Which yoga to practice? A Recommended reading list

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For the complete reading lists for self-study, click here.

List-7: Yoga, energetics, and healing

Good physical health is essential to seekers treading the Path. The body is where all the spiritual energies are alchemized and anchored into the physical world. And through it we become useful to our Soul and eventually, to the Great Ones in the collective task of redemption and of manifesting the Plan.

Modern health sciences all concur in the need for physical exercises or regular work outs to maintain one's cardio-vascular well-being, and the proper functioning of one's nerves, bones, joints, and glands. This need is even more amplified for those who are practising psycho-spiritual techniques such as meditation, yoga, or any energy cultivation process.

These spiritual practices generate or focus enormous amount of energies to the body which can congest or overwhelm the etheric or bio-magnetic field, which can strain the chakras leading to various nervous stress, weakening of the glands and organs, and even the so called "kundalini syndrome". Physical exercises or work outs can greatly alleviate these side-effects by circulating the energy evenly throughout the body and "squeezing out" excess ones.

Many physical work-out options, that were scientifically developed and already proven to be safe and helpful, are readily available such calisthenics, aerobics, swimming, cycling, dancing, and the good old plain brisk walking, jogging or running, among other things. In fact, these are the only exercises we recommend in conjunction with the suggested advanced meditational practises suggested in a previous reading list.

Yoga has also become a popular alternative work-out option these days but, in our opinion, it is more complicated than how most people think about it. There are issues surrounding it that should be understood first before one jumps into a yoga class. One must bear in mind that the ancient Indian Yogis and Sages did not develop this as a mere gym work-out option to lose weight or tone our muscles or achieve cardio-vascular health; Yoga is a comprehensive spiritual system, and the physical component - the asanas- is just small fragment of it. To practise it independently and ignore the other components might be dangerous to the modern westerner.

Unknown to many, the yoga asanas or postures function like a human mandala or a yantra (geometrical shapes formed by the postures) that act as pranic generators. The postures appear to shape like animals, but in fact these are geometrical formation of the nadis (or energy meridians within the body) that stimulate certain chakras, direct pranic flow in certain areas of the body, and focus the kundalini force in certain areas of the body (through the geometrical patterns formed by the chakras and the pranic flow).

Health implications: Chakras directly affect the glands of the body, as well as the nervous system. Imbalances lead to diseases, libido and hormonal issues, emotional states, and psychological aberrations.

So if one feels uncomfortable with a posture or is unsure on how these postures affect one's chakras or how it will affect one's existing health condition, better stop the practise and just settle for the more traditional forms of work-out. Unless of course, one is ready to embrace the whole spiritual system and disciplines associated with yoga (and not practise asanas as an end in itself) under an able guru or yoga master, in that way will it only be safe to "play with one's fire".

Yoga 101

Yoga in its simplest meaning connote union or unity with the Divine, or the Supreme Spirit, or with one's higher Self or Soul (Self realization). It is a comprehensive spiritual system or disciplines that started in India around 3,000 BCE (or maybe much earlier). In the West, the term "Yoga" is often associated to the series of physical postures known as "asanas" and several breathing exercises called "pranayamas", but is disconnected from its philosophical system and its higher practices. It is ridiculous to think that the mere physical postures or breathing can lead to its lofty aims. Therefore, it is but logical to assume that there are other processes involved and that it is not practised as an end in itself (stand-alone) but in conjunction (or as a preparation) to other integrated disciplines, as well.

Indeed, there are other branches or schools of yoga. Some authors classify them as four, and some seven. The enumeration below is based on the classification of Wallace Slater (with quotation marks, from him):

1. "Hatha yoga- which is based on control of the physical body to open it to the cosmic energy (prana) by breathing (pranayama) and physical exercises (asanas)." Under hatha yoga, you can find several schools or brands. Usually, they prefix it with the name of the teacher or the tradition from where it came from, or from a quality that characterizes the style. It could range from (as an example) "scooby-do yoga", "freezing yoga", or "super duper yoga", etc..

2. "Laya yoga- which works on the psychic centres (chakras) to awaken the primordial cosmic energy of the individual (Kundalini)." From under this school came the many schools of kundalini yoga and kriya yoga brands in existence today.

3. "Mantra yoga- which makes use of the repetition of certain words and phrases to steady the mind." Many eastern meditation schools were derived from this type of yoga. Christian devotional practises such as the Rosary and the Gregorian chants seemed to be influenced by this yoga.

4. "Jnana yoga- which seeks to effect union of higher and lower by a change of thought, resulting from the attainment of deep understanding of the working of the laws of the universe (Yoga of Knowledge)". Penetrative reasoning, discourses, and the Socratic methods of classical philosophers belong to this category.

5. "Bhakti yoga- which seeks to effect union by a change of one's emotional consciousness through devotion to an ideal (Yoga of Devotion)". Many religions that use rites, hymns, dances, and devotional love for the deity belong to this approach.

6. "Karma yoga- which seeks to effect union by control of one's actions from the inner spiritual Self (Yoga of Action)". People who dedicate their lives to causes, advocacies, and selfless service, (even though not belonging to any organized religions) are unconsciously practising this type of yoga.

7. "Raja Yoga, the earliest and most scientific treatment of the subject of self transformation for the attainment of union with the Real, the Eternal." It uses the mind and the will to align the lower self (personality) with the Soul, and it encompasses the other yogas enumerated above, in a systematic, calculated, and progressive manner.

The suggested reading list are as follows:

Hatha Yoga: A Simplified Course by Wallace Slater

This small book is highly recommended for those wishing to try or practice the yoga asanas (postures) and pranayama (control of breath) for the first time in a simplified and safe manner. It suggested only 7 essential postures for stretching and toning to ensure spinal and nervous health. For those who are serious and wants to practice with a class, we suggest to look for a local center of either the Ananda Marga Yoga or the Sivananda Yoga Centres due to their long and deep experience on this ancient discipline. Avoid instructors who treat yoga asanas lightly, or only as among one of those gym work out options.
Raja Yoga: A Simplified Course by Wallace Slater

If one wants to have a glimpse of Raja Yoga (or the Royal Road) and try some of its practices without any serious commitment, this is the book to grab. It introduces simple exercises for practicing the yamas (values for internal purification), niyamas (observances for self-discipline), pratyahara (sensory restraint), dharana (concentration), dyana (meditation), and even tips for achieving samadhi (contemplation), all as part of a daily program. However, if one is serious about the path of Raja Yoga for achieving mental development, meditation, and Soul alignment, see the more comprehensive reading list, List-5: Advanced meditation techniques.
Awaken the Healing Light of Tao by Mantak Chia

As an alternative to risky practices such as kundalini yoga, the Taoist internal alchemy system (Taoist yoga) teaches an energy cultivation practice known as the "micro-cosmic orbit meditation" to bring about health of the etheric or energy body and physical well-being. By following the instructions from the book, one can easily generate "navel chi" and circulate it to the various meridians or accupuncture points within the body to prevent blockages, congestions or depletions that cause illnessess. However, we feel that the advanced method given in the book for generating and circulating the "heavenly chi" and those from the constellation is a bit too much for individual or unguided practice done for the mere purpose of maintaining one's health.
The Art of True Healing by Israel Regardie

Dr. Regardie offers an alternative method for maintaining health of the etheric body or the human bio-magnetic field, for those who find the Taoist method too complicated to follow. Commonly known as the "middle pillar" technique that uses symbols, colors, and active visualization, the body's energies are put into motion and circulated to bring about a healthy auric atmosphere that promotes well-being and healing.
Esoteric Healing by Alice A. Bailey

There will be times when a seeker is confronted by illness. This books is a comprehensive treatise on the psychological, occult, and karmic causes of disease, its purpose, and the corresponding requirements and rules for healing. The physical causes diagnosed by a physician are often but a reflection of inner causes explained in this important work. Without addressing the inner causes, healing will only be temporary and superficial.
Esoteric Healing: A Practical Guide by Alan Hopking

The materials in this book are based on the ideas presented in Alice A. Bailey's excellent book. It tries to make practical the concepts and suggestions for esoteric healing. It also contains detailed instruction on administering a typical esoteric healing session based on the author's own innovative interpretations, experiences, and training program.
The Ancient Science and Art of Pranic Healing by Choa Kok Sui

To our mind, the technique of pranic healing introduced in this book is more empowering than reiki. Pranic healing is systematic and can be learned easily by reading this book and doing the suggested experiments, whereas reiki needs an initiation or attunements from a reiki master before it will work. The book also clearly explains where prana is coming from, how to generate it, and direct it systematically to a patient's etheric body or bio-magnetic field. In reiki, it all depends on the attunement made by a master and the use of symbols/scripts but it doesn't explain how the healing energies are directed; (and in reiki) everything is based on faith and the "universe" on how healing is achieved.
Hidden Dangers of Meditation and Yoga by Del Pe

This is a highly recommended companion for those practising energy cultivation techniques, such as chi kung, advanced pranayama, the Taoist micro-cosmic orbit circulation, and kundalini yoga activation process. It outlines techniques and sound practices on how to prevent the so called "kundalini syndrome" and other physical or psychological damage arising from it. Ideally, teachers, instructors, gurus, or groups offering kundalini activation programs should be responsible for fixing a messed up practitioner; it is their moral duty. However, if one falls victim to irresponsible activation programs or workshops, this book could be a last resort. If all fails, try contacting the author of the book if the situation is still reversible.