| While many consider Yoga to be a form a | | | | pleasures must be given up in order to attain |
| physical exercise, it is also known to be an | | | | one's goals. |
| exercise in spiritual development. Most | | | | |
| would agree that the true goal of Yoga is to | | | | Asana is the third of the eight fold path, |
| provide the individual with the means to | | | | and it is concerned with physical training |
| achieve inner peace and balance. To achieve | | | | and building stamina. Asana is made up of 84 |
| these lofty goals, students are encouraged to | | | | yoga poses, which are focused on developing |
| become familiar Yoga's eight fold path. The | | | | strength, increasing health, and preparing |
| eight fold path consists of eight | | | | for meditation. This stage is as much about |
| disciplines; Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, | | | | physical conditioning, as it is mental or |
| Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samhadi. | | | | psychological discipline. Pranayama, the |
| | | | fourth fold, concerns controlled breathing. |
| The first fold, Yama, advises students to | | | | Proper breathing is important for mastering |
| engage with the world from a moral | | | | true relaxation and self discipline. The |
| standpoint, and is actually broken down into | | | | proper way to breathe while practicing yoga |
| five distinct elements. The first element, | | | | is to breathe in, and breathe out while |
| Ahimsa, teaches the student to respect the | | | | pausing in between. |
| world around him. The second, Satya, teaches | | | | |
| that one should be honest with themselves and | | | | Pratyahara is the fifth of the eight folds, |
| with others. The third, Asteya, teaches not | | | | and is concerned with the individual's |
| to steal from another. The fourth, | | | | control of sensory stimulation. The intent |
| Bramacharya, advises against overindulgence | | | | is to induce a sense of inner peace and |
| of any form. The fifth, Aparigraha, teaches | | | | quiet, by tuning out external stimulation. |
| the student to live a simple life that is not | | | | Dharana is the sixth fold, and it is |
| distracted by material things. | | | | primarily concerned with focusing one's |
| | | | concentration on meditation. When a |
| Niyama, or the second fold, is considered the | | | | meditative state has been attained the |
| path of self restraint and consists of three | | | | student is then on to the seventh step, |
| distinct elements. Shaugh, the first | | | | Dhyana. The final step, Samhadi, is attained |
| element, teaches students to keep the body | | | | when all previous steps have been completed |
| and mind clean and pure. Santosh, the second | | | | and the individual experiences a true oneness |
| element, teaches the student to be happy and | | | | with all things. The student is, as of this |
| contented with the task at hand and to give | | | | point, in tune with the universal flow. |
| an honest effort in all endeavors. Tapa, the | | | | Namaste! |
| third element, suggests that certain | | | | |