Angas of Yoga

People are able to explore such dimensions as consciousness and energy. These dimensions, inseparable from each other, represent the nature of the Universe. Infinite, beyond time and concepts, consciousness endowed with energy manifests everything in this world: objects, subjects, obscurations, liberations, all the processes, actions, states, and what is beyond the states.

Yoga is given to us so that we could explore who we are and what is Absolute, Universe. By practicing asanas, pranayama and meditation — angas of yoga (aṅga — “part, section”), we obtain the ability to abide in higher dimensions (tattvas). But it would be wrong to consider that angas come in a certain sequence, for example, first asanas, then pranayama and only then meditative practices (dharana, dhyana, samadhi). All of them are equally necessary and important, since they are integral for the whole. Most often, yoga is considered as ashtanga — consisting of eight parts, which includes yama, niyama, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. But there is also shadanga (six parts) yoga , and other variants of angas. No matter how many angas one indicates, they have something in common that is the focus to Absolute. Take any of the anga, for example, asanas, and change the focus to health and as a result, it is not yoga any more but physical education or therapy. Or apply meditation to psychology and you will get a mindfulness consultancy practice. In the same way, it is impossible to exclude any of the angas from the actual practice of yoga for they only work together, they compliment each other. Yama-niyama (lifestyle prescriptions) provide the foundation for the correct use of energy, which leads to the higher states in any asana. While meditation takes place during asana or pranayama practices, and pranayama itself is present at all levels of yogic practice.

Many people practice yoga to achieve success, for some benefits or to justify their needs, replacing the focus from Absolute to personal goals and ambitions. But keep the right focus and everything else will fall into place. Questions will disappear, and the search for the meaning of life will melt into the infinity of being. For many, this may even sound intimidating. But where there is unity with the Universe, there is no need to prove anything. Everything becomes simple and clear, and yoga leads to the state without meanings and differences, to the perfect unity of the whole.