International Day of Yoga 2021 🧘🏿‍♂️

On June 21st, The 7th International Day of Yoga will be celebrated across the world. The day is special, has to be special for the yogis, yoga practitioners, aspirants, and enthusiasts across the globe. Yoga, with itś origins mentioned in Indian Vedic literature, is practiced around the world today with the same zeal and fervor and for many purposes. We may say that yoga is arguably the best gift of India to mankind for spiritual and harmonious living.

If we delve into the purpose behind practicing yoga, we must go to itś root and learn from the gurus who mastered it through a lineage over thousands of years.

What is the origin of yoga? what are the types of yoga?

Yoga is considered eternal as the Vedas. Lord Shiva or Adinath or Adiguru is considered the first exponent of Yoga; the eternal First Guru. Lord Shiva commands/deserves the highest of respect among the supreme yogis. Many believe that Lord Shiva is the originator of the Primordial Guru of Nath Sampradaya (tradition).

Sage Kapila, the founder of “Samkhya School of Philosophy”, is considered the complete and perfect yogi. A knower of truth about the whole existence. He propounded the darshan/philosophy of yoga as a means to overcome or transcend the three types of suffering in life, adhibautika, adhidaivika and adhyatmika.

Sage Patanjali, in his darshan/philosophy, expounded the discipline & practice of yoga to achieve the state of Samadhi; a pure and eternal blissful state. “Patanjali Yoga Sutras” has eight limbs (Astanga) viz.

• Yama (Restrain)
• Niyama (self-discipline/observation)
• Asana (physical posture)
• Pranayama (breath regulation)
• Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)
• Dharana (concentration)
• Dhyana (meditation)
• Samadhi (state of pure consciousness).

Hatha Yoga, part of Nath tradition and also practiced widely in modern times focuses on the subtler aspect of humans starting from the gross. Hatha yoga emphasizes inner organs cleansing (Shat Karma) before stepping into the practice of Asana followed by Pranayama. Hatha Yoga explores and channelizes human potential and energy through additional limbs of Mudra (yogic gesture) & Bandha (lock) for the proper flow & retention of panic energy.
Many aspects of hatha yoga are common in both Yogic and Tantrik traditions. However, Tantra focuses on the Chakras and Kundalini awakening whereas hatha yoga practices prepare and leads one to Raj-Yoga.

Yoga is empty without the “four paths of yoga” as propagated by Yogeshwar Shri Krishna in ‘Srimad Bhagavad Gita”. The path of karma yoga (yoga of action), Jnana yoga (yoga of knowledge), bhakti yoga (yoga of devotion/love) & dhyana/raj yoga (yoga of meditation).
Lord Krishna merges the householder life and spirituality into one and Bhagavad Gita offers a very practical solution for modern lifestyle issues.

What is yoga? What are the goals of yoga? How yoga can help?

Yoga is a spiritual lifestyle, a science and art of living in the harmony with the self, others, and nature. Yoga does not believe in competition. Yoga helps in manifesting the dormant infinite potential of an individual, brings out and hone creativity, and offers complete happiness and peace.

What is the purpose of yoga?

Dukha (suffering) seems inherent in everyone’s life and the
purpose of yoga
is total annihilation of sufferings and not limited to just physical or/and mental benefits.

Who is a beginner at yoga?

Any yoga enthusiast, practitioner, or even yoga teacher who has no clue of Vedas and Shad Darshan, has not studied Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Bhagavad Gita, etc. Someone just practicing one or two aspect/limbs of yoga, irrespective of years is also considered as a beginner of yoga.

What about modern yoga?

We believe in classical yoga with thousands of years of literature, tradition, and lineage behind, preserved, and propagated by guru-shishya (guru-disciple) tradition. The modern so-called yoga, with no reliance on ancient sources/literature to back, primarily is based and limited to the physical aspect and that too with limitations and competition (directly or indirectly) oriented.

Anybody who is interested to learn, understand, practice and live authentic and traditional yoga is welcome to join us at SWAN.

Hari Om Tat Sat 🙏

May we all become healthier,
May we all become wiser,
may we all become loving,
May we all become peaceful.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
☮️