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Raja Yoga
Raja is translated from Sanskrit and means the royal path of meditation. Raja yoga is a meditation based form of yoga, practiced by people who are capable of maintaining intense concentration. The practice of raja yoga teaches the students to maintain control of their kingdom, a reference to the vast territories of the human mind, through meditation, mental strength, and psychological self-control.
Raja yoga consists of eight steps:
- Yama – which is self control through non-injury, truth, not stealing, celibacy, and not accepting gifts
- Niyama - restraint, by the practices of cleanliness, contentment, austerity, studying the scriptures, and devotion and surrender to the personal god
- Asana – yoga poses
- Prāṇāyāma - controlled breathing
- Pratyāhāra - withdrawal of the senses
- Dhāraṇā - concentration of the mind
- Dhyāna - meditation
- Samādhi -non-dual consciousness
The purpose of raja yoga is to clear the mental disturbances that keep us from recognizing our divine selves. When the mind is still and pure, the divine self can shine through. Raja yoga instructors teach their students to meditate, clear their minds, and get in touch with their divine self. Meditation is an individualized, personal topic. A raja instructor cannot necessarily direct a student's meditations. Only a true spiritual teacher can guide and direct a student's meditations based on their personal needs. A true spiritual teacher awakens the spirituality of their students through the reflection of their own spiritual realization and fulfillment.
There are several different types of raja classes. Two of these classes are Raja Flow and Mindful Raja Flow. Raja flow yoga focuses on integrating breathing with movement. Raja flow is a style that fluidly moves from one yoga pose to the next, and creates mental and physical awareness with each movement. Raja flow yoga classes are suitable for all levels of physical fitness.
Mindful raja flow focuses on movement as a method of meditation, and also endeavors to link the body, mind, and spirit. This style of raja yoga utilizes a fluid series of poses, and continues into a series of longer held poses. The purpose of mindful raja flow is to restore balance and help to properly align the body. Mindful raja flow is adaptable for multiple fitness levels.
There are different raja yoga classes, but most are appropriate for students of any level of physical fitness and level of experience with yoga. Raja yoga does not require high levels of physical fitness, but does require an ability to maintain focus and meditate for extended periods of time.
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