What is Dharma Yoga?
Find out everything about dharma yoga.
In Yoga, there are many different styles for different personalities and bodies: Vinyasa , Hatha , Kundalini , Ashtanga , Jivamukti , Power Yoga ... The kaleidoscope of styles is more and more colourful. And this is very nice.
Today we want to talk to you about Dharma Yoga, the yoga of purpose, love and compassion.
What is Dharma Yoga?
In essence, Dharma Yoga is a branch of Hatha-Raja Yoga , a deeply devotional practice that bases its pillars on good physical health, a clear mental conscience, and the richness of an open and kind heart. It is no coincidence that chest openings, backbends or balance poses on arms abound in his sequences...
Its founder, Sri Dharma Mittra , author of the well-known table of 908 postures and a disciple of Sri Swami Kailashananda, is a humble, smiling, very kind and friendly person. His presence illuminates any space and is compassionate with any adversary.
Dharma Yoga is the clear manifestation of the 8 branches of Yoga through ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, raja, karma, kriya, bhakti, jnana, laya and japa yoga. His way of expressing himself takes root in the different concepts that make up the traditional philosophy of yoga: the yamas and niyamas. described in Patanjali's sutras.
What is a Dharma Yoga class like?
Dharma Yoga classes are a dynamic and flowing type of vinyasa or yoga sequence with a fixed structure of postures that are accompanied by deep and conscious breathing. In other words, the sequence is always the same: that is why we sometimes call it active meditation.
What characterizes this type of sequences are their greetings to the sun , dedicated to Shiva and which therefore take the name of Shiva Namaskar . The main postures of this style of yoga awaken the fourth Chakra, Anahata, thus fueling love and compassion.
The sequences always begin with a meditation , and are followed by a pranayama (breathing technique): this allows us to calm the mind and connect more deeply with the soul.
From here the asana sequences begin, with Shiva Namaskar to debut, and inverted postures are introduced in the middle of the class. The main goal of Dharma Yoga is not alignment but the connection, execution and expression of the sankalpa (intention) of the practice.
What are the benefits of Dharma Yoga?
This devotional and spiritual style of yoga has numerous benefits. Some of them are:
- improves the strength of the upper trunk, providing stability and strength to the spine,
- reduces anxiety levels, providing more peace of mind,
- improves concentration,
- increases energy and vitality,
- improves flexibility, agility, blood circulation and breathing...
If you are a practitioner of other styles of yoga, do not hesitate to try one of their classes. If you are just starting out, you can also try Dharma Yoga classes for beginners . Its founder is now an older man who has known how to evolve his practice as he grew older and his body began to deteriorate. Its purpose is that any person, at any age and in any vital circumstance, can benefit from everything that Yoga can provide.
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