International Yoga Day is celebrated this year on June 23. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India but has gained popularity around the world.
Yoga has many physical and mental benefits including increased strength and endurance, improved flexibility, and an overall sense of calmness and well-being.
For many people, yoga is a way of life as much as it is a form of exercise. The philosophy of yoga is rooted in the idea that the mind, body and spirit are one, inseparable being. Similar to Buddhism, yoga philosophy believes that ignorance creates suffering and binds us to a cycle of rebirth. Yoga can help to remove that ignorance and promote spiritual knowledge and self-awareness.
There are six different branches of yoga:
- Raja Yoga: Also known as “classical yoga”, this style aims to control intellect and thoughts through meditation.
- Jhana Yoga: This yoga of “knowing” is about realizing one’s truth through meditation, self-inquiry, and studying philosophical and yogic texts.
- Tantra Yoga: This branch of yoga explores all aspects, sensations and energies that weave through the body and the mind. Many practices and rituals of Tantra is taught through oral tradition from yoga gurus.
- Hatha Yoga: “The Yoga of Force” is focused on bringing balance to both the body and the mind by physical “force” through movement of the body.
- Bhakti Yoga: This branch of yoga is based on love and devotion and dedicating actions towards a specific deity.
- Karma Yoga: “The Yoga of Action” is based on selfless acts of service with no expectation of receiving benefits. This thoughtful practice is about focusing on the moments of action rather than the consequences of our actions to bring more awareness to our words and deeds.
If you’re interested in learning more about yoga, there are several books and DVDs that you can check out from our catalog to start practicing yoga at home. You can also check out some of our many yoga programs! Be sure to check out our events calendar for Health & Wellness Events, but here are a few highlighted yoga programs going on this month:
Yoga for Yogis with Louise Fecher
Thursday, June 22 at 9:00 AM - Zoom Link
Monday, June 26 at 6:00 PM at the Will Library - Register for the program here.
Yoga for Yogis with Mandy Engelke
Thursday, June 29 at 9:00 AM - Zoom Link
Meditation and Chair Yoga with Nancy Guzman
Friday, June 23 and June 30 at 9:00 AM - Zoom Link
Alison Robles is a part-time page at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she graduated from Iona University in 2020 with a dual-degree in Marketing and Public Relations. She is pursuing a Masters in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.