“Exercise was an honour among the ancients. Yoga, and Judo, in their origins, are two complete systems, two transcendental philosophies, with their technical aspects and practical applications.”

– S.R. de la Ferriere

Based on the 84 asanas of the Yoghi tradition, the Ferriz-Ferriere Yoga Method was devised and created for the general public as an indispensable discipline with active asanas in combination with movements predominantly found in the West.

It has become one of the most basic techniques of permanently improving our physical, emotional and mental health. It is truly an unsurpassed discipline. The effects of these exercises can be felt throughout the whole body. It has been recommended by education and health institutions, humanitarians, doctors, educators and corporations because of the improvements seen in it’s practitioners’ psychosomatic functions, psychomotor reactions, balanced emotions, and energy levels.

Its benefits (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual) can be felt in very little time, leading to a harmony with our surroundings. Due to its softer nature everyone can practice these exercises.

Benefits

• Improves memory and concentration

• Helps to calm and relax the mind and the body, combating anxiety and providing serenity

• Brings harmony to glandular functions

• Vitalizes the nervous system

• Prevents arthritis and osteoarthritis

• Improves blood circulation

• Effectively works against obesity and spinal ankylosis

• Helps to improve cardiovascular health

• Helps to overcome respiratory deficiencies

• Improves the flexibility of muscles, ligaments and tendons

• Corrects bad postural habits, providing a slim figure

• Oxygenates, cleanses and increases pulmonary circulation

• Prolongates youth by improving flexibility in the spine

• Prevents gastrointestinal disorders by improving digestive function

Naturally, there are many elements in the Yoga system. The discipline of exercises falls under 8 basic elements. These steps are said in the Yoga tradition to be necessary in order to rise above the animal condition. Many of these steps have arisen and evolved within different societies and cultures, and Yoga specifies these 8 steps (or “angas”) as:

1. Yama – Abstinences

2. Niyama – Rules of life

3. Asanas – positions of the body

4. Pranayama – the control of one’s breathing

5. Pratyahara – the control of one’s senses (**not the suppression**)

6. Dharana – Meditation

7. Dhyana – Concentration

8. Samadhi – Identification

The Ferriz-Ferriere Yoga Method would fall under the Asanas (positions of the body) and more specifically be a form of Grathasta Yoga (physical exercises). As can be seen, the positions of one’s body receives greater benefits when accompanied by the first two steps (vegetarianism for example), and is more profoundly complimented by greater research and knowledge.

Jnana Yoga (the Path of Knowledge) 

JNANA – YOGA is the path of knowledge, work and study. Since ancient times, the Upanishads proclaimed the superiority of this Way. It is concerned with a life based on rational study, on the Scriptures, on Science, etc.

It is said that it is the Way by virtue in which the avarana (veil of ignorance) is found to be far from the Yoghi and it is constituted by BHUMIS (planes):

The 7 Bhumis of Jnana Yoga are:

1. Subha-Iccha – Good Will

2. Vicharana – Reflextion

3. Tanu-Manasa – Spirit Subtlety

4. Sattwa- Apatti – The Perception of Reality

5. Asansakti – The Disappearance of Worldly Attractions

6. Padartha Abhavani – The Disappearance of Visible Forms

7. Turyaga – The Non-Manifested

The way of knowledge (Jnanakanda) asked for labours that the majority of people were incapable of fulfilling at the time and the Wisdom of the Old School was a virtue by which the layman had much difficulties in reaching. It is because of this that the majority had to solely reduce to Faith.

“Exercise was an honour among the ancients. Yoga, and Judo, in their origins, are two complete systems, two transcendental philosophies, with their technical aspects and practical applications.”

– Dr. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière

This method was created for the general public by Dr. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière for greater public accessibility and to more easily incorporate these exercises as part of one of many disciplines within the Yoghi tradition.

The positive effects of these exercises can be immediately felt by participants. It has been recommended by education and health institutions, humanitarians, doctors, educators and organizations because of the improvements seen in it’s practitioners’ psychosomatic functions, psychomotor reactions, balanced emotions, and energy levels.

Practicing these exercises, especially in a collective space, is meant to produce greater harmony in our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. Because the asanas are active, as oppose to static positions, there is less chances of pulling muscles and can be accommodated and accessible for all ages and ability types

Benefits

• Improves memory and concentration

• Helps to calm and relax the mind and the body, combating anxiety and providing serenity

• Brings harmony to glandular functions

• Vitalizes the nervous system

• Prevents arthritis and osteoarthritis

• Improves blood circulation

• Effectively works against obesity and spinal ankylosis

• Helps to improve cardiovascular health

• Helps to overcome respiratory deficiencies

• Improves the flexibility of muscles, ligaments and tendons

• Corrects bad postural habits, providing a slim figure

• Oxygenates, cleanses and increases pulmonary circulation

• Prolongates youth by improving flexibility in the spine

• Prevents gastrointestinal disorders by improving digestive function

There are many elements in the Yoga system. The discipline of exercises falls under 8 basic elements. These steps are said in the Yoga tradition to be necessary in order to rise above the animal condition The Yoga tradition outlines these steps to support us evolving beyond our primordial emotions and state of consciousness. In Sanskrit these steps are known as Angas:

1. Yama – Abstinences

2. Niyama – Rules of life

3. Asanas – positions of the body

4. Pranayama – the control of one’s breathing

5. Pratyahara – the control of one’s senses (**not the suppression**)

6. Dharana – Meditation

7. Dhyana – Concentration

8. Samadhi – Identification

The Ferriz-Ferriere Yoga Method would fall under the Asanas (positions of the body) and more specifically be a form of Grathasta Yoga (physical exercises). The positions of one’s body receives greater benefits when accompanied by the first two steps (vegetarianism for example), and is more profoundly complimented when participants are more actively engaged in expanding their knowledge on the subject and on continuing their learning journey in attempting to uncover the many truths in our societies in general.

Jnana Yoga (the Path of Knowledge) 

JNANA – YOGA is the path of knowledge, work and study. Since ancient times, the Upanishads proclaimed the superiority of this Way. It is concerned with a life based on rational study, on the scriptures and sacred ancient texts, on science, the arts and philosophy. It is an approach that stems from following systematic research methods and ancient disciplines on the path to greater mental and spiritual awakening.

The avarana (veil of ignorance) is therefore very far from the Yoghi

Within this tradition, BHUMIS (planes) are states of consciousness:

The 7 Bhumis of Jnana Yoga are:

1. Subha-Iccha – Good Will

2. Vicharana – Reflextion

3. Tanu-Manasa – Spirit Subtlety

4. Sattwa- Apatti – The Perception of Reality

5. Asansakti – The Disappearance of Worldly Attractions

6. Padartha Abhavani – The Disappearance of Visible Forms

7. Turyaga – The Non-Manifested

Although the path of Faith and Hatha Yoga is one of many paths in the Yoga system, the way of knowledge (Jnanakanda) is an intellectual and comprehensive path that asks for great strength of character and is meant to integrate all Yoga paths. A practitioner or student practicing Jnana Yoga would for example also integrate Karma Yoga in their daily praxis, which is the Yoga or science of action. Ghandi is one of the most publicly known practitioners of this path, which views experiences and the actual effort in the act to positive change as the primary path to spiritual enlightenment.