Siddha Yoga: Tap Into The Spiritual Side

Siddha yoga is a school of yoga that aims to guide the yogi to perfection or a complete state of enlightenment. It is one of the more spiritual paths of yoga and requires a significant amount of practice and meditation. Rather than simply a weekly class as a form of exercise it is more of a complete lifestyle change where the goal lies in the metaphysical results rather than the physical.

Siddha yoga is derived from a long lineage of yogis that were said to originate with Lord Shiva of the Hindu faith. Like most forms of yoga, however, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that it become popularized in North America and Europe, and today the Siddha yoga guru Gurumayi, the first female Siddha master, travels extensively teaching workshops and courses to both devotees and teachers.

Trim flab. Tone limbs. Relax after a day packed with stress. For many in the western world, yoga has become a trendy way to create a lifestyle that is the very picture of health and wellness. Yet there’s another style, Siddha yoga, that doesn’t focus entirely on creating a beautiful and buff body. Instead, this practice uses a combination of techniques and teachings to create a spiritual path.

The name, which is a Sanskrit term for “perfected yoga,” was founded by 20th century teacher Swami Muktananda. It’s said he gave the discipline that name because it described his own path of spiritual self-realization. The core of the teachings is that God is present within every individual. Siddha yoga’s role, then, is to teach students how to achieve oneness, or unity, with the divine part of the self.

Swami Muktananda, who died in 1982, derived his teachings from several ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Vedanta, as well as the teachings of the centuries-old Hindu philosophy known as Kashmir Shaivism.

Here are some of the methods Siddha students use to find their path to God:

Hatha Yoga
Like other forms of popular yoga, Siddha uses physical postures, or asanas, to develop the body and mind. Physically, the goal is to increase strength and flexibility. As a result, students gain better control over the body, which means it becomes easier to relax tense muscles. The exercises offer the added benefit of opening up the body’s energy channels, helping the organs and systems function exactly the way Nature intended them to. In addition, when the body is relaxed it becomes easier to relax the mind—which, in turn, makes it easier to find inner divinity.

Chants
Music and mantras, or chants that invoke a divinity or divine concept, are a core practice in Siddha yoga. The practice is designed to allow students to tap into inner spirituality. In fact, many teachers and students compare chanting to engaging a dialogue with God. One primary mantra that is used by students and gurus is “Om Namah Shivaya,” a Sanskrit phrase for “adoration of Siva.”

Chants are also ideal for deepening the meditative state. Chants can be practiced anywhere, whether it’s under the guidance of a teacher at the local Siddha center or along with a CD or DVD in your home.

Meditation
Siddha yoga uses ancient meditative methods to focus attention and energy inward and access the divine power in each person. The goal is to reach an enlightened state. Even if a student only glimpses that enlightenment briefly during a meditation session, it helps to create awareness and understanding about the inner self.

Spiritual Awakening
Students of Siddha yoga can practice meditation anywhere or anytime, but the group believes that spiritual awakening, or shaktipat, is an experience that is transferred from a yogic master to the student. The goal of shaktipat is to create a higher level of consciousness. To experience shaktipat, students typically attend a special one- or two-day session with a master instructor. The group’s main organization, Siddha Yoga Dham Associates (SYDA), organizes spiritual awakening retreats.

Religious Observances
With an emphasis on finding a spiritual path it’s no wonder that there are religious aspects to Siddha yoga. Students celebrate Hindu holidays, placing particular emphasis on two of them. The first is Maha Shivaratri, which is celebrated on the night of the new moon in February. During this time, practitioners fast and hold a night-long vigil. The second holiday is Guru Purnima. Celebrated on the full moon in the summer, it honors a Hindu deity. Siddha yoga students also celebrate the birthdays of important teachers, such as Swami Muktananda and Swami Chidvilasananda.

Selfless Service
Siddha yoga also differs from many other yoga schools in that seva, or selfless service, is a guiding principle. Everyday activities are transformed into opportunities to become more self-aware. For example, a student might spend time cleaning at a local yoga retreat. The goal is to recognize that any activity is, ultimately, a service to the divine.

Where To Go
Because this type of yoga is considered more religious than what you typically find at the local gym, this may not be the style for you if you’re simply looking for a set of great-looking arms or a way to relax. However, if you are interested in the spiritual side of yoga, you can find Siddha yoga centers, which operate under a registered trademark, throughout the world, including locations in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. If you can’t find one locally don’t despair. There are a number of books about Siddha yoga that can provide more in-depth information about this form’s philosophy and teaching.