Yoga = Super Powers

So everyone knows that by practicing yoga they can get super powers right?

 

Wait, what? You mean like Clark Kent, superman type super powers?

http://www.wildlovebeamer.com/9-healing-human-superpowers/
http://www.wildlovebeamer.com/9-healing-human-superpowers/

Yes!

No

Ok, Maybe. . . . . . .

The final step in the yogic journey is enlightenment, and one of the benefits or shall we say side effects of enlightenment is siddhis or special powers. These powers are rumoured to be anything from levitation to invisibility, but one of the rules of obtaining siddhis, like fight club, is to never talk about your siddhis!

So how do I obtain these super powers you might ask?

Well, there are multiple ways, but the one that in my opinion is the easiest to follow is Patanjali’s Ashatanga or Eight Limbed Path. Ashtanga Yoga is one of the most common Paths followed today as it gives very clear steps with clear results. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra’s are a systemic and practical method to enlightenment.

The 8 steps to follow are divided into four sections:

  • Building your foundations through Yamas and Niyamas (Ethics and Self observations)
  • Steadying the Mind and Body through Asana, Pranayama and Pratyahara (Physical practice, breathe control and sense withdrawal)
  • Moving Deeper within the mind through Dharana and Dhyana (concentration and meditation)
  • Reaching Samadhi/ Enlightenment (Bliss)

In an ideal world, each step should be mastered before moving onto the next. And once you’ve moved onto the next step you need to be able to maintain the previous steps. For the first 5 steps however, it is possible to work on them all at the same time.

Until you have worked through these steps, you cannot really move on the part 3 (Step 6 and 7) which is moving deeper within the mind, through concentration and meditation, as the mind will be too full of other things to allow this to happen.

Over the next few weeks, I will walk you through each of the four sections and how I’ve interpreted/applied them to the modern yogic lifestyle. Remember that theses are my interpretations, so if you are interested, don’t agree or just want to chat about it you are welcome to comment or contact me.

Emma Klein