Raja Yoga leads to enlightenment, purification from negative thoughts and insight of the mind. This is an interactive practice based on meditation and introspection. Asanas are excluded in it. There are only a few pranayamas. Raja Yoga translates as "Queen" and is intended exclusively for kings. She also received such a name, because it is designed to control the mind, which is the king in the structure of the human person.
In many ways, it is similar to Ashtanga Yoga. It includes the four highest steps aimed at controlling thoughts. Teaches in any situation to maintain composure. There are no physical exercises. All forces go into meditation, the purpose of which is to study the inner world and increase one's own energy.
Raja Yoga Goal
The main task that a person sets himself is the purification of the soul and mind. Energy must come from the Supreme Father. Raja Yoga is not like any other. It aims to receive spiritual strength from outer space. It is necessary to feel the connection with the higher mind. Meditation does not make sense if a person’s thoughts are in a vacuum and are directed at something else. Raja yoga is often called intellectual. It is important to maintain not only inner calm, but also a slight tension in the head.
Raja yoga for beginners to study it is a source of new sensations. If you decide to change your life, and first of all yourself - this practice will help you with this. In order to achieve maximum results, you must try to track and feel every thought. Remember, the way we become depends on how we think! Aware of the connection with the Universe and the Creator, we develop a virtue in ourselves. There are yoga courses whose main goal is positive thinking. Here are the main points that need to be spoken in the process of meditation:
- I am the point of light, I am the soul.
- I am a child of God, and my father is perfect.
- My nature is pure and impeccable.
- Only peace and quiet reign in my soul.
Try to linger on each exercise for about half an hour. Set aside a free day to practice, and you will immediately feel the result.
During the whole time when a person reflects on important issues, no other thoughts should arise in the head. The bottom line is deep immersion and inner transformation. If you regularly perform Raja Yoga exercises that are very effective, you can improve your health, change your own behavior, increase your working capacity and fill your life with bright colors. During meditation, the old prints in the memory are burned and new ones are acquired.
In order to start the exercise cycle, sit in any position convenient for you. The main thing is to keep your back steady throughout the entire time. Eyes must be open. The bottom line is to find harmony within yourself, being in the familiar environment. You need to dive deep into yourself.
The basic principles of raja yoga
1. The first step is called "I - not I".
In this case, the aspect inherent in our personality is considered. This includes all those qualities that belong to you. One must learn to distinguish between “I” and “not Me,” and this is the first task that a person faces in pursuit of initiation.
2. The second stage is the versatility of the human person.
Man is holistic and multifaceted. In order to understand its manifestations, it is necessary to understand that its being consists of four shells (cats):
- Prana Maya is the etheric body (energy).
- Ananda Maya - the physical body (food).
- Vijnanamaya - the body of the mind (distinctive abilities).
- Manomaia is an emotional-mental body (mind).
The school of yoga says that a person learns to be aware of different spheres of the mind: cognitive, superconscious, conscious and transcendental. In the process of the whole meditative path, it is necessary to approach the higher consciousness, however, before this, you should familiarize yourself with the data on its existence. The connection with the Higher Mind gives people an awakening from a long sleep.
How to learn to hear?
From the point of view of raja yoga, life is like a system of curved glasses through which it is very difficult to see the true picture. Thanks to the practices, one can discern four states in which consciousness is found: a dream with vivid dreams, deep immersion, wakefulness, and enlightenment (turiyu). In the process of exercise, you must learn to get rid of unnecessary thoughts that constantly come to mind. It is also necessary to constantly restrain the excitement of the mind. Having mastered this practice, a person will be able to learn to hear the voice of his body, people's thoughts, the voices of nature. The gift of silence will be revealed to you, thanks to which you can hide all the most secret secrets and truths.
Practical part
This section involves serious mental work. In order to start the exercises, you need to sit in any comfortable position. Keep your back always level. Control your breathing, because it is an integral part of practice. When you inhale, a thought is formulated. Feel it while holding your breath, and when you exhale, mentally express it.
Suspension
Leave all past thoughts, problems and feelings behind. Try to achieve a passive state of mind, block all exits in order to concentrate on the natural Divine essence. Maximum attention should be fixed on an abstract object, focusing on the world around you. Do not close your eyes. The bottom line is to move away from the external situation, being in it.
Dhyana meditation
An experienced yoga instructor teaches to contemplate abstract thoughts, images that are inside. In the end result, the gaze should focus on the person as infinity. Own "I" becomes wider, and the possibilities and power - endless. This is the essence of Dhyana meditation, which is an integral part of Raja Yoga.
Superconsciousness
Next is Samadhi, which bestows enlightenment. It is very difficult to achieve, but when a person does this, he erases all boundaries and completely controls his mind. Thus, a person cognizes himself, wakes up from a long sleep, removes the extra shell and controls his feelings, approaching perfection - the Divine principle.
The path to freedom and enlightenment
Raja yoga involves not only the creation of man, but also the most important center - the psyche, bringing it closer to superconsciousness. In the process, you must use any means. Swami Vivekananda, the founder of the movement, wrote the following: “Achieve perfection with philosophy, prayer, mental exercises, great work - and you will gain freedom.”
Concepts of Integral Practice
In order to learn the entire course of yoga, you need to familiarize yourself with such terms as Moksha, Sansara, Atman and Karma.
- Moksha is the highest level of consciousness that all yogis dream of achieving. You can get closer to it if you practice regularly.
- Samsara is the environment and people. Feelings, emotions and personal memories.
- The Atman is the inner observer of each person, perceiving the surrounding reality.
- Karma - the laws by which a person lives. It should be understood that each of them has its own pattern. The better karma, the better the quality of life. The bad can be cleansed through the practice of raja yoga.
Yoga for children
Doing yoga is fun. She brings a lot of positive emotions and new experiences. It is especially useful to practice it for children from the age of five. Exercises take place in a circle, which very well affects the exchange of energy. If your child is a little reserved, after classes he will easily find friends. The bottom line is that everyone joins hands and begins to dance, forming a figure of the sun. In the process, you need to tell yourself: “I am the most beautiful”, “I am the best”, “I am the happiest”. After this, lie on your back and relax all the muscles.
This practice is suitable for both kids and adults. For children, this is a kind of game that will captivate them. The action takes place to the music. You can turn on the drums.
Yoga is breathing, which should be given special attention, and it cures many diseases. There is a whole practice aimed at cleansing the whole body. It is called Astrokarate. The shortness of breath is accompanied by rhythmic movements of the hands. You can turn on quiet music while practicing. There are also good Gugean dances. It is necessary to rotate the body 180 degrees, arms spread horizontally. There are many variations. These practices are suitable for beginners who only learn the basics of raja yoga, and children.
Where to begin?
The Raja Yoga School is based on creating positive thinking. It may be accompanied by dancing in the music, but the emphasis is on inner enlightenment. If you have never heard of this practice before this second, start with a little meditation. Take 10-15 minutes to yourself, abstract from accumulated thoughts and problems. Focus on cultivation and communication with the cosmos. It’s best to join a group. There you will meet friends of interest and like-minded people with whom you can share new impressions and emotions. In addition, in the group you will practice collective dances and all kinds of breathing practices aimed at cleansing the entire body. You can perform some of them at home. Make yourself five-minute breathers daily.
In order to cleanse the body, it is enough to do a palm massage. Each point is responsible for a separate body. You can also relax and discover the channels. Such an exercise improves health, improves tone and improves mood. It must be performed along with the entire list of practices, and then you will achieve an incredible result! There will be lightness in the body, vitality and good mood. You will learn to look at the world differently. This is the goal of raja yoga.