An Introduction to how yoga came to be in America and what you are actually studying.

1. “The only reason we choose to do yoga is for the pleasure, the literal
pleasure of our systems relaxing and filling with energy. It is not
some struggle to enjoy a future result.” ~ Mark Whitwell

2. “There are no teachers; we are all
students, bound together in infinite
expansion of growth and exploration.
Teach as a servant or fellow seeker
joyously sharing with others the
knowledge and training we ourselves
have found” ~ Rama Jyoti Vernon

3. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Patanjali if the “father of yoga”
Codified his experience 2,400 years ago
196 Sutras
Only 3 mention Asana
Sthira Sukham Asanam: Take any pose and be comfortable
SOURCE FOR INFORMATION:
http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras.htm

4. Why Do You Suffer?
The five kleshas are
• avidya (ignorance)
• asmita (over-identifying with your ego)
• raga (desire, or attachment to pleasure)
• dvesha (avoidance)
• abhinivesha (attachment and fear).

5. The subject now being offered is yoga
Atha Yoga Anusasanam
Now of yoga explanation OR the teachings of yoga now begin
“These are the stages through which every truth seeker must
travel, regardless of his religion, if he would achieve union with
the Infinite.” ~ Swami Kriyananda, “Demystifying Patanjali, The
Yoga Sutras”
Sutra means “To Stitch”
Sahankhya: seeking
fulfillment through the body is
useless. This is WHY we go on
a spiritual search.
Yoga…how we find God

6. Yoga is the neutralization of the vortices of
feeling
Yogas Chitta Vritti Norodha
Yoga is feeling vortex calming neurtralizing
“We will find lasting peace only when we have calmed all our
inner vrittis. When perfect calmness comes to us, then alone
will we know peace. This state is known as samadhi~ Swami
Kriyananda, “Demystifying Patanjali, The Yoga Sutras”
Samadhi means “Bliss”
Vortices:
1. Mon or Mind..the mirror and is blind…..top of the head
2. Buddhi or Intellect…identifies and labels….between the eyes
3. Ahankara or Ego…takes possession….lowest region of brain
4. Chitta or feeling…emotions or delusions……heart
5. (Lower chakras are base desires)

7. Sutra 1. 3 Then the Seer abides in Itself, resting in its own
True Nature, which is called Self-realization.
(tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam)
tada = at that time of meditation
drashtuh = the witnesss
varupe = in its own nature
avasthanam = remaining
Then the Self stands alone: As a result of having done the
process of nirodhah ((Neutralizing), described in the last
sutra, the true Self stands alone, unencumbered by our
many false identities (described in the next sutra).
Samadhi means “Bliss”
Be Calm and Carry On!
You are NOT what you think you are
3

8. Man’s first “religion”….yoga
5,000 – 40,000 years old
• Hinduism
• Vedas (1700 – 1100 BC) writings of Yoga
appear
• Upanishads
• Bhagavad Gita (Song of God)
• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• Buddhism…we rebel and tantra arises (Weaving the
tapestry of life with your thoughts)
• Jainism…path of non-violence or Ahimsa
• Christianity…did Jesus study Yoga in India and
Tibet? – maybe
• Sufism… Branch of Islam OR NOT…devotion to God
• Kabbalah…Jewish Mysticism, The Zoharah
• Sikhism…Oneness with God…Guru Nanak

9. Nine Paths of Modern Yoga
Hatha The Yoga of Technique (Kriya)
Bhakti The Yoga of Devotion
Jnana The Yoga of Wisdom
Karma The Yoga of Service
KundaliniThe Yoga of latent spiritual awareness
Mantra The Yoga of Sound
Tantra The Yoga of sexual polarity
Yantra The Yoga of Vision
Raja The Yoga of the Mind(Integral Yoga)
Hatha-avadhuta yoga is the beginning of the path,
while raja yoga ois the goal. When this is achieved,
the individual no longer practices but lives according to
the one universal Truth that binds us. ~ Shandor
Remete

10. Step 1….Purification to bring doshas to balance
Dhauti, Internal Cleansing (Elemental Cleanse)
Basti, Yogi Enemes (modified Elemental Cleanse)
Neti, Nasal Cleaning (modified Elemental Cleanse)
Trataka, Concentrated Gazing (not yet)
Nauli, Abdominal Massage (not yet)
Kapalabhati, Brain Cleansing (Kundalini once a week)
Step 2….Balance Body and Mind
Daily Meditation
Daily Asana
Step 3…See God
Daily Mediation
Daily Contemplation
Daily Silence
Regardless of Path…these are steps
Yoga is the reversal
of the accumulated
manifestations of life.
Through hatha yoga
we bring light to the
darkness

11. Feminine, white, cold
Masculine,red, hot
Central Channel
Kundalini
Reverence to the
Shushumna Nadi, to
the Kundalini, to
the nectar born of
the Moon, to the
state in which the
mind is dissolved,
reverence to the
Goddess, the Great
Shakti, who is the
Self of the
consciousness. ~
Hatha Yoga
Pradipika IV.64
Left
Nostril
Right
Nostril
Awakening the Subtle Body

12. Awakening the Subtle Body

13. North Node South Node
Going to Coming From
Where are you coming from and going to?
Dragon’s Tail South node: Sign and House…you already got
this. It’s comfortable. It’s causing suffering.
Dragon’s Head North Node: Sign and House…you are learning
this. It’s uncomfortable. It’s also causing suffering.
Astrology “OM” work
HATHA YOGA
“Ha” means sun
“Tha” means moon
Sun/moon yoga
Conquering your
dualistic nature

14. Ashtanga Yoga
… The 8 Limbs of Yoga
1. Yamas: Right Conduct (self)
2. NiYamas: Right Living (duty)
3. Asana: Breathing and Becoming One with the eternal cosmic
vibration
4. Pranayama: Vital Life Force Control
5. Pratyahara: Withdrawing the senses
6. Dharana: One pointed focus
7. Dhyana: Seeing the Seer (meditation)
8. Samadhi: Bliss (absorption)

15. Yoga Tools for Your Empowerment Box
Yamas
Ahimsa or non-violence. Be kind.
Satya or Truth. Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
Asteya or Non stealing. Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you.
Bramacharya or Celibacy for monks. Householder for us.
Aparigraha: Non-hoarding. Leave 10% for others.
Niyamas
Soucha or Purity. Cultivate Sattva
Santosha or Contentment. Enjoy what you have as it is.
Tapas or discipline. Practice daily with intent.
Swadhyaya or Self-Study. Continue to uncover.
Ishavar Pradidana or Devotion. Surrender. Service to God. Just do what is
before you each day and trust it will all work out.

16. Hatha yoga
purpose:
1. Purify body
2. Balance body,
mind, &
subtle
3. See God

18. Ashtanga
Power Yoga
Jivamukti
Kali Ray TriYoga
White Lotus
Amrit Yoga
Para Yoga
New to Yoga
Gentle Yoga
Aroma Yoga
Yoga with
Aromatherapy
Yoga with Healing
Touch
Iyengar
Integrative Yoga
Therapy
Vini Yoga
Svaropa
Bikram
Phoenix Rising Yoga
Therapy
Sivananda
Integra
Ananda
Kundalini
Yoga Fit
Heart of Yoga
ISHTA
Kripalu
Anusara
Tibetan
Hatha
Hot Yoga
Restorative
IREST
Prenatal
Children’s
Senior’s
Yin Yoga
Urban Zen
Enlightenment is fluid. Yoga is fluid. Focusing on any
one aspect of yoga is static. Be open. Try
everything. If you aren’t crying, laughing, changing,
you are not doing yoga. Your practice isn’t serving
you.

19. Yoga Trends from Yoga Journal & Yoga Alliance
Study (2016)
• 36 million practioners
• 72% are women
• 11.6 Billion dollar industry (2020)
• 34% of Americans or 80 million people intend to try yoga in the
next year
• 30–49 year olds make up 43 percent of the practicing public,
followed by those ages 50+ (38 percent) and 18–29 (19 percent)
• 74 percent of American practitioners have been doing yoga for
five or fewer years
• The top five reasons for starting yoga are: flexibility (61 percent),
stress relief (56 percent), general fitness (49 percent), improve
overall health (49 percent), and physical fitness (44 percent)

21. Old way New way
( TIME )
Lack of routine
Old friends
Family
Skipping meditation
Stressful events
Changes in your life
Going back to what is
comfortable and known
BedtimeGet up time
3 meals/day
Daily meditation
Daily movement
Like-minded people
Strong boundaries
Pranayama
Mindfulness
Leaving the situation
Coaching

22. To Be A Healer….
• Life Counselor…health, psychology, career,
relationship, and spirituality.
• Contemplation of life as a whole.
• Ability to guide a client through the stages of life to
the unfoldment of the soul…ability to point out the
client’s potentials and give practical tools.
• Teaching yoga, ayurveda, and spiritual studies.
• Establishment of a personal spiritual practice, yoga
meditation, mantra, daily rituals, and living a life of
authenticity.
• Desire to be of service to clients.
(Dr. David Frawley)