Raja Yoga

So I've missed a week with this Blog which I'm not liking but what an amazing week it's been. I attended a workshop by a fellow called John Friend. I have a feeling if you haven't heard of him already you will. He is the founder of a style of Yoga teaching that he calls Anusara that seems, for good reason, to be growing very fast in popularity.

You'll see Jeordy and Hali pictured below who travelled with John and assisted him over his European Tour. Jeordy and Hali were kind enough to share their experience of Anusara to me and both of the classes in Herbert Park on Tuesday which was pretty amazing.

Over the course of the weekend I got to spend some time with a large group from the Irish Yoga community which was truly magical. There are some amazing teachers in this country.



I will use the next blog to run through as many of the different Yoga styles that you may or may not be familiar with and what each one is.

But, for now, I wanted to wrap up the meaning of Asthanga Yoga which if you've just started reading I've been focusing on for the last few posts.

So the title of this blog.... Raja Yoga! What does it mean?? Raja means 'Royal' and Yoga means 'Union'. So the Royal Union but it is also translated as Classical Yoga and recorded history says it was first described by a fellow named Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras.



Within the Hindu Philosophy Raja Yoga is referred to as simply Yoga. It is called 'Royal Yoga' and it is primarily concerned with the mind and the mind is the King/Ruler of the rest of our physicality hence the title of 'Royal'.

Raja Yoga says the body must first be tamed through various self-disciplines and purification practices a prescription for which is listed as Ashtanga Yoga which Raja Yoga is sometimes called.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras begin by saying 'Yoga limits the movement of the mind' and as the mind steadies it becomes quiet/calm and this state is called Nirbija meaning 'Seedless'.

Practices that serve to maintain for the individual the ability to access this state may be considered Raja Yoga practices.

In this sense Raja Yoga is called the "king among yogas": all yogic practices are seen as potential tools for obtaining the seedless state, itself considered to be the starting point in the quest to cleanse Karma and obtain Moksha or Nirvana. Historically, schools of yoga that label themselves "Raja" offer students a mix of yogic practices and (hopefully or ideally) this philosophical viewpoint.

Raja Yoga aims at controlling all thought-waves. While a Hatha Yogi starts his Sadhana, or spiritual practice, with Asanas (postures) and Pranayama, a Raja Yogi starts his Sadhana with the mind as well as a certain minimum of asanas and pranayamas usually included as a preparation for the meditation and concentration.

So Ashtanga Yoga which we have been talking about, the 8 faceted path of Yoga, is prescribed as the 8 principles of Raja Yoga/Classical Yoga/Royal Union/Yoga in Hindu Philosophy within Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Enough information for one day?? Maybe. I do want to keep descriptions of everything mentioned as short as possible.

Next time I'll be listing the most popular styles of Yoga and as short a description as I can. Maybe it'll help you choose what style you would like to begin practicing or encourage you to try something different one Saturday morning. I'll leave it there wishing you peace, love and light and a great weekend.

Om Shanti