Elite “Warrior Yoga” Indonesian Silat
Introduction to Yoga:
Why practice Yoga? Yoga relaxes the body and the mind, increases your energy level and productivity, can help normalize body weight, improves your resistance to disease, and leads to genuine inner contentment and self-actualization.
Origin of Yoga:
Yoga had its origins in India in the Sat Yuga, the Age of Gold, over 26,000 years ago. The purpose of yoga (meaning to bind, to unite or integrate) was called the ‘raising of Mother Kundalini’ (the life force at the base of the spine).
Yoga is the union of a person’s own consciousness and the universal consciousness. Ancient Yogis believed that a man needs to be in harmony with himself and his environment, and to do so, he has to integrate body, mind, and spirit.
For these three to be integrated, emotion, action, and intelligence must be in balance. The Yogis formulated a way to achieve and maintain this balance and it is done through exercise, breathing, and meditation; the three main Yoga structures.
Around the second century, there was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga (the Yoga Sutra; Written by Patanjali). Patanjali’s Eightfold path of Yoga (also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga).
The Eight Limbs of Classic Yoga are:
Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values; the ten traditional yamas are: nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, divine conduct, patience, steadfastness, compassion, honesty, moderate appetite, and purity (in body, mind and speech) Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study; the ten traditional Niyamas are: remorse, contentment, giving, faith (in the teacher), worship of the Lord, scriptural listening, cognition, sacred vows, chanting mantras daily, and the endurance of the opposites (hunger and thirst, heat and cold etc.)
Asanas or physical exercises; intended primarily to restore and maintain a practitioner’s well-being, improve the body’s flexibility and vitality, and promote the ability to remain in seated meditation for extended periods.
Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation; the breath of life, vital air, principle of life Pratyahara or sense in preparation for Meditation; it is a bridge between the external and the internal aspects of yoga Dharana, which is about concentration of the mind; is the initial step of deep concentrative meditation, where the object being focused upon is held in the mind without consciousness wavering from it Dhyana, which means Meditation or meditative states; in Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation but is only aware that s/he exists and aware of the object of meditation Samadhi, which means ecstasy or technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha). He further believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit a stark contrast to the ‘Age of Gold’, over 26,000 years ago that signify the union of body and spirit.
Patanjali’s concept was dominant for some centuries that some Yogis focused exclusively on meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body as a temple was rekindled and attention to the importance of the Asana was revived. This time, Yogis attempted to use Yoga techniques to change the body and make it immortal.
Elite “Warrior Yoga” Indonesian Silat
Asanas (or physical exercises) is one component of “Warrior Yoga” Indonesian Silat. The other component is the martial art style: Indonesian Silat. Silat is a collective word for indigenous martial arts that originates from Indonesia. It is traditionally practiced in Malaysia, Southern Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, and the Philippines (Kali/Silat).
Silat is one of the sports included in the Southeast Asian games and other region-wide competitions.
According to a local legend, a woman based her combat system on the movements of animals that she had seen fighting. Masters still believe that the first style of Silat were created by observing Indian animals.
In the 5th or 6th century pre-determined sets are said to have been introduced by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma who came from India to Southeast Asia via the Sumatra-based kingdom of Srivijaya in Palembang. Through this connection, Silat is also used as a method of spiritual training in addition to self- defense.
Warrior yoga is the conditioning part of Silat system. Using animals and yoga poses warrior yoga develops neurons*, develops inner strength by strengthening tendons, ligaments, core, stabilizers, small and large muscles, moreover, flexibility improvement. Because the movements are more dynamic than the standard yoga, warrior yoga becomes a great cardio workout. Nevertheless, warrior yoga improves eye/hand coordination. This form of ground conditioning training could introduce you to a new prospective of ground fighting.
*Neurons are the core components of the nervous system. A number of specialized types of neurons exist: sensory neurons respond to touch, sounds, light and numerous other stimuli affecting cells of the sensory organs that then send signal to the brain and spinal cord.
~Guro Barbara Dalla Riva
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Elite “Warrior Yoga” Indonesian Silat
Elite “Warrior Yoga” Indonesian Silat
Elite “Warrior Yoga” Indonesian Silat
Tony P ~ Brazil
