Anusara Yoga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Anusara Yoga | |
|---|---|
| Religious origins: | Hinduism |
| Regional origins: | The Woodlands, Texas, USA |
| Founding Guru: | John Friend |
| Mainstream popularity: | Growing from the late 20th century |
| Practice emphases: | alignment, "heart opening" postures and the spiritual and meditative aspects of hatha yoga |
| Derivative forms: | |
| Related schools | |
| Other topics | |
| Tantra | |
Anusara Yoga is a modern school of yoga started by John Friend in 1997; it is a popular hatha yoga style with a Tantric philosophy. Friend continues to take an active role leading the expansion of the school and training (and certifying) teachers.
The emphasis of the school is on a set of "Universal Principles of Alignment" which underlie all postures, "heart opening" postures and the spiritual/meditative benefits of hatha yoga.
Attainable bliss and joy in practice and everyday life are an important aspect of the underlying philosophy of this school. Many western students with a modernist bent find this school attractive.
[edit] Opening Invocation
Each Anusara class typically opens with the singing of the following mantra:
ॐ नमः शिवय गुरवे
सचिदननद मुतयै
निसपपचय शनतय
निरलमबय तेजसे
ॐ
Saccidananda Murtaye
Nischprapanchaya Shantaya
Niralambaya Tejase
Om
As Sanskrit is a concept-based language, a literal translation is difficult to achieve. One translation is as follows: "I bow to the goodness within myself, the manifestation of Lord Shiva, as the true teacher.
This essence inside is the form of truth, consciousness, and bliss
It is always present and full of peace,
It is completely free, and burns brightly with divine light."
[edit] External links
| Yogas: | Agni Yoga - Anahata Yoga - Anusara Yoga - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Bikram Yoga - Hatha yoga - Integral yoga - Iyengar Yoga - Kriya yoga - Kundalini yoga - Natya Yoga - Sahaj Marg - Sahaja Yoga - Satyananda Yoga - Sivananda Yoga - Six yogas of Naropa (Tummo) - Surat Shabd Yoga - Viniyoga - Yoga in Daily Life - Yoga Nidra |
| Texts: | Hatha Yoga Pradipika - Yoga Sutra - Gherand Samhita |
| Hinduism paths: | Bhakti yoga - Karma Yoga - Jnana Yoga - Raja Yoga |
| Raja Yoga limbs: | Yama - Niyama - Asana - Pranayama - Pratyahara - Dharana - Dhyana - Samadhi |
| Lists: | Yoga schools and their gurus - Hatha yoga postures |
| Related topics: | Ayurveda - Chakra - Mantra - Tantra - Vedanta - Yoga (alternative medicine) - Yoga as exercise |
