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Purna Yoga
Purna Yoga
An improvisation over the traditional Yoga systems of India, Purna Yoga or Integral Yoga is the art, wherein, people are taught to loving their own self by living from the heart. Just as the name suggests, ‘Purna’ which means ‘complete’, the Yoga aims at attaining a union of the body, mind and the spirit. It was thought that the traditional Yoga system revolved more around salvation and next life, rather than the present one. On the other hand, Integral Yoga lays more emphasis on the importance of Karma in our day-to-day lives.
Purna Yoga gives Yoga a positive and dynamic form. It suggests three levels of integration- the integration of the inner, the integration of the human psyche with its external environment and the integration of the psyche with its ultimate spiritual Ground. It not just brings optimism and positive energies to the body but also to the world at large. It is this united spirituality that proficiently combines self-transcendence with love, sympathy, and reverence for all living beings. It puts together the varied aspects of yoga, needed for transformation and healing.
Purna Yoga revolves around alignment-based asana, meditation and pranayama, along with nutrition and yogic living. According to the Integral Yoga the ultimate goal of life is complete self-integration. This self-integration involves other important elements like action, love, wisdom and peace. The yoga of love or devotion (Bhakti yoga) is perfectly right in affirming love as the fulfillment of life and as an essential ingredient of salvation. It is important to note that Purna Yoga does not separate love from wisdom and selfless action. Love in its spiritual essence is an attribute of wisdom.
Herein, the person realizes that the Divine is omnipresent, and that human beings have come from a common origin. The third stage of Purna Yoga comprises of a true recognition with the ‘Transcendental Divine’. It is thence that a person realizes that the Divine is not restricted within the being of a single individual and is neither within any other constituents of existence. The ultimate goal of a person is to reach the higher consciousness, known as the ‘Supramental Consciousness’ to attain liberation of the soul.
Mantra Yoga
Mantra Yoga
Mantra yoga is the chanting of mantras – words, phrases or syllables – in an attentive and thoughtful way, to attain certain goals. It is a form of meditation, in which one has to chant the mantra until he/she transcends his/her mind and emotions. In the process, the person discovers his/her super conscious. Studies suggest that the mantras possess unique healing potential, when they are chanted at a specific time. They are a tool to achieve stillness. The mantra should be discarded immediately after attaining the tranquility.
There are certain things to be considered, when following the path of Mantra Yoga. The first and foremost thing is the time, during which the mantras should be chanted. You should ensure that the mantra is recited only at the designated time. The second thing is correct pronunciation. Pronunciation is given immense priority, because not all the intended effect would come, if the mantras were not pronounced correctly. The third thing is the place, where they are recited. You should chant the mantras at a peaceful atmosphere, free of any external noises.
The mantra can be chanted in three ways. The first way is called ‘baikhari’, which can be chanted in a loud manner. This type of chanting is advantageous for removing unwanted thoughts from the mind, to make the meditation process easier. The second method of chanting is called ‘upanshu’, which involves the recitation of mantras in a very low voice, audible only to the practitioner. The third method is neither loud nor too low. It is called ‘manasik’, which involves the repetition of the mantra in mind. A subtle form of chanting mantras, the manasik method is used only by advanced practitioners.
Mantra Yoga is highly beneficial for improving the overall health and mental stability. It is a way to garner knowledge about the universe and find the unison of body, mind and soul within one’s self. Mantras help keep the individual away from the drudgery of everyday life, the material world and deviates the focus towards the essentials of life, which are nothing but a healthy body and a peaceful mind. By chanting the words in absolute concentration, you can control your wavering mind, thereby increasing your level of concentration.
Apart from giving you a peace of mind, Mantra Yoga helps you eliminate psychosomatic disorders. It helps banish nervous tension and sedimentary problems. The holistic path of Mantra Yoga helps you to get closely acquainted to your own self. Due to the increased stability of mind, you will lead a peaceful life, which is free of tensions, anxiety and stress. Mantra Yoga is the ultimate way to achieve peace and tranquility. It increases your feeling of security and boosts your self-confidence. It eliminates negative behavior as well. It is an ultimate cure for various addictions, because it purifies you from within.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is an ancient form of Yoga, which creates a communication between the mind and the body by making use of a set of technique that involve the mind, senses and body. In Sanskrit, the word ‘kundalini’ literally means ‘something that is coiled’. The life force, lying dormant in the seven chakras in the body, is regarded as a coiled up serpent and Kundalini is the untapped energy (prana), ‘coiled’ at the base of the spine that can be drawn up through the body, by awakening each of the seven chakras.
Kundalini Yoga focuses on the practitioner’s psycho-spiritual growth and the body’s potential for maturation. The enlightenment of the seven chakras of the body occurs, when the untapped energy (Kundalini) reaches the Crown Chakra. The type of Yoga is often represented as a snake, coiled at the base of the spine. Hence, the role of spine and the endocrine system are given special consideration by this type of Yoga. Kundalini Yoga also pays special attention to the breath and the movement of the person performing it.
Kundalini Yoga consists of Asanas that are performed in conjunction with a specific breath, which intensifies the effects of the particular poses. The purpose of such a control of breath is to freed the energy in the lower part of the body and allow it to move freely, in the upward direction within the body. The sequences of Kundalini, known as kriyas, consist of repetitive movements, done by holding a pose, while breathing in a specific way. The entire thing is done in a rapid pace, so that the person gets the full benefit of Kundalini Yoga.
Apart from the kriyas, Kundalini Yoga also involves the performance of meditation as well as the chanting of mantras. Pranayams and mudras are also done, while performing the Kundalini Yoga. All these focus on a specific area of the body. Since all theses are included in it, Kundalini Yoga is considered physically intense. According to the Yoga gurus, the stretching exercises included in Kundalini Yoga are not merely gymnastic exercises. In fact, the bodily postures, expressive movements and utterances are beneficial for the health in a number of ways. Apart from increasing the breath control, it aids in improving the concentration of the practitioner.
Kundalini Yoga is sometimes referred to as ‘the yoga of awareness’. This is because the different methods of breath control, the chanting of mantras, mental focus and various types of Asanas (typically with cross-legged position, with the spine positioned straight) together awaken the Kundalini within the body. By doing Kundalini Yoga, the infinite potential energy in the body is raises, with stimulates the higher centers, thereby giving the practitioner the enhanced intuition and mental clarity.