yoga theory. Yoga Philosophy for Beginners Yoga is the essence of both physical and spiritual

Philosophy yoga in a broad sense, one can name the ancient doctrine of the spiritual self-improvement of man, which came to us from the civilization of the Aryans and developed into the form known today in the religious and philosophical schools of ancient and medieval India. This article will focus on the basic philosophical concepts and concepts of this doctrine, which for almost two millennia has been for many admirers of Indian spirituality a model of wisdom that leads a person to the highest possible goal of his life.

Yoga is one of the darshans, the six orthodox (following the spiritual tradition of the Vedas) philosophical schools of India. Its theories and principles are set forth in the fundamental work of this school, the Yoga Sutra, and commentaries on this work. We know almost nothing about the author of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali. In India, he has long been considered a great teacher, yogi and philosopher, who lived in the II century. BC. However, today most scholars agree that, in terms of content and terminology, the Yoga Sutra should be attributed to the 2nd century AD.

Patanjali was not the person who invented the teachings of yoga. We find the origins of the yoga outlined by him in the oldest monument of world culture - the Vedas (~ II millennium BC), the sacred texts of India. The doctrine of the basic elements of yogic practice - concentration, contemplation, control of consciousness and the term itself " yoga"- is present in the early Upanishads (~ VI - III centuries BC), comments on the Vedas. A special place in protoyoga is occupied by the ancient epic works of India: Ramayana and Mahabharata (~ I millennium BC). The part of the Mahabharata that is called the Bhagavad Gita stands out to the greatest extent here. It contains many important parts of the teachings of yoga, there is only the systematization and classification of categories necessary for philosophy - the basic philosophical concepts. Patanjali acted as such a systematizer, summarizing and briefly formulating the ancient spiritual knowledge. The theory and practice of the Yoga Sutra has withstood the test of time and has earned the right to be called classical yoga.

The work of Patanjali, like many treatises of that time in India, is a collection of short sentences (sutras). For students, they may have served, as it were, as a reminder to restore the course of complex oral reasoning. However, for posterity who do not have the opportunity to personally communicate with the teacher, short sutras are often not enough. Therefore, the teaching of classical yoga that exists today was formed, in addition to the original treatise of Patanjali, by an extensive commentary literature. In this article, we focus on the Yoga Sutra and the most authoritative commentary by the philosopher Vyasa, the Yoga Bhashya (5th century AD).

Coming directly to the philosophy of classical yoga, we single out two fundamental categories that include all being, all that exists. These are Purusha and Prakriti - spiritual and material substances.

Prakriti (matter) is everything that we see, hear, touch or are able to feel in any other way. This is everything that the most advanced instruments can register, from the smallest particles to space-scale objects. The concept of Prakriti contains the entire universe, all physical objects and energy fields.

Purusha is understood as the eternal Spirit, the spiritual principle. He is transcendent to Prakriti, that is, he is beyond all Nature. Purusha is the highest part of being. There are no forms characteristic of Prakriti in Him, therefore it is impossible to imagine Him. He is conscious, while matter is unconscious. It is not necessary, however, to identify Purusha with the doctrine of God familiar to Westerners. Purusha is devoid of any personal attributes. The god of classical yoga - Ishvara - is a manifestation of Purusha, but He does not create the world and does not control it. Besides Him, there are other gods in the Spirit, but Ishvara is the highest among all spiritual beings. It also has the most important property for yoga philosophy to connect and separate Purusha and Prakriti.

Until the connection of Spirit and matter, the latter is in an unmanifested state. This means that the universe does not exist, and the three main properties or forces (gunas) of Prakriti are in balance.

Guna sattva is responsible for the principle of clarity, rajas - for the principle of movement, activity, tamas - for the principle of rest, inertia. When the Spirit and matter are united, Purusha, as a conscious principle, begins to control Prakriti in a certain sense, to cause changes in it. The gunas begin to interact with each other in many combinations and, passing through certain stages, form the objective world in all its forms. In this case, the first product of the interaction of the gunas becomes Buddhi-Mahat. This important concept of yoga philosophy denotes the ideal basis of the entire future universe. In the course of further evolution through a series of stages, five primary elements are formed: ether, air, fire, water, earth, of which all objects consist.

The interaction of the gunas is a continuous change, the consequences of which we observe in our ever-changing world. These modifications give us a sense of time. That is, we can say that a second is not a small time interval, but some change we observe, for example, the transition of the clock hand to the next position. According to classical yoga, time as such does not exist, there is only a moment (now) of change. Any changes are possible in some space, therefore the category of space is also characteristic of the objective world.

Unlike Prakriti, Purusha is not subject to change. Therefore, we can say that he is outside of time and space. Purusha is called the Spectator watching the unfolding picture of the change of matter.

Now consider the teachings of classical yoga about man. Here it is necessary to understand an idea that is unusual for the consciousness of modern Western man. In the anthropology of yoga, the inner world of a person corresponds to the outer being. Man is considered as a microcosm, which is identical in its structure to the macrocosm external to him. Thus, man is also the result of the union of Purusha and Prakriti.

Buddhi-Mahat is the stage of development of Prakriti and the basis of the universe. In it, as a stage in the evolution of matter, an individual Buddhi is formed, which is an ideal basis for the human psyche. In the future, other elements of the microcosm are formed. These are the organs of perception - hearing, sight, touch, taste, smell; organs of action - arms, legs, organs of excretion and reproduction, organ of speech; the organ of the mind is the mind (manas). So, in fact, everything that we used to identify with ourselves, with our self - the physical body, memory, emotions, intellect, mental images, etc. - refers to matter and is potentially contained in the individual Buddhi.

Purusha in a person is pure consciousness, his Spirit, his true Self. Yoga assumes the existence of many “small parts” of Purusha, individual souls that manifest through different beings in Prakriti. Our true self is eternal and unchangeable. It is conscious and directs all processes in the sphere of Prakriti. The model of the connection of Purusha and Prakriti in a person is often compared to two people lost in the forest. One of which is without legs (Purusha) and the other is blind (Prakriti). It is clear that, having united, they will be able to begin to get out of the forest. Purusha, interacting with Prakriti, fills the individual buddhi of a person, the matrix of all his mental phenomena, with the ability to self-consciousness. Therefore, we, not knowing about Purusha, are aware of ourselves in our mental activity.

So, having considered the main philosophical categories of classical yoga, we move on to the theory of liberation, the central teaching about the meaning of human existence, for which the Yoga Sutra and its commentaries were written. Liberation is the separation in man of Spirit and matter, Purusha and Prakriti. Why is such a division necessary? The fact is that a person in his usual state does not know his true Self and identifies himself, at best, with his individual buddhi. But the ability of buddhi to be aware of itself is nothing more than an illusion, because only Purusha has true consciousness. We always say to ourselves: “I walk, I feel, I think”, etc., thereby limiting our being to the framework of Prakriti. As we already know, any manifestations of Prakriti are only consequences of the interaction of the gunas. They are changeable and no form is eternal. We, identifying ourselves with our psyche, become attached to its manifestations and to the forms of the objective world. All our suffering comes from this attachment. Attachments give rise to desires and expectations in relation to the world around us and to ourselves. But the world is changing - people close to us grow old and die, the things done do not bring former satisfaction, negative emotions replace positive ones, any pleasures always end. We want a constant feeling of satisfaction, but this is not achievable, and, as a rule, the more pleasure we get from something, the greater the disappointment later. yoga philosophy

Moreover, striving for the forms of Prakriti gives existence to our karma. Karma is a causal relationship generated by a person and other beings. By our attraction to one form or another of Prakriti, we determine what we will be in the future. For example, if we tend to be kind and honest, we want to be judged according to these virtues, which in turn creates our desire to be the same in the future. Aspirations leave, figuratively speaking, imprints (vasanas) in our individual buddhi. Every moment we do something, feel, think, adding more and more new imprints. After physical death, our spiritual essence is embodied in another body (reincarnation), and the vasanas are preserved, determining our future life. As long as our adherence to the forms of Prakriti remains, more and more imprints are added to the buddhi, which ensures the next births. Thus, we are in a series of rebirths (the wheel of samsara), eternally suffering in the changing world of Prakriti.

Liberation from suffering is possible, and the pursuit of it is the highest possible goal of existence.

Through the practice of yoga and philosophical reflections, a person gradually, better and better, realizes his higher being, Purusha, achieves complete spiritual dispassion, ceases to strive internally for anything in the material world. Then his karma is no longer created, and he comes to the separation of Spirit from matter, leaves the circle of samsara and achieves absolute liberation. Such a person will no longer be born, but he will probably still continue to live in his present life, being in an unceasing awareness of himself as an eternal and unchanging Spirit. This is the state of a god in essence equal to Ishvara. This being cannot be described in words, but it is difficult to imagine a better being than one in which there is not even the very potential for suffering or any dissatisfaction, and at the same time there is full awareness.

This is how liberation is achieved.

Yoga is based on the Vedas and is one of the Vedic philosophical schools. Yoga means "concentration", its founder is considered to be a sage Patanjali(II century BC).

Yoga according to Patanjali , is a systematic effort used to achieve perfection through the control of various elements of human nature - physical and mental. The philosophy of yoga requires a systematic effort on oneself , suppression of the spontaneous flow of thoughts. The mind, acting on the body, with its help reaches new spiritual levels. To implement this, developed its own octal method. It includes a successive change of levels of self-control and self-organization.

First stage - pit(abstinence). It forbids theft, lies, violence, hatred of people; promotes moderation in everything: in thoughts, words and deeds.

Second step - niyama(observance of the rules). It includes external and internal bodily purification, self-restraint, self-discipline. At this stage, you can not use swear words, shout at people. It is necessary to be silent one day a week, regularly study the literature on yoga, philosophy, physiology.

Third step - asana(position). It represents the physical support from the body to the state of concentration. Specific postures help to achieve greater concentration. To meditate, you need, at a minimum, to sit in a comfortable position. Yoga attaches great importance to this.

Fourth step - pranayama(regulation of breathing). It includes breathing exercises. Particular attention is paid to holding the breath, during which vital energy - prana - is intensively supplied to the body.

Fifth step - pratyahara(removal of feelings). It involves focusing on oneself. At the same time, "the mind must be radically deprived of all impressions from the outside." He who has reached this stage must build a cell in his heart and retire into it every day.

Sixth step - dharana(fixing attention) It involves an active concentration of attention on the object. In ordinary life, ideas come and go, but they don't stay for long. You need to keep your attention on them.

Seventh step - dhyana(contemplation). At this stage, penetration into the essence of the object of concentration is achieved.

Eighth step - samadhi(concentration). This is the pinnacle and goal of yoga, as it lifts the soul from its temporary, conditioned, changing existence to a simple, eternal and perfect life.

A feature of Indian philosophy is its intellectual tolerance, all teachings do not completely reject the teachings of the Vedas, but supplement them, arguing that the truth is one, but it is multifaceted.

The basis of Chinese philosophy was the ancient Chinese literature: "Pentateuch" ("Wu Ching"). They raise many questions: where did evil come from - from God or man; the problem of the beginning of the world - fire, water, wood, metal, earth were called in their capacity; five phenomena of nature - rain, sunshine, heat, cold, wind. An important role in explaining the universe is assigned to two polar and at the same time interdependent forces - Yang and Yin.

These concepts are polysemantic, personify, as modern philosophers would say, dialectical opposites: Jan- active male power, yin- passive female power; they were forces of light and darkness, heat and cold, hardness and softness, positive and negative. It was believed that there was a feedback between these concepts and human life: if people act in accordance with the natural pattern that these concepts reflect, then order and tranquility reign in society and in individuals, but if there is no such consent, then the whole country and everything in she gets confused.

Founder Taoism(the most philosophical of all Chinese teachings) is considered the Chinese sage Lao-tzu (VI-V centuries BC) - the literal translation is “elderly teacher”. The central category of this philosophy is Dao, a multi-valued concept - the beginning and end of all things, the path of stars and virtues, the law of the universe and human behavior, the fundamental principle of all things.

Tao exists by itself, forever, no one can change it. A person in Taoism is considered from the point of view of a dual nature: his first beginning comes from the Tao, therefore it is true and natural, and the second is generated by the passions and delusions of the person himself, therefore it is false and artificial. Hence the conclusion: in a real person, the true must defeat the artificial, the false. A person is not able to influence the world order, therefore his lot is peace and humility.

The basic tenet of Taoism is non-doing theory- wuwei. But at the same time, Taoism raised the problem of immortality, for this a special life extension practice was developed, which is based on a certain worldview, diet, breathing exercises, a technique for stimulating internal qi energy and alchemy. Even emperors and high officials paid tribute to the mystical knowledge of the Taoists.

Another important theme of Chinese philosophical thought was the idea of moral improvement in the way of observing the rules and rituals, which were set out in Confucianism. The founder of this philosophical school is Kung Fu Tzu (551-479 BC), who became famous as a talented teacher and politician. Unlike Taoism, Confucianism sees the individual as part of society.

Confucius taught that nothing positive can be achieved without being guided by the correct principles: humanity (ren), justice and duty (yi), knowledge of the correct ritual (li), wisdom (zhi), respectfulness (xiao). Confucius developed a model of a perfect man ("noble husband"), with him it is not only an ethical ideal, but also a political one, to which a perfect ruler must meet. Confucius formulates "golden rule of morality""What you don't want for yourself, don't do to people"

Confucius saw the social structure of the state according to the principle of the family: the sovereign is the father and mother of his subjects, Heaven itself speaks through him, but the sovereign must take care of his “children”. Everyone should know the place that is intended for him in society: "The sovereign must be the sovereign, the subject - the subject, the father - the father, the son - the son." Everyone is obliged to comply with the norms of "li" - a social and religious ritual, then there will be order, balance and justice in society.

Confucianism turned into a state ideology and subsequently actually became the basis of a specifically Chinese way of life, largely shaping the unique face of Chinese civilization. A feature of the methodology of cognition in Confucius is the penetration into the truth through the comprehension of order: the construction of a structure, classification, decomposition into tables, rows, cells. If the motto of Western philosophy is “doubt and free reflection”, then Chinese philosophy is “learning and repeating what has been learned”. Confucian knowledge, therefore, is directed to the study of tradition, and not to the discovery of the new.

The "school of lawyers" opposed Confucianism - legalism.

Shang Yang, the founder of this school, developed the theory of a despotic state, opposed philanthropy, which he considered the cause of all misconduct, convinced that politics is incompatible with morality, instead of persuasion, coercion should be used.

Questions for self-control:

1. What is the difference between ancient Chinese philosophy and Indian philosophy?

2. If the motto of Western philosophy is “doubt and free reflection”, then Chinese philosophy is “learning and repeating what has been learned”. Try to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both positions.

3. Try to formulate the essence of the teachings of Confucius.

4. Try to formulate the main thing in the teachings of the Buddha.

5. Find out what the terms mean:

Upanishads

Orthodox

Despotism

Updated 11/21/2019

Yoga as a philosophical doctrine originates from the time of the existence of the Aryan civilization. It contains the basics of interpretation of the origin of the world and understanding of human nature, methods of spiritual self-improvement.

The concept of this doctrine has a huge number of admirers. As a special system of ancient Indian wisdom, yoga consists of theoretical and practical foundations, some sections, methods and directions. It is one of the six famous orthodox philosophical schools of India and one of the darshans.

Philosophy of classical yoga

To understand the philosophy of yoga, you must first understand its origins and theoretical foundations.

Yoga is the philosophy of ancient India, the foundations of which are set forth in the main work of this school, called the Yoga Sutra, and comments on it. Its author is Patanajali, about whom very little is known. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with.

It was previously believed that the great teacher, philosopher and yogi lived in India in the 2nd century BC. But now the opinion has become stronger that it was several centuries later - in the 2nd century AD. Patanajali acts only as the author of the work, and not the entire philosophical teaching, since the mention of the principles of yogic practice is mentioned in the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata (in part of the Bhagavad Gita). The very term "yoga" can be found in the early Upanishads, which are commentaries on the Vedas.

Let's start with the fundamental concepts of the philosophy of classical yoga.

So, all being includes two substances Prakriti and Purusha. Prakriti represents everything material in the existing world. This is something that can be seen, heard or felt in some other way, registered with high-precision instruments. We recommend that you read the information about.

Under the concept of "Purusha" lies the spiritual principle, the so-called eternal Spirit. Ishvara - God among all spiritual beings - is the manifestation of Purusha. He did not create the world and does not control it, but he is able to unite and separate the spiritual from the material. If Prakriti cannot be realized, then Purusha has consciousness.

If Prakriti is constantly changing, then Purusha is not subject to change, therefore it is outside of time and space. He is like an observer of the changing picture of the world.

In the teachings of classical yoga, a person, like the whole world, is a kind of microcosm that combines Prakriti and Purusha.

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The material in a person is his physical body, thoughts, emotions, memory, etc. The spiritual, that is, Purusha, represents his consciousness, the so-called "I" - unchanging and eternal.

Purusha consciously directs Prakriti. This can be compared to people lost in the forest, where Purusha is without legs and Prakriti is blind. And only by uniting, they will be able to get through the forest and free themselves.

From attachment to the objective world, which gives rise to desires and expectations, a person experiences suffering. As long as we are attached to the forms of Prakriti, we leave imprints (vasanas) in our buddhi (an instrument for perceiving the external world), therefore our Karma will exist - a dependence of a cause-and-effect nature.

After the death of the physical body, the vasanas remain, and the soul passes into another entity. This is called reincarnation, and a series of rebirths is called the wheel of samsara.

It is possible to get rid of suffering, says yoga. It is the practice of yoga, cleansing techniques, a set of exercises for the body and spirit, philosophical reflections that will help you realize Purusha, give up aspirations for something material, and free yourself from attachments. After this realization, the soul leaves the wheel of samsara. The attained being can only be compared with Ishvara - there is no suffering, but there is awareness.

Within the framework of classical yoga, different directions were formed. There are a whole lot of them. We will consider some of them.

Features and objectives of Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda yoga founded by Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), a Hindu spiritual teacher. This direction is characterized by a comprehensive approach, since it contains relaxation exercises, internal concentration training, breathing exercises.

Sivananda Yoga Founder - Swami Sivananda

Sivananda yoga is based on five essential principles:

Relaxation. To achieve maximum spiritual, physical and mental relaxation, you must regularly perform.
Meditation and Vedanta help to achieve positive thinking, which contributes to the well-being of the spiritual, mental, physical. We recommend an article about.
The regularity and correctness of performing asanas help to strengthen the body, rejuvenate and restore the body.
help you take control of your own mind.
Through the practice of vegetarianism and moderate food restrictions, the human body receives useful substances, while there is no negative impact on the environment.

Each lesson begins and ends with mantras, which allow using sound vibrations to positively affect the body, spirit, and emotional state.

Tantra yoga - what is it

Another well-known area of yoga is tantra yoga. It is represented by a system of methods that allow you to awaken, transform and consciously use sexual energy. The teaching is based on sacred texts - tantras.

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It is worth highlighting three main areas within the framework of tantra yoga:

Black Tantra is aimed at training mental strength, which allows you to control circumstances and even people. With its help, they learn to fulfill desires.
White tantra - practiced in groups or couples. It implies going beyond desires and urges. With the help of mantras and exercises, the energy cleansing of the bodily and mental components of the student is achieved. Read more about the meaning of mantras.
Red tantra - with the help of sexual practices practiced with a partner, one can come to spiritual or creative development, achieve sexual bliss.

This practice helps to unite the masculine and feminine principles, overcome the complexes by properly accepting one's own body, and significantly expand consciousness.

Guru yoga as a direction of classical yoga

One of the most important practices is guru yoga. Its essence lies in the fusion of the mind of the disciple and the spiritual teacher. In the process of practice, the awakening of the Four States of Enlightenment occurs, when the student has the opportunity to achieve the blessing of the body, speech and mind. The final stage of practice is the merging of the mind of the disciple with the mind of the guru.

There are three essential principles of guru yoga:

The student's desire to learn.
Readiness of the student to interact with the teacher. The student must be responsible for his actions and choices.
Free will and student choice. The student should not bow to the teacher and unquestioningly obey him. Only the free choice of the student is welcome.

Now it is clear that yoga is a philosophy, a way of life in India. By practicing it, you can achieve completely different goals: strengthen the body and spirit, improve physical health, gain confidence, get rid of desires and suffering, or even free yourself from a series of rebirths (samsara).

Each of the schools of yoga offers its own methods to achieve the goal, but at the same time, each of them focuses on the harmony of the physical, spiritual and mental.

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Thanks to the philosophy of yoga, one can maintain good physical shape and live in harmony with the world. Translated from the Sanskrit language, the word "yoga" means "connection", the connection of the soul with the Lord. Therefore, teaching refers to spiritual practice.

For almost 2000 years, yoga has been a model of wisdom for many, leading to the highest life goal. This is the oldest doctrine of self-improvement of the individual, which came from the Aryans. The philosophical doctrine of yoga is still developing magnificently, new schools are opening.

The practice is one of the Drashanas, six orthodox Indian schools that follow the spiritual traditions of the Vedas.

In classical yoga philosophy, there are two main categories that cover spiritual and material substance:

Purusha (spirit).
Prakriti (matter).

The classical practice is called "royal". It was founded by the famous Patanjali (the founder of the Yoga Sutra practice) in the second century BC. He showed the duality of metaphysics, which considers the Spirit or (own Self, Prusha) and Nature (Cosmos) as independent Realities.

Yoga as a philosophical science considers the inner and outer world of the individual as a whole. Therefore, the human essence unites Purusha and Prakriti.

The Teaching frees the mind from false identification. To put it another way, a spiritual vision opens, which makes the "I" return to its own nature.

People often isolate themselves from the outside world, which leads the mind to suffering. Yoga helps with this.

Experienced mentors claim that Patanjali's Yoga Sutra practice was written to illuminate the teachings about the meaning of human life and liberation.

What is Liberation

It is the separation of spirit (Purusha) from matter (Prakriti). Because of this, a person suffers. People tend to get attached to something in order to get pleasure. But every pleasure has a property to end. And the stronger it is, the greater will be the disappointment in the future.

Yoga calms the tossing mind and helps to redirect energy into intelligent channels. The process can be compared to a hydroelectric power station on a powerful river. If the dam and canals are built wisely, then the hydroelectric power plant will have a large supply of water, which is useful in times of drought.

The human mind is also under control. Energy is accumulated from the Cosmos, creating great forces for the all-round development of man. It is very difficult to calm a person's mind - they compare it with efforts to stop a mountain river.

By applying yoga at various stages, a special power is formed.

Patanjali argued that liberation can be achieved only through the ability to distinguish "I" from the world of the physical and one's own body, mind, individuality.

This can be achieved with the help of a spiritual teacher, by suppressing and limiting the functions of the body, feelings, intellect, individuality (personal Self). But at the same time to have self-consciousness, the experience of Purusha (transcendental spirit).

I am higher than mind, body, senses, intellect, joy, suffering. This is the realization of the Self itself, as the spirit of immortality, which is beyond the limits of evil, suffering, destruction, death. This is the state of Freedom.

The yogic system is the path of self-development for those who follow the dictates of the spirit and sincerely strive for it. Thus, the practice of Sankhya pays more attention to the ability to distinguish the Self from the rest of the world, as a goal for Liberation.

The philosophy of the teaching aims at practical methods of purification, concentration, in order to distinguish the Self from the mind and body.

Properties of Yoga Philosophy

Yoga combines spirituality and physical exercises, which can develop a person in different directions (mentally, spiritually, physically).

Its philosophy has the following properties:

Spirituality - with the help of awareness, being is revealed and comprehended.
Ethics - virtue is brought up, where an important aspect is the absence of violence.
Emotionality - beneficial qualities develop (love, kindness).
Practicality is the ability to control one's own body.
Intelligence is the use of the power of the mind.

Yoga is one of the branches of spirituality in India, it is a philosophical school. Elements of it can be found in orthodox schools, Buddhism, Sikhism and other modern trends. Many of them are based on classical yoga.

The Purpose of Yoga

With the help of yoga, a person receives knowledge about the truth of reality, which is hidden from every soul from the moment of birth. It comprehensively changes a person, transforming his consciousness through the realization of his divine nature.

The ancient sages asserted that reality is not only the Universe, but also the personality itself (Atman). The versatility of the world is manifested in a single transcendent Reality (Brahman). To pass this reality is to approach the highest goal of yoga Samadhi.

Achieving Samadhi means erasing the boundaries between the personality and its shell, distances disappear between a person and temporary space. There is no past or future, only the present.

Philosophy of the main yogic directions

Today there are many yogic directions. Each of them has three components:

Exercises.
Breathing practices.
Meditations.

They cannot exist without each other. The effect of exercises and breathing exercises will be only when a person activates his spiritual abilities.

Each direction in yoga has its own philosophy. Here is a brief description of the philosophy of the most popular species:

Hatha yoga combines physical perfection and peace of mind. This is achieved not only by special asanas, breathing practice, but also by meditation. This is how the harmony of the body with the outside world is acquired.
Ashtanga directs inexhaustible human energy in the right direction to achieve peace of mind.
Kundalini yoga aims at the fact that every person has the right to happiness. To do this, you need peace and live in harmony with the world.
With the help of Winnie yoga, a person heals not only physical injuries, but also mental ones. Winnie's practice relieves a person of fears, bad memories, opens up a world of joy and happiness.

In any chosen form of yoga, it is important to work not only on your body, but also on your mind. Each asana is saturated with philosophy, so the exercises should not be done mechanically. You need to figure out your mistakes, with your subconscious. Breathing practices, asanas, meditations help with this. This is not easy to do. But applying efforts, purposefulness, concentration, a person will receive a healthy body and a healthy mind as a reward.

The history of yoga goes back over 5000 years. Its integrated system includes religion, philosophy, medicine, historical traditions and many other aspects. It is easy for a beginner to get lost in the vast yogic practice, ancient varieties and modern currents, so our article provides a brief overview of the system and its rich traditions.

History of Yoga

The earliest archaeological evidence for the existence of yoga can be found in stone seals depicting its postures (asanas). The seals found date back to 3000 BC. e. Scientists believe that the system existed earlier: they attribute its beginning to Stone Age shamanism.

Both currents have the same features - they are aimed at healing members of the community and prescribe to people the observance of certain rules for organizing life. The history of yoga is divided into four periods: Vedic, pre-classical, classical and post-classical periods.

The Vedic period is marked by the emergence of the Vedas, the scripture on Brahmanism, the basis of modern Hinduism. The Vedas are the oldest of the Vedic teachings: it is often referred to as Vedic yoga. The main principle of this teaching is Rishi, it is a philosophical system that teaches to live in divine harmony and see the ultimate reality through intensive spiritual practice.

Preclassical yoga is the 200 Upanishad scriptures that describe and explain the teachings of the Vedas through three main subjects: the ultimate reality (brahman), the transient Self (atman) and the relationship between them. At this stage, the teaching becomes closely related to Buddhism. Here the importance of meditation and the practice of physical postures (asanas) is enhanced.
The creation of the Bhagavad-Gita, or the Song of the Lord (about 500 BC) belongs to the same stage. This treatise gives rise to a new trend in yoga. It becomes an attempt to combine bhakti yoga, jnana yoga and karma yoga in the teaching that a living person should be active, and his actions should have a good practical orientation and resist evil.

The classical period is marked by the creation of Patanjali in the 1st-2nd century CE. e. - this is the "Yoga Sutra": it is an attempt to combine the accumulated spiritual experience and improve it. The Yoga Sutra consists of 195 aphorisms, or sutras, which outline its fundamental 8 principles: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.

Did you know?The origins of yoga are the subject of much debate. There is no consensus on chronology or origin other than that it developed in ancient India. The chronology of the earliest texts describing the practice of yoga is also not clear.

The era of classical yoga lasted for several centuries. It was replaced by the trends of the post-classical period of development. Unlike the previous stages, modern yogic practice does not seek to free a person from reality, but rather teaches to accept reality and live in the moment. The writings of Guru Swami Sivananda are characteristic of our time. His main work describes the 5 modified yoga principles:

Savasana - proper relaxation;
Asana is the correct physical exercise;
Pranayama - correct breathing;
Proper diet;
Dhyana is positive thinking and meditation.

yoga philosophy

Yoga is a dualistic philosophy. It considers the interaction of two main objects: purusha - pure consciousness, and prakriti - matter. Each being is a manifestation of one of the forms of connection of these objects. The living being unites body and mind. If a person lives in accordance with ethical principles, then this leads him to moksha, spiritual liberation.
The philosophy of yoga is perfectly conveyed by the parable of divinity. Brahma, having created the first people, made them equal to the gods. But people used his power wrong: they were not righteous and honest. Brahma took their divinity away from them and thought for a long time about where to hide it so that only those who have pure thoughts and high moral qualities could get to it. Therefore, he hid divinity within man and gave him yoga as the path to it.

It is a set of practices and principles that lead a person to attain divinity. In the classical system of these principles there are 8, in the post-classical - 5. This can be interpreted as follows: the main goal is to achieve the liberation of consciousness, and how many steps lead to it is not so important.
Some people think that yoga is a religion, but it is not. It is used by representatives of different religions. Rather, these are methods of working on one's own spirituality, improving the physical body and mind. It also cannot be said that these are exercises aimed at strengthening health. The philosophy of teaching considers the harmonization of the body, mind and spirituality and proposes to improve them in a complex.

In philosophy, the following properties are distinguished:

ethics - achieving peace and harmony between people;
emotionality - positive thinking and affection for others;
practicality - control of the physical body;
intellectuality - mind control;
spirituality - liberation from passions and the achievement of harmony of the spirit.

Did you know?The best time for yoga is considered to be dawn. It is at this time that the vital energy carries the maximum healing power. It is also believed that the positions of the hands (mudras) affect the intensity of the flow of vital energy.

Eight Stages of Achievement

The Classical Yoga Sutra of Patajali is based on the 8-step path to reunite man with divinity:

Yama is the basic initial stage at which the yogi must develop ethical values in himself and learn to take into account social restrictions without negative reactions.
Niyama is the second stage at which a person learns to be happy, immerse himself in positive thinking and stay in it.
Asana is the third step that develops the physical body.
Pranayama is the stage at which control or methods of controlling the breath are mastered.
Pratyahara is the achievement of a state of bliss, regardless of the correct posture and breathing technique; this is the final merging of Asana and Pranayama with a person going beyond the organs of perception.
Dharana is the stage characterized by meditation without thought.
Dhyana - deep meditation, merging with the spirit.
Samadhi is the inner awakening of the true essence.

Video: Patajali's Classical Yoga Sutra The stages follow in a certain sequence. Having mastered one, a person can move on to the next, not forgetting that he continues to follow the learned principles of each previous stage. Mastering the stage, a person harmonizes the physical and spiritual principles, learns to concentrate, achieve complete peace and unity with divinity.

Types of yoga

Ancient yogis believed that in order to be in harmony with oneself, the body, mind and spirit of a person must be in harmony with the environment. Various types of yoga have been formulated and developed as a means of achieving and maintaining this balance. Improvement of a person occurs with the help of special exercises.
We will consider the main directions of yoga below. There are also other directions. Some of them are very ancient, others have just begun to develop at the present time.

Did you know?Doga is a type of yoga that originated in New York City in 2002. Her goal is to achieve harmony with pets. As part of the course, dogs can perform exercises on their own or be props for their owners' asanas. Susie Teitelman's project was originally called Yoga for Dogs.

raja yoga

Synonymous names for classical yoga: yoga sutra, eight-step yoga, yoga of self-control. Its founder is the sage Patanjali (I century BC), legends speak of his divine origin. The teaching is based on the comprehension of 8 principles that were expounded by Patanjali in his work - "Yoga Sutra".

Mastering each step is the improvement of one of the components of the personality, as a result of which the amount of energy available to a person increases. The Raja Yogi considers himself the main one in the system of the world and therefore improves, his fate is to be the master of himself. Raja yoga teaches a person to discipline and maintain purity in everything: body, mind, spirit.

Video: Raja Yoga

jnana yoga

Or the yoga of the mind is the path on which the mind, the human intellect, is improved. It leads a person along the path of self-improvement through changing his knowledge about the world and about himself. Jnana yoga proceeds from the postulate that wrong or "evil" deeds are done out of ignorance. By conquering ignorance, man moves on the path to divine knowledge. A jnana yogi, using the teaching as a method, cognizes the world himself through meditation and a sense of truth.

Video: Jnana Yoga

Karma yoga

Or the yoga of service considers that where you are now and your state is the result of previous actions. And your task in the present is the correct fulfillment of the tasks assigned to you, without worrying about the result. The principles of the teaching are set forth in the Indian epic - Mahabharata, in the form of a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Krishna, who is in the guise of Arjuna's charioteer.

Video: Karma Yoga

Did you know?There are currently over 100 different yoga schools. Although each school has different practices, they share a common goal: a state of pure bliss and oneness with the universe.

bhakti

Or the yoga of devotion is a path aimed at developing love for God through service. This is the path most often observed in India. Bhakti is represented by many currents, both monotheistic and pantheistic. Bhakti-yogis worship Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, the infinite absolute (Brahman), and other deities.

This is the oldest doctrine of the impact of sound on the human body, as well as his mind and intellect. At the same time, not just any sound affects, but a special one - a mantra. This may be a sound combination considered sacred, prayer, etc. If practiced for long enough, mantra yoga is believed to lead to the erasure of old karma.

Tantra yoga, or ritual yoga, is the performance of sacred rituals. So, for example, bypassing Mount Kailash, sacred to Buddhists, is considered to free a person from all his sins. The journey lasts several days, during which the traveler is immersed in unity with the deity.
This type of yoga got its name from the sacred texts - tantras, which set out the dialogues of Shiva and his wife Shakti. Tantric yoga is associated with the cult of Shakti. Sex is also part of tantra yoga, but it is not the main one, since this path is aimed at finding that which is sacred in everything we do.

Or yoga postures is the most popular type of teaching among Westerners. She uses physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation to improve health and spirituality. The path is characterized by many styles - Iyengar, Integral, Ashtanga and others.

Did you know?Hatha yoga is the most widespread teaching in Western culture. "Ha" means the sun, and "tha" means the moon. It is the union of the two elemental forces of nature.

Asanas for beginners

Asana is described by Patanjali as a free posture. It can be assumed that at the very beginning it was only about comfortable postures for meditation. heal the body and prepare it for meditation. It is also worth remembering that classical yoga considers it useful and working only as an integrated system, and without observing the basic principles of Yama and Niyama, asanas will become just an interesting fitness.
For classes, you will need a comfortable mat and a small, quiet place. Clothing should be comfortable for you and elastic, not interfering with the exercise. You can stay barefoot, wear socks or soft shoes. The lesson should be carried out at least 1-1.5 hours after eating.

Important!15 minutes before the start of yoga classes, it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water and clean the nasopharynx. The purpose of these actions is to clear the channels through which life energy moves along with the breath.

Morning is the best time to do asanas and evening is the best time to meditate. Start with simple exercises, do not strain: asanas imply a state of comfort when performing. Classes should not be long, but it should be done daily, for at least 15 minutes a day. Each exercise can be performed up to 3 times.
The sequence of exercises will usually be as follows:

Asanas for warming up - 2-3 minutes; these exercises stretch the shoulder muscles, spine, hips, lower back and groin.
"Racks" are necessary to align the posture and legs; performed to improve digestion and circulation.
"Sitting postures" allow you to practice proper breathing, prana.
Bending exercises that relieve tension in the joints; they relieve back pain, facilitate the circulation of blood and nutrients in the body.
Inverted and balanced asanas are exercises for developing coordination, increasing endurance and strength, and improving concentration.
Finishing asanas.

While doing the exercise, try to focus on each movement. You don't have to strain to perform an action. While performing asanas, breathe slowly and deeply. Focus on inner feelings.

Important!If an exercise causes pain, remove it from your program. Asanas are not an endurance competition, but an opportunity to improve stretching and muscle condition. If you have contraindications for yoga, then discuss with your doctor the possibility of performing the set of exercises you have planned.

Warm up asanas is a few minutes of meditation and concentration in a comfortable sitting or lying position.

Savasana (corpse pose)- classic relaxation pose. Performed with closed eyes. Starting position - lying on the mat, arms slightly apart, palms up. The spine is in full contact with the surface of the mat. Bend your knees and slowly straighten, gradually relaxing the muscles, starting from the buttocks. You should not be disturbed by bright lights and loud sounds. Breathe through your nose. The duration of the performance is 5–10 minutes. The pose is practiced before or between asanas, as well as for final relaxation.

Video: Savasana technique (corpse pose) To enhance the effect, combine Savasana with proper breathing. Imagine that with the exhalation, heaviness and stress leave the body, and renewed energy (Prana) enters on inhalation. It moves across the face, then fills the back of the head, neck and reaches a point 2 cm below the navel. This point is considered the center of the energy channels through which it will spread in the body.

You also need to exit Savasana correctly: first wiggle your fingers, slowly turn on your side and go to the fetal position. Now slowly stand up. This is the best posture for relieving psychological stress.

Sukhasana- This is a classic sitting posture ("sit in Turkish"). The pose helps in straightening the spine, slowing down the metabolism, increasing inner peace. To do this, you will need a small pillow - sit so that the pelvis is on its edge. Interlace your legs, having previously bent at the knees. The feet should be under the knees. The shins must be crossed. Slowly relax your feet, then your groin area and lower your knees. Straighten up, straighten your shoulders, straightening your spine. Place the palms of your hands on your thighs. The fingers are relaxed. The chest should also straighten out. Stay in this pose for several breaths. Imagine that when you inhale, the flow of energy goes down, and when you exhale, it rushes up.

Video: Sukhasana technique (Turkish sitting pose) Basic postures are asanas that are used to move from one exercise to another:

Tadasana (mountain pose)- Basic standing posture. It helps to relax the muscles of the back and reduce the load on the spine. Tadasana is desirable for anyone who works a lot while sitting. Starting position - stand up straight. Close your legs and evenly distribute the weight. Start slowly aligning your spine, starting from the foot and gradually moving up. Straighten your arms and take a deep breath. The pose is transitional between the other two asanas, as well as the base one, from which you move into another exercise, which is done while standing;
Video: Tadasana technique (mountain pose)
Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose- This is an asana that is practiced for violations of posture, stoop, back pain and disorders in the spine. The pose strengthens the back and develops the lungs. Starting position - lying face down. Legs are straightened. The arms are bent at the elbows in front of the head. While inhaling, begin to raise your head and, aligning your spine, lift your body. Stay in this position. As you exhale, return to the starting position.
Video: Bhujangasana technique (cobra pose)

Postures for balance, or balance are not very popular among beginners, but they help to improve concentration, make sure that your body's increasing endurance:

Utkasana (chair pose)- one of the easiest balancing poses. Performed from Tadasana. Hands need to be raised above your head and grab the invisible handrails. Take a deep breath and begin to sit down on an invisible chair. The hips and body should form a right angle. Execution time - 40 seconds. The pose strengthens the muscles of the pelvis and legs, aligns the spine, develops balance.
Video: Utkasana technique (chair pose)

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that some asanas are combined into complexes, for example, Surya Namaskar, or salutation to the sun. The combination consists of 12 body positions. The beginning and end of the complex is Pranamasana asana.

Surya Namaskar is an alternate inclination, flexion and straightening of the spine. The complex provides a deep study of all joints and tendons. Its advantage is that the complex is mentioned in the Vedic literature, and its current state is the result, the effectiveness of which is confirmed by thousands of years of practice.

Important!Research by researchers at the University of York has proven that yoga reduces the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain in women with fibromyalgia.

Philosophical teachings of ancient India

Indian philosophy is one of the oldest on the continent. All philosophical schools or currents are divided according to the principle of attitude to the Vedas. For the orthodox, the recognition of the Vedas is characteristic - here they are considered a source of knowledge. This group includes Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta.

The unorthodox do not recognize the exclusive property of the source of knowledge behind the Vedas. These include Jain, Buddhism, Ajivika, Ajna and Karvakas. The main currents formed around 1000 BC. e.
The Vaisheshika school (Skt. "peculiarity, difference") attempts to identify, inventory and classify the entities and their relationships that appear to human perception. The goal of vaisheshika is the liberation of the individual "I".

Ignorance gives rise to problems and evil, and the reduction of this ignorance leads to right actions, harmonization of relations between people, deity and nature. Therefore, liberation from ignorance leads to liberation from suffering.

Nyaya (Sanskrit "law") is a religious and philosophical system at the same time. It studies the conditions and means of cognition of reality. It is believed here that reality does not depend on consciousness, which cannot always perceive it. Compiled by the sage Gautama (Gotama) in the 3rd-4th century AD. e. The principles of this philosophy are used in the construction of other philosophical systems.

This system recognizes the existence of a creator god. God is the root cause of everything in the world. Nyaya considers and studies the ways of cognition of reality, the means of cognition, the conditions under which cognition occurs and its sources.
Sankhya is one of the most influential directions. Founded around 600 BC. e. The purpose of the doctrine is the knowledge of reality through cause-and-effect relationships. The Sankhya school assumes the existence of two bodies - a temporary body and a body of "subtle" matter, which persists after biological death.

When the temporary body dies, the subtle one migrates to another temporary body. It consists of higher functions - buddhi ("consciousness"), ahamkara ("I-consciousness"), manas ("mind") and prana ("breath", the principle of vitality). This doctrine substantiates the existence of the world without divine intervention.

Did you know?Ancient yogis believed that a person has a limited number of breaths. Therefore, they recommended slowly inhaling and exhaling to prolong life.

Yoga (Sanskrit "Yuking" or "Union") is one of the six systems (darshans) of Indian philosophy. Its influence has always been widespread among many other schools of Indian thought. The basis of yogic teachings is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

In today's world, the practical aspects of the system are especially popular and in demand, much more so than its intellectual content based on Sankhya philosophy. The difference between these systems is that yoga presupposes the presence of a deity, to which the spirit (purusha) should strive, freeing itself from the slavery of matter (prakriti), through the eradication of ignorance and illusions.
The purpose of Mimamsa is to interpret the Vedas, or rather to give rules for their interpretation. Mimamsa studies the various parts and periods of writing the Vedas. The earliest work of this philosophical school is the Mimansa Sutra, compiled by the sage Jamini in the 4th century BC. e. Mimamsa develops the doctrine of knowledge and its five sources, following through reasoning and critical research.

Vedanta originally referred to the Vedic period in the development of philosophical thought. The literal meaning of this term is "completion of the Vedas". During the Middle Ages, the Vedanta merged with the course of the Mimamsa.

Jainism is one of the three oldest Indian religious traditions still in existence. The name of the teaching comes from the Sanskrit verb "ji" - "to win", and refers to the battle that a monk must fight against passions in order to gain enlightenment.
Buddhism is a religious and philosophical system that developed from the teachings of the Buddha between the mid-6th and mid-4th centuries. BC e. Despite the fact that Buddhism is one of the main world religions of our time, the term itself originated in Europe in the 19th century.

Did you know?According to legend, Shiva knows 8,000,000 asanas, but only 84 of them are available to people. Modern sports medicine experts estimate that, given all the muscles and joints in the body, humans can perform over 78,000 exercises.

The followers of this religion call their teaching - Dharma (Sanskrit "law"). Buddhists consider the world to be uncreated and unmanaged. There is no belief in karma, the immortality of the soul, and even a religious organization.

Yoga as medicine

Being a combination of theory and practice about the management of the body and mind, yoga has created a unique therapeutic direction. The combination of physical postures (asanas) and breathing practices (pranayama) has been used in India for over 5,000 years.

The US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has proposed the use of yogic practices as one of the alternative types of treatment. Various types of alternative medicine, including yoga, have gained recognition at the international level.

Thus, the World Health Organization has developed a new international classifier of diseases (IBK-11), in which a special section has been created for alternative methods of treatment.

The basic positions of yoga are an excellent means of preventing mental disorders, stress, and depression. The first stage of classical yoga, Yama, teaches to perceive the events of reality without negativity and to keep the spirit and body pure. And the second step, Niyama, teaches you to fill the mind cleansed of negativity with positive thinking and joy.
Stress causes disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and functional disorders. A person who practices yoga has a higher resistance to stress and positive thinking, which means they are less prone to illness.

Many people lead a sedentary lifestyle and spend a lot of time at the computer. This contributes to disorders in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. Asanas help relieve tension in the muscles of the back, align posture, improve endurance, eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. In combination with breathing practice, pranayama, they help to return to good physical shape.

A healthy diet combined with asanas helps slow down the aging process and prevent the development of age-related diseases.

In terms of therapeutic effect, asanas can affect:

muscle groups, ligaments and bones - mechanical type of impact;
psycho-emotional state of a person - stress type of impact;
psychosomatic;
internal organs - humoral type of impact;
hormonal level;
energy level;
stressful.

The classification of asanas in terms of therapeutic effect is presented in the table:

Localization of the therapeutic effect	Categories of asanas	Therapeutic effect	Asana examples
Psycho-emotional state	Relaxation asanas that can be done lying down, standing or sitting	Impact on the psycho-emotional state of a person, stress relief, calming, improving mood	Lying down: Shavasana, Supta Padangushthasana Racks: Tadasana; Pranamasana; Utthita Trikonasana; Virabhadrasana In sitting position: Sukhasana; Stambhasana; Virasana; Padmasana
Mechanical on muscles, ligaments, joints and bones	Any asanas have a relaxing and stretching effect on the muscles - stretching, tilting, twisting, backbends, power asanas, boat poses	The task of the asana is to relax a group of muscles and stretch it; localization depends on the exercise: back muscles, spine, chest. The therapeutic effect consists in relieving pain, improving flexibility and elasticity, restoring the health of the body.	Pull forward: Ashwa Sanchalanasana Backbends: Hasta Uttanasana; Bitilasana; Padmasana Boat poses: Bhujangasana; Navasana Twisting: Power asanas: Shalabakhsan; Mayurasana
Internal organs	Backbends, twists, inverted poses	Removal of internal stress, improvement of the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, pelvic organs	Backbends: Hasta Uttanasana; Bitilasana; Padmasana Twisting: Utthita Trikonasana; Ardha Matsyendrasana Reversed postures: Sarvangasana; halasana
Endocrine system, immunity	inverted poses	Stabilization of the endocrine system, including the thyroid and parathyroid glands	Sarvangasana; halasana
Balance and coordination of movements	Balance	Improved sense of balance and concentration	Utkatasana; Vrikshasana; Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana
Prevention of strokes, improvement of brain function	forward bends	Improving the blood supply to the brain	Padangushthasana; Padahastasana; Parvatasana.

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Philosophers practicing yoga

The founder of yoga - an ancient sage, philosopher and ascetic As in many similar cases, the exact facts of his biography do not exist, so neither the date of birth nor the circumstances of his life can be precisely named. The main work is the Yoga Sutra, which consists of 195 sutras. Probably, yoga existed before Patanjali, but it was he who summarized the existing knowledge, systematized and improved it.
No less famous ancient yogic sage - Swami Swatmarama. He wrote the most ancient treatise of Hatha Yoga - "Hatha Yoga Pradipika". This manual describes the use of Shatkarma, Asana, Pranayama, Mudras and Bandhas and their practical application for Kundalini awakening.

Over the past 100-150 years, the number of practicing yogis has become quite large, and with them, attention to ancient wisdom and its rethinking has increased.

Did you know?Yoga was included in the list of the cultural heritage of mankind compiled by UNESCO in 2016.

Among the yogis and sages of the 19th-20th centuries and their works, the most important are described in the table:

Yogi	Major works	Flow	About the author
Baba Sawan Singh	"Spiritual Guidance"; "Letters from Soul to Soul"	Surat Shabd Yoga	Yogi, philosopher; studied the basic principles of all religions and tried to generalize them into a single doctrine
Brahmachari Dhirendra	"Yoga-sukshma-vyayama"; "Yogasana Vijnana"		Yogi; yoga adviser to Indira Gandhi, created the Yoga Institute, where scientists from all over the world can conduct scientific medical research on the effects of yoga on the body
Swami Vivekananda	"Practical Vedanta"; "Raja Yoga"; "Six Instructions on Raja Yoga"; "Bhakti Yoga"; "Karma Yoga"; "Jnana Yoga"; "Para-bhakti"	Vedanta and yoga	Founder of one of the largest monastic orders, yogi, philosopher, public figure. Brought yoga to the West and formed the concept of this system in the Western world
Lahiri Mahasai	The yogi himself did not describe his teaching. It, like biographical information, is described by his student and follower Paramahansa Yogananda in the Autobiography of a Yogi.	kriya yoga	Founder of Kriya Yoga, Hindu yogi and saint; it is believed that he had the ability not only to heal the sick, but also to resurrect the dead, dematerialize objects and perform other miraculous actions
Swami Paramahamsa Hariharananda Giri	"Kriya Yoga: The Scientific Process of Soul Culture and the Essence of All Religions"	kriya yoga	Yogi, guru, philosopher
Paramahans Yogananda	"Autobiography of a Yogi"		Yogi, popularizer and distributor of yoga in the West, it was thanks to his work that hatha yoga received a huge number of followers in the West
Swami Satyananda Saraswati	He wrote 14 works: “Asana. Pranayama. Wise. Bandha"; "Bhakti Yoga Sagar"; "Ocean of Yoga of Devotion"; "Kundalini Tantra"; "Swara yoga"; "Tantric practices of transformation"; "Kriya Yoga"; "Hatha Yoga"; "Pradipika" and others	Karma yoga	Yogi, guru, master of yoga and tantra; founder of the International Yoga Fellowship
Sant Kirpal Singh	"Morning Conversations"; "Spirituality - what is it"; "Crown of life"; "Research on Yoga"; "Surat Shabd Yoga"; "Secret of Death"; "Great saint Baba Jaimal Singh. His Life and Teachings”; "Wheel of Life".	Surat Shabd Yoga	Yogi, writer, philosopher