Yoga

Yoga is a verb and a noun. Yoga is process, specifically the process of linking one self with the Supreme (Baghavad-Gita). Yoga is also the name for various Eastern spiritual schools designed to teach an individual how to Connect with Consciousness. Yoga (i.e., authentically working towards Connection) is the Authentic Core of Authentic Spirituality. The goal of Yoga/Connection practice is Connection with Consciousness and Realization of Divine Self.

Concepts

Hatha Yoga conceives of the Physical Unit as composed of five koshas (Sanskrit कोश, lit. pocket), these being

annamaya (Sanskrit अन्नमय, lit. filled with food) kosha (pocket) -> pocket filled with food -> physical body

manomaya kosha (Sanskrit, मनोमय, lit. filled with ideas) kosha -> pocket filled with mind -> mind body

pranamaya kosha (Sanskrit, प्राणमय, lit. filled with prana) kosha -> pocket filled with prana -> energy body

vijnanamaya kosha (Sanskrit, विज्ञानमय, lit. filled with Ideas) kosha -> pocket filled with [Consciousness]]

anandamaya kosha - (Sanskrit, आनन्दमय, lit. filled with Bliss) kosha -> pocket filled with Realization -> Bliss arising out of Realization (Saraswati, 2017)

Yoga involves the healing, protection, and perfection of each of the "five pockets" so that Consciousness may fully "seat" in the vessel (i.e. so the Physical Unit can contain higher levels of Consciousness (higher CQ), and achieve full Realization. An individual can work on any individual kosha at any given time, though for best results (i.e. results not characterized by intermittent, transitory, and/or shaky connection experiences), you must realize that full Realization depends, like a modern skyscraper depends on its concrete foundation, on perfection of the koshas below. For example, as any starving person will tell you, your mind won't work properly if the body is not healthy and filled with food. Neither will you achieve a healthy energy body without first establishing, in your mind, the right ideas (i.e. Right Thought). Similarly, your body cannot contain the highest levels of Consciousness unless the energy body is healthy and energized.

Notes

Kosha is often translated into English as "body." Thus, in the west, yoga refers to the perfection of the five bodies. In my opinion, this is an inappropriate and misleading translation. Much better to translate kosha as pocket, and leave it at that.

As commercialized in the West, yoga is focused mostly on the physical and, to a lesser extent, mental pockets. This is not necessarily a bad thing since perfection of the physical pocket and mental pocket are precursors to perfection of the higher pockets.

There are many "schools" of yoga. Each of these schools is focused on the same end goal (i.e. Connection), but each have different emphasis. Schools include:

Hatha Yoga : From annamaya to pranamaya to manomaya

Raja Yoga : From manomaya to vijnanamaya

Kriya Yoga : From vijnanamaya to anandamaya.

BHGVG 6.3 explains the path of yoga as a ladder that starts at the "lowest material condition" and ascends up to perfect Self-Realization. According to the BHGVG there are three steps on the ladder, these being Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. The first step on the ladder is termed the Yogaruruksu while the highest rung is known as Yogarudha (BHGVG).

According to BHGVG 6.3 the ārurukṣoḥyogic (yogic newbie) begins with Karmic Work while the individual who has attained tasyaiva (his certainty, i.e. an individual totally identified and convinced of his/her unity of, and identity with, Atman). Such an individual has necessarily given up worldly/venal activities and is devoted exclusively to the service of Consciousness.

Further Reading

Saraswati, Swami Niranjanananda. "Introducing Hatha Yoga." Yoga 2017: 15-17. (http://www.biharyoga.net/bihar-school-of-yoga/jan-2017/)

References

Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Bhaktivedanta VedaBase. http://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/ http://www.vedabase.net/bg/6/3/en Verse 6.3