lot of money.

Geeta gives quotes from the Upanisads and the Caraka Samhita, which says that to attain the four objectives of human existence (dharma, artha, kama and moksa), good health is needed.  This is a peaceful state in both body and mind.

When Geeta defines health she writes, "Life without happiness is mere existence."  Meaning that good health is not just physical, but physiological and psychological.  This comes from discipline of the mind through careful practice of asana and pranayama.  It cannot, as Geeta says, "be brought or bartered."

The aim of yoga, we are told is to restrain both physical disturbances and mental modifications to achieve one's goal.

Geeta writes, the "practice of Yoga brings not only physical health, but also mental health.  Its teaches one how to conquer obstacles so that one can live peacefully and in perfect happiness to achieve the goal of life - Self-realization."

Take stock of your health today- mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Give thanks for the good you have and know you can continue to work on the other areas with the support of your yoga practice.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com


REminder - no classes this week and March Updates

Reminder - No Classes Feb. 18-25th Classes resume February 27th I hope you all have a wonderful week. I have taken the February break off to spend with my family.  Hope to see you back at class the week after. Since I'm sending out an email I thought I would add the updates for March. There is a new class - Exploring the Elements for 5 Thursday's in March. Each week we will explore a new element with the use of the help of the chair. The Tuesday 5:30-7:00p.m. class will now be an All Levels class. This class is open to those who have taken the Basic/Beginner level class or have some yoga experience. March 14th I am teaching a FREE class - Intro. to Iyengar Yoga.  Please share and pre-register. I will also be teaching at two workshops. March 4th - 1:30-4:30 in Saskatoon at JNS Yoga Studio March 25&26 - Indigo Yoga Retreat - Waskesiu Lake - I am happy to be asked to teach a few sessions for this wonderful retreat weekend. For my schedule and more information please check out my website. www.plnyoga.blogspot.com or email me at plnyogastudio@gmail.com. This site has class info., when there is no classes and also much more blog posts and even yoga poses and sequences. Thank you! Pam Nelson March Classes

Tuesday's - Yoga Sublime 10:15-11:30a.m. - A.M. Level 1/2 12:00-1:00p.m. - Noon Yoga - at Forest Centre 5:30-7:00p.m. - All Levels 7:15-8:15 p.m. -Basic/Beginner - Free class March 14th Wednesday's - Christopher Lake 7:00-8:15 p.m. -All Levels Workshops March 4th - 1:30-4:30p.m. - JNS Yoga Studio, Saskatoon - Light on Life: Think Light and Feel Light March 25&26 - Indigo Yoga Retreat - info@indigoyogaco.ca Thursday's - Yoga Sublime 1:30-2:30p.m. - Senior/Modified 5:30-6:45p.m. - Gentle/Restorative 7:15-8:30p.m. - Exploring the Elements (5 weeks) Saturday's - Yoga Sublime 9:00-10:15a.m. - A.M. Eye Opener Upcoming in April : Thursday 7:15-8:15 p.m. - Senior/Modified April 22nd - Celebrate Earth Day- 11a.m.-1p.m. Upcoming in May: Watch for more information on Mother's Day Retreat! Also the return of Thursday morning classes

The benefits of yoga can only be experienced through the practice of yoga. B.K.S.Iyengar

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Are Women Eligible for Yoga?

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Are Women Eligible for Yoga?

 

 

In chapter 4, Geeta answers the question about women being eligible for yoga. 

In today's world it does seem like an odd question to ask as yoga classes seems to be very female dominated.

Years ago though there was a time when  yoga was practiced more by men and the doors to "the study of philosophy, science, arts and yoga were shut to her."

 

Geeta does write that yoga is beneficial to both men and women, but that women "need yoga even more than men as the responsibilities thrust upon them by Nature are greater than men's"

 

Geeta gives many references dating back to the Vedas where women practiced yoga and women were held in high esteem.

It was during the time when India was invaded that women suffered and yoga was no longer readily available to them.

 

The status of women has greatly improved and Geeta says that the "path of yoga is open to all, irrespective of race, caste, creed, and sex.  Anyone can attain liberation through Yoga."

 

 

This chapter, specific to women though addresses the four stages of a women's life.  Childhood, adolescence, middle age and old age.  Each stage has changes that occur within that affect the physical and physiological organs as well as a woman's mind.  During each stage a woman has to also perform many roles - daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend - giving her best in each role and to play her part in society with added stress of outside occupations.

 

 

Geeta explains very well the joys, but also the overwhelming burden each stage can create for a woman with the many duties that nature thrusts on her.  Yoga here helps to stabilize the physical and mental states and "face the world and its dualities with equanimity" and "without expecting any fruits or rewards."

 

Today, being Family Day where I live, celebrate the great wonders and joy of your family.  Gratitude for mother's, father's, sister's, brother's, husband's, wives', etc. 

Take a few moments to sit, relax with the breath, think about the many great benefits you receive from your family.  Also, give yourself a few moments and reflect on all you do - do so with gratitude for being able to be there for your family.  Giving yourself some time on the mat with help you to be more centred and available for those around you.  It is not selfish to know you need your practice as it benefits all.

 

Happy Family Day!

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

 

 

 



Yoga: A Gem for Women - Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi

 

 

Withdrawing the senses inward (pratyahara) leads...with great restraint and practice to the last three limbs of Patanjali's astanga yoga. 

 

That is:

Dharana - Concentration - where the senses are focused on the Individual Soul. 

 

Dhyana - Meditation - is when, as Geeta writes, "the sadhaka sustains and maintains the focus of attention throughout concentration, unbounded by time and space."  At this time, "the body, the breath, the mind, the intellect, and the ego, all lose their individual existence and merge into one single state of Being."

"The merging of the Individual Soul with the Universal Soul is meditation."

Geeta writes about Saguna and Nirguna meditation. The first is meditation done with support by concentration on a deity and Nirguna is without support.

 

Samadhi - Self-Realization - This final stage, like the others needs to be experienced to truly know its meaning.  Geeta writes and explains this as when the identity of the sadhaka becomes both externally and internally immersed in meditation. 

 

This Chapter on "The Path of Yoga" contains much wisdom and is worth reading and re-reading.

It brings more awareness to the limbs of yoga from the beginning with the outer pursuits, to move inward to the internal pursuits and ultimately the innermost pursuits.

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com



Yoga: A Gem for Women - Pratyahara

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the disciplining of the senses.  Geeta describes it as the "five organs of sense come in contact with the external world at the instance of the mind."

The sense organs are easily drawn into the outer world and need to be "restrained and directed inward towards the Source of all existence."

Geeta lays out the process of acquiring Self -knowledge or cognition as follows: Object, sense organ, mind, and soul. When combined form KNOWLEDGE.  If this combination is disturbed an interruption is created.

I like how Geeta differentiates between absentmindedness and drawing inward.  Sometimes our eyes are open, we see, but don't see. This is absentmindedness.

Pratyahara is when "the mind is purposefully withdrawn from the sense organs so that they lose contact with the sense objects."  - or the outer world. The "citta is brought under control as are the organs of sense."

Take some time today to sit or lie down.  At the beginning notice the sounds, smells, feel of the air around you and earth below you.  Then begin to focus on the breath.  The feel of the breath moving in and out.  Without trying to change the breath, just follow it.  As the body relaxes you may feel a movement of senses inward. You can feel and experience a state of peacefulness within where the outer world is not drawing you towards it.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com