About 10 days ago I arrived back from a spectacular meditation trip in South Korea with 30 others who practice Dahn Yoga. On the plane ride back I felt a certain disconnect with how the word “yoga” is perceived. We see the words “yoga” on signs as we travel along streets and past shopping areas. We read about how “yoga” helps manage our stress. Doctors are now recommending “yoga” for rehabilitation. However, do we really know what the word “yoga” means?
Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which literally translates to word “union.” “Union?” The union of what exactly? Yoga, in essence, is the practice of unifying the body, the mind, and the spirit.
So you may be thinking, “I see so many other words in front of the word ‘yoga”. There are many different yoga forms that focus on the unifying the body, mind, and spirit in a different ways. Generally, Americans associate “yoga” with Hatha yoga, an Indian form of yoga that focuses on holding postures for prolonged periods of time to purify and strengthen the body. Even though, you now know what the word “yoga” means, do you know how to easily feel the unification your mind, body, and spirit?
Hatha yoga and other similar forms of yoga, such as Bikhram (or hot yoga) can be very challenging and focus a lot on the physical body. Dahn, or “energy,” yoga is a subtle form of yoga where participants focus on unifying their physical, emotional and spiritual bodies by using ki (energy or life force) through very basic exercises; such as tapping, shaking, and stretching. Simplifying the process to develop a sense of the feeling of energy enables us to easily feel, even in a basic class, magnetic energy sensations, heat and/or tingling throughout the body. Thus re-sensitizing your body to feel light, joyful, and happy!
The Seven Chakras
