Abstract
The first three steps in Yoga are exterior tasks. The steps one and two, Yama and Niyama, help to put the Yogi into harmony with other humans. The third step, Asana, keeps the body healthy. These postures and their healthful effect are also part of Thai massage.
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There are eight steps a Yogi has to take to reach self-perfection. These are the following:
- Yama, which means universal rules of morals against unfaithfulness, theft, violence, hurting others, greed and adultery, to be summarized as control of the thinking and the activity of the thoughts;[1]
- Niyama, which means the physical and psychological purification by discipline;
- Asana, which means the body position, nowadays mostly known as Hatha-Yoga;
- Pranayama, which is the rhythmic control of the breath which supports the control of the mind;
- Pratyahara, which is the retreat of the mind and thus its emancipation from the dominance of the senses and the exterior objects;
- Dharana, which is the concentration;
- Dhyana, which is the meditation and finally
- Samadhi, which is a state of higher consciousness that can be reached through deep meditation and enables the individual subject (Sadhaka) to unite itself with the object of its meditation, the all-comprehensive universal spirit (Paramatma).[2]
The first three steps of the process of uniting ourselves with the universal spirit are the exterior tasks (Bahiranga sadhana). Yama and Niyama are being used to control the emotions and passions of the Yogis and put him into harmony with other humans. They are the ethical rules limiting the inner and exterior behaviour of the people. There are significant parallels to the rules of other beliefs and religions.[3]
Asana, is to be understood as a solid but still comfortable position, the so-called seat of meditation.[4] It keeps the body healthy and by this puts the Yogi into harmony with the nature, until he overcomes the awareness of the presence of the body, thus conquering the body and transforming it into a tool to make his soul perfect. Thai-massage can be very helpful especially to prepare for the Asanas, as it relaxes the body and makes it more flexible.
© 2006 Thailin Thai Massage Berlin- Cf. Mishra (1985), p. 25
- Cf. Iyengar (1966), p. 3; Maharshi (2001), p. 174
- Cf. Weiss (1987), p. 13
- Cf. Weiss (1987), p. 14
Bibliography
Iyengar, B. K. S. (1966): The Illustrated Light on Yoga. New Delhi 1966.
Mishra, R. S. (1985): Vollendung durch Yoga. Das grundlegende Lehrbuch des Raja-Yoga, der höchsten Form der Yoga-Praxis. O. O. 1985.
Weiss, H. (1987): Yoga Meditation. Schulung zur Selbstverwirklichung. Eltville 1987.
