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Classical Yoga
After the turn of the millennium, the spread of yoga in its different forms,
gave rise to the need for standardization. Thus in the second century C.E.,
Patanjali composed a seminal text, Yoga-Sutra and defined Classical Yoga. The
195 aphorisms or sutras that comprise the Yoga Sutra, expound upon Raja-Yoga
(the eightfold yoga path). The eight steps of Classical Yoga are: 1) yama, or
restraint, 2) niyama, or observance of purity, tolerance and study, 3) asana,
or physical exercises, 4) pranayama or breath control, 5) pratyahara, or preparation
for meditation 6) dharana, or concentration, 7) dhyana or meditation and 8)
samadhi or absorption in the sublime. A distinction of Classical Yoga is study.
Patanjali advocates studying the sacred scriptures as part of the yoga practice.
The real ground breaking characteristic of Yoga-Sutra however,
is its precept of philosophical dualism. Patanjali believed that separation
of the matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha) were necessary to distill the
spirit to absolute purity. This is in stark contrast to Preclassical and Vedic
Yoga, which espoused the unification of the body and the spirit. The teachings
of Patanjali represent a departure from traditional non-dualistic yoga and laid
the groundwork for Postclassical Yoga.For centuries after Patanjali, the dualism
of yoga was predominant. Yogis focused almost exclusively on meditation, and
neglected the asanas. They were attempting to exit the mortal coil and merge
with the ultimate reality through contemplation. But with the advent of alchemy,
a precursor to chemistry, the yoga masters rekindled their belief in the body
as a temple. Contemporary thought shifted to health, longevity and maintenance.
As such, the yoga masters attempted to demonstrate that new yoga techniques
fundamentally alter the body's biochemistry and makes it immortal. Thus reemerged
the primacy of the asana, and the beginning of Postclassical Yoga.
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