1. Spiritual Disciplines Yoga  “Yug” – yoke or union  State of “living in the divine”  Four Paths

2. Bhakti Yoga “To Share” Most common path Path of Devotion or Love Ishta Mantra Japam

3. Jnana Yoga Path of Knowledge Way of Wisdom Intellectual Orientation; Spiritual Insight Who am I? Neti-Neti  “not this, not this”

4. Karma Yoga Path of Selfless Action Putting yourself to work helping others without any thought to your own reward Every act part of the divine that we all share

5. Raja Yoga Raj – reintegration Path of Stillness Samadhi or union with the divine is your goal Sadhanas or “practices”  Date back in time  Coherent system finally developed by 2 nd century Pantanajali’s sutras or threads (196 total – eight steps)

6. First, the body The body is full of energy (kundalini) Seven chakras or circles. They move energy Must move energy through the body in order to reintegrate and reach higher consciousness

7. Chakras Mooladhara or “base” Swadishthan or “sacral” Nabhi (Manipura) or “solar plexus” Anahat, Anahata or “Heart” Vishuddhi or “throat” Agnya or “brow” Sahasara or “crown” – 1000-petal lotus

8. Step One Yamas  Self-control Five Abstentions  Ahimsa or “non-injury”  Satya  Bramacharya  No Greed  No Theft

9. Step Two Niyamas or observances 5 observances  Cleanliness  Contentment  Self-Control  Studiousness  Contemplation of the Divine Works with step one Clears your visual field by removing you from concerns of this world

10. Step Three Asanas or posture Most common is the lotus (padmasana) Align chakras for good energy flow

11. Step Four Pranayamas or breath control Prana is life energy Three basic types of breath  Clavicular  Thoracic  Deep Abdomina

12. Step Five Pratyahara or sense control Learning to control all of the data you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch

13. Step Six Dharana Steadying the Mind Working to Focus on One Thing Mantras again are helpful as are ishtas Yantras – linear image

14. Step Seven Dhyana Meditation Start Experiencing Loss of Self

15. Step Eight Samadhi  Sam = with  Adhi = divine or Lord Higher Consciousness or Illumination