International Day of Yoga and the Four Paths of Classical Yoga

Many across the globe will witness and have a chance to participate in all types of yoga being offered on the UN International Day of Yoga on June 21st. Many schools of yoga are organizing themselves to share a practice that is enjoyed by hundreds of millions all over the world.

Here is Sadhguru’s message on this important event:

Yoga is the exploration of the very mechanics of life. It predates all religion and opened the possibility of raising a human being beyond limitations set by nature, if willing to strive. Making the science of Yoga available in the purest form is the responsibility of this generation. This science of inner development, wellbeing and liberation is the greatest gift for future generations. Congratulations to the Prime Minister for having initiated the process for declaring June 21 International Yoga Day.

Since the path of yoga is thousands of years old, naturally there has been much diversification and distortion over time. Much of yoga being offered and publicized today are modernized attempts; however, there is a movement and resurgence of classical yoga paths. This is an important development for people who are interested in a yoga path in its purest form.

The classical yoga path is based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This is an important collection of work which is the distilled essence of yogic science.

According to David Gordon White, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras popularity is of a very recent date. They were: virtually forgotten in India for hundreds of years and maligned when it was first discovered in the West, the Yoga Sutra has been elevated to its present iconic status–and translated into more than forty languages–only in the course of the past forty years.

In the classical system of yoga, there are essentially four paths of yoga: karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga and kriya yoga.

When the four paths of yoga are practiced together, it creates a powerful vehicle for self-transformation. When the four paths of yoga are explored simultaneously, one is on a journey to experience the full depth and dimension of yoga. Sadhguru shares how the classical path of yoga began and why it’s important to revive this system in the modern world:

Initially, yoga was imparted by the Adiyogi (the first yogi), Shiva, over 15,000 years ago. It was Adiyogi who introduced to humanity the idea that one can evolve beyond one’s present level of existence. He poured this knowing into the legendary Sapta Rishis, or “seven sages,” who carried this powerful yogic science to various parts of the world, including Asia, ancient Persia, northern Africa, and South America. For generations, countless masters, holding it above their own lives, have passed on this sacred thread of knowledge without a single distortion.

Classical yoga comprises of various methods to elevate and purify one’s energies and raise one’s perception to its peak. Today, however, the refined tools of classical yoga have been largely lost or grossly distorted due to socio‐cultural misunderstandings that have accumulated over many centuries. Only in a very few places, the classical system endures with its full vibrancy and sanctity. Moreover, access to this system has been traditionally reserved for the hardiest seekers and monks who devote their entire lives to spiritual sadhana (practice) and austerity.

It is Sadhguru’s vision to revive this ancient science and classical yoga path in all its purity and make it available to every individual. To that end, there is much planned for International Day of Yoga on June 21st.

Isha Foundation is one of the organizations that have partnered with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to strategize and plan the celebration of the first International Day of Yoga in all the Indian Embassies and cultural centers worldwide.The Isha Foundation will support all the Indian Embassies worldwide to offer free yoga workshops, demonstrations and classes on the day of and the weeks leading to June 21st, 2015.

To support this worldwide effort, the Isha Foundation will have thousands of trained teachers to offer free yoga so that everyone can make use of these technologies for wellbeing.

To learn more, please visit: http://sadhguru.org/dayofyoga/.