Question 6 - ASHTÁNGA SÁDHANA Flashcards
1 – What is Ashtánga Yôga?
Ashtánga Yôga is a type of Yôga: it is the other name of Classical Yôga or the Yôga of Pátañjali.
Do not mistake it for ashtánga sádhana.
2 – What does ashtánga sádhana mean?
Ashta means “eight”; anga, “part”; sádhana, “practice”. Ashtánga sádhana means “practice in eight parts”.
It constitutes the first of the eight characteristics of SwáSthya Yôga.
– Which are the eight parts of the ády ashtánga sádhana and what do they mean?
Mudrá (gestural language); pújá (energetic interchange); mantra (vocalisation of sounds and ultra-sounds); pránáyáma (expansion of bio-energy); kriyá (activity of purification of the mucous); ásana (physical technique); yôganidrá (relaxation); samyama (concentration, meditation and hyperconsciousness).
4 –Name the other ashtánga sádhanas, besides the ády ashtánga sádhana.
Viparita ashtánga sádhana, mahá ashtánga sádhana, swa ashtánga sádhana, manasika ashtánga sádhana, gupta ashtánga sádhana.
5 – Can the order and the components of one ashtánga sádhana be altered? What occurs if the practitioner or the instructor alters some anga or its order?
Yes, they can be altered. In that case, it is no longer an orthodox SwáSthya Yôga and it becomes heterodox.
6 – Which two parts characterise a typical practice of Hatha Yôga? What other techniques does Hatha Yôga usually use?
Ásana and pránáyáma. The complete Hatha practice is formally made up of yama, niyama, ásana and pránáyáma. Informally, other things may be added, but never the superior angas, such as pratyáhára, dháraná, dhyána and samádhi. Normally, yama and niyama are supressed, and bandhas, mudrás and kriyás are added.
7 – Does Hatha Yôga have yôganidrá?
No. Hatha does not have one anga of relaxation but one ásana of relaxation, called shavásana.
Therefore, it is inlaid in the anga ásana.
8 – What is the difference between dhyána and samyama? Can the two terms indistinctly designate the eighth anga of the ashtánga sádhana?
Dhyána designates only the state of meditation. Samyama designates the practice that consists of executing concentration, meditation and samádhi “together”, that is, in one sitting only. Each person reaches where they are able. That way, dhyána or samyama can designate the eighth anga of the ashtánga sádhana.
9 – Can mudrás be made with the body?
No. Mudrás are gestures made with the hands.
10 – Is there a trend that allows mudrás made with the body?
The concept of mudrás made with the body is found in Modern Yôga (Medieval), but SwáSthya, Ancient Yôga, does not accept it.
