Question 5 - SWÁSTHYA YÔGA

Question 1

1- What is the definition of SwáSthya Yôga?

Answer 1

SwáSthya Yôga is the name of the systematisation of the Ancient, Pre-Classical Yôga

(Dakshinacharatântrika – Niríshwarasámkhya Yôga).

Question 2

2 – What does the term SwáSthya mean in Sanskrit? And in Hindi?

Answer 2

In Sanskrit it means self-dependence (self-sufficiency), health, well-being, comfort, satisfaction,

Sanskrit English Dictionary by Sir M. Monier Williams, page 1284. In Hindi, it simply means

health.

Question 3

3 – How is SwáSthya Yôga written in dêvanágarí characters?

Question 4

4 – What are the main characteristics of SwáSthya Yôga?

Answer 4

The main characteristics of SwáSthya Yôga (ashtánga guna) are:

1. its extremely complete practice, integrated by eight modalities of techniques;2. its codification of general rules;
2. its retrieval of the archaic concept of enchained sequences without repetition;
3. its direction towards people that identify with this proposal;
4. the value placed on gregarious feeling;
5. its superlative seriousness;
6. its sincere joy;
7. an unfaltering loyalty.

Question 5

5 – What do the orthodox and the heterodox SwáSthya Yôga consist of?

Answer 5

SwáSthya Yôga is considered orthodox when all of the characteristics are observed; and

heterodox when all are respected except for the first (the ashtánga sádhana).

Question 6

6 – What are the main differences between SwáSthya Yôga and the other types of Yôga?

Answer 6

1. The structure of SwáSthya is of Pre-Classical foundation (Tantra-Sámkhya);
2. Being of Sámkhya (naturalist) line, our Yôga does not have a spiritualist proposal.
3. Having an ancestral foundation, our Yôga does not have a therapeutic connotation.

These differences grant our work an unquestionable superlative seriousness.

Question 7

7 – Identify ten differences between SwáSthya and Hatha Yôga.

Answer 7

1. Foundation
2. Historical phase in which their roots are placed
3. Culture of reference
4. Characteristic constitution of the practice
5. General rules of execution
6. Coordinated passages from one ásana to the other
7. Choreographies
8. Selective criteria to assemble one practice
9. Repetition
10. Relaxation during the ásanas.

Question 8

8 – What is the symbol of SwáSthya Yôga? Name it, describe it and make the drawing.

Answer 8

The symbol of SwáSthya Yôga is called ashtánga yantra. It is composed of a circle from whose centre eight equidistant rays depart, going beyond the circumference and finishing in eight trishúlas, symbols of Shiva.

Question 9

9 – Who was the creator of SwáSthya Yôga?

Answer 9

Nobody. SwáSthya Yôga was not created, but codified. Professor DeRose retrieved the most

ancient Yôga (of Tantra-Sámkhya foundation) and codified it with the name of SwáSthya, which

in Sanskrit means self-sufficiency (self-dependence).

Question 10

10 – What did the codification of SwáSthya Yôga consist of?

Answer 10

It consisted of taking the foundations and techniques of Pre-Classical Yôga and systematising them, without adding, suppressing, or westernising anything.