The question of -what is yoga- no longer holds as much mystery in the western world as it use to. With the current explosion of yoga interest in the world most people have at least some idea and an opinion on the subject.
Heath, flexibility, breath-control, peace of mind, relaxation, spiritual growth, longevity, are just a few words which what different people think yoga is or what yoga can bring to them. In fact they are all right, as yoga is a complete science of life, and therefore covers all aspects of life whether you are stretching on the mat, sitting for meditation or just getting on with mundane every day activities.
Yoga originated in India many thousands of years ago, it is the oldest system of personal development in the world, encompassing body, mind and spirit. Anyone can practice yoga. You don't need special equipment or clothes, just a small amount of space and a strong desire for a healthier, more fulfilled life. Many people are drawn to yoga as a way to keep their bodies fit and supple, good to look at and to live in. Others are seeking help or relief for a specific complaint, like tension or backache. Some are merely impelled by a sense that they are not getting as much out of life as they could be. Whatever your reason, with regular practice, yoga can be a tool, an instrument for you - giving you both what you came for, and more.
To understand what yoga is all about you need to experience it for yourself, don’t blindly believe what you read or hear, understand from your own experience. At first glance it seems to be little more than a series if physical postures, which keep the body lean and flexible. But in time, anyone who continues with regular practice becomes aware of a subtle change in their approach to life - for through persistently toning and relaxing the body and stilling the mind, you being to glimpse a state of inner peace which is your true nature.
It is this that constitutes the essence of yoga - this self-realization that we are seeking, consciously or unconsciously, and towards which we are all gradually evolving. |
This question needs to be answered as there are so many different styles and schools; paths and viewpoints sometimes it gets confusing.
Yoga is a living science - one that has evolved over thousands of years and continues to evolve in accordance with the needs of humanity. Today most yoga practice would not resemble the practices of yesterday different schools, ashrams and centers of yoga have open up all over the western world since the start of the twentieth century. Teachers have developed techniques and changed emphasis, and then given names to their ‘new’ methods. Today there are so many to choose from it can be difficult to know where to start. These ‘schools’ should not be confused with different ‘paths’ of yoga, which are view points or methodologies rather than the teaching style of one guru or establishment from another.
The yoga classes being taught at new heaven is a mixture of different schools of yoga and includes discussion on the different paths. A brief discribtion of the different components we cover is laid out for you to read in the hatha yoga section, which is the area or ‘ path’ of yoga we follow most closely. |
Hatha yoga is the most commonly known of the yoga of technique. It literally means the yoga of effort or force. While the tendency is to identify it with the physical yoga and asana practise, it is more than that. Classical hatha yoga texts like hatha yoga pradipika and gheranda samhita are tantric and teach not only asana but a whole range of tantric methods of purification, mantra and meditation.
The asana-dominated yoga of the west is sometimes called hatha yoga because in hatha texts we find the most detailed explanation of various asanas. In this regard, the best asana teachers and perhaps the greatest development of asana can be found in the west today in india the main yogic path is devotion and asana is generally treated superficially. However, western hatha yoga seldom goes into the meditation parts of classical hatha yoga. Therefore it is not entirely correct to call it hatha yoga. Classical hatha yoga employs powerful methods of internal cleansing that demand very special living circumstances. Hatha yoga is said to lead us to raja yoga or the higher yoga, in which meditation becomes the main concern. |
Certain specific body positions, asanas, open the energy channels and psychic centres of the body.
Developing control of the body through these practices enabled them to control the mind and energy. Yogasanas became tools to higher awareness, providing the stable foundation necessary for the exploration of the body, breath, mind and higher states.
The mind and body are not separate entities although there is a tendency to think and act as though they are. The gross form of the mind is the body and the subtle form of the body is the mind. The practice of asana integrates and harmonises the two. Both the body and the mind harbour tensions or knots. Asana releases these knots by dealing with them on the physical level, acting somato-psychically, through the body to the mind.
Regular practice of asana maintains the physical body in an optimum condition and promotes heath even in an unhealthy body. Through asana practice, the dormant energy potential is released and experienced as increased confidence in all areas of life. |
Breathing is life. We can live for days without food or water, but deprive us of the breath and we will die in minutes. In view of this, it is astonishing how little attention we pay in normal life to the importance of breathing correctly. To a yogi there are two main functions of proper breathing: to bring more oxygen to the blood, and thus the brain: and to control prana or vital energy, leading to control of the mind.
Pranayama - the science of breath control - consists of a series of exercises especially intended to meet these needs and keep the body in vibrant health.
Yoga breathing exercises teach you how to control prana and thus control the mind, for the two are interdependent.
Your state of mind is reflected in the way you breathe, it follows that by controlling the breath you can learn to control your state of mind. By regulating your breathing you are thus not only increasing your intake of oxygen and prana, but preparing yourself for the practice of concentration and meditation. |
Living with mind and body relaxed is our natural state, those who retain the art possess the key to good health, vitality and peace of mind, for relaxation is a tonic for the whole being, liberating vast resources of energy.
The state of our minds and the state of our bodies are intimately linked. If your muscles are relaxed, then your mind must be relaxed. If the mind is anxious, then the body suffers too. All action originates in the mind. When the mind receives a stimulus that alerts it to the need for action, it sends a message via the nerves to contract the muscles in readiness. In the hustle and bustle of the modern world, the mind is continuously bombarded with stimuli which may cause us to freeze in the alerted 'fight or flight' pattern of response. As a result, many people spend much of their lives - even while asleep - in a state of physical and mental tension. Everyone has their own particular trouble spots - whether it is a clenched jaw, a furrowed brow, or a stiff neck. This unnecessary tension not only causes a lot of discomfort but is an enormous drain on our energy resources and a major cause of tiredness and ill-health. For energy is being used both to tell the muscles to contract and to keep them contracted, even if we are only half aware of it.
Learning the technique of relaxation, that is an essential part of yoga practice. During the daily class, and more in depth on the 4 day course, we will be practicing various methods of relaxation and letting the tension go. |
Consciously or unconsciously we are all seeking the peace of mind that meditation brings.
All of us have our own ways of finding this peace, our own meditative habits- sitting in the garden watching the butterflies, diving in the big blue sea, oblivious to the passing of time.
For when our attention is fully engaged, the mind becomes silent; when we succeed in restricting our thoughts to one object, the incessant internal chattering stops. Indeed the contentment we feel when our minds are absorbed often comes less from the activity itself than from the fact that, in concentrating, our worries or problems are forgotten.
But these activities can only bring us a short interlude of peace for as long as they absorb our interest. Once the mind is distracted, it returns to its normal routine of aimless wandering - wasting its energy on thoughts of the past or dreams of the future, continually sidestepping the matter at hand. To find a more lasting contentment, you need to train the mind in meditation.
Meditation is the practice by which there is constant observation of the mind. It means focusing the mind on one point, stilling the mind in order to perceive the self. By stopping the waves of thoughts you come to understand your true nature and discover the wisdom and tranquility that lie within.
We finish the daily classes with a short mantra meditation session, a simple yet effect way to discover the many benefits of meditation. During the 4 day course we develop this practice to strengthen the realization that meditation can offer the solutions to many of our problems. |
Daily classes are currently being conducted at the dive shop once a day at 5.30- 7.00 pm. All levels are welcome and we encourage both advance and beginner alike to discover their limits.
If you are unfamiliar with yoga the teacher will explain the more basic component of the hatha class such as correct posture, whereas the more advance practitioner will be encourage to experiment with deeper techniques such as breath control and bandas ( physical locks).
During the class we will touch on the main components of a hatha class, spending the majority of the time on various asanas, and finishing with a short introduction to pranayama and mantra meditation.
Spaces are limited to 5 people per class due to our small location on the beach so please be sure to book early to avoid missing out. Classes are conducted at the dive school in chalok baan kao everyday and the cost is 200 baht per class. |
This course introduces the student to a deeper understanding of yoga philosophy. Theoretical information is given on as hatha yoga and raja yoga as well as related topics of interest. We will be taking a hatha class twice daily, early morning (6.Am – 8am) and late evening (5.30 – 7pm) where students will study and practice asana, pranayama, mediation, and other body purification techniques.
The course is intended to develop the student’s personnel practice in yoga and to gain the necessary knowledge to understand how and why yoga can be so useful in everyday life.
The course start every monday of the week, spaces are limited to 5 people per class due to our small location on the beach so please be sure to book early to avoid missing out.
The course price is 4500 baht and includes all materials need to learn and take part in this course.
Course price 4500 baht please click here to book this course. |
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