Dharma Yoga Pula
About Dharma Yoga And Dharma Mittra
Dharma Yoga is a modern interpretation of classical Eight-limbed or Hatha-Raja Yoga, deeply rooted in ethical precepts Yamas and Niyamas.
Dharma Yoga is named after Sri Dharma Mittra, a classical Hatha-Raja Yoga Master, born in 1939. Dharma Mittra learnt and received knowledge from Sri Swami Kailashananda (Yogi Gupta), who was one of the great sages of modern India.
Dharma Mittra created the Dharma Yoga Center in New York City in 1975. to disseminate his yoga teachings and share this transformative wisdom. Dharma Mittra continues to teach yoga classes in New York to this very day. Dharma yoga is similar to other Vinyasa yoga styles, such as Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga or Power yoga. But the Dharma yoga Vinyasa style focuses on the movement of prana or life force energy along the spine and throughout the entire body.
Dharma yoga classes are designed on several levels to enable gradual progression. The classes are suitable for everyone from complete beginners to the most advanced practitioners.
The classes start with the traditional Sun Salutation Surya Namaskar, followed by a warm up series Shiva Namaskar Vinyasa, afterwards, we continued with asanas like inversions, forward bends, backbends, balances and twists.
The greatest emphasis is on Hatha yoga asanas, staying longer in them, repeating and developing awareness through them, because each position introduces a specific state of consciousness.
The classes end with the guided deep healing relaxation or Yoga Nidra which relieves stress, slows down the thoughts, calms the mind and recharges one’s physical body.
According to Sri Dharma Mittra, the asana practice bring us physical power, purifies the body, frees us from all diseases, and helps us to settle the mind for the meditation.
Dharma yoga also includes pranayama breathing exercises, meditation and even instruction on yogic philosophy and lifestyle with the ultimate goal of reaching Self-realization, or knowledge of the true Self.
Dharma Yoga is based on Ahimsa – non-violence or love: love towards ourselves, towards others, which includes all living beings. Sri Dharma Mittra defines Ahimsa as not disturbing the comfort of anyone. Respecting everyone.
It is only when we are strongly established in Ahimsa that we develop what Sri Dharma Mittra considers the most important attribute: compassion. The highest form of compassion is to see ourselves in others. This is a sign of the beginning of Self-realisation.
After the settling of the mind into silence through the practice of yogic techniques such as keeping yama and niyama, being always extremely compassionate to all, through total surrender of the ego, being endowed with Self-knowledge, engaging in lots of reflection and finally resting the mind on Brahman, the Almighty One, for a long time, the individual soul becomes one with the Universal Soul.
This Divine Union is yoga.
All the techniques are just preparations.
- Sri Dharma Mittra