|
' Yoga is the
expansion of consciousness. '
~ John Stirk
What
is Yoga?
Yoga –
“yuj” means unite, and it may be referred to the yoking of
the body, mind and soul / spirit, or some define it as
union with the Divine Self. According to the Yoga Sutras
of Patanjali, yoga practice prepares or allows one to
journey inwards, seeking self-realisation,
non-attachment and freedom. It is a spiritual tradition
towards experiencing liberation, reclaim knowledge and
wisdom. This can be
understood as a journey of inward unfolding, one can
imagine an onion, where the core center, the Divine Self
is uncovered layer by layer.
The most popular form of yoga practiced today in the
west is the physical practice of Hatha Yoga, the prelude
to Raja Yoga, and this has become the form within which
non-practitioners are most familiar. Here the physical
body is chosen predominantly as the vehicle through
one's yoga journey. Dedicated practice of Hatha Yoga
brings awareness to the whole, awakening the conscious
Self through the cleansing and balancing of one's mind and
body. Asana and pranayama, the third and forth of the
eight limb (ashtanga), are practices to unblock the flow
of energy (prana) within the physical and mental
body, thus preparing the practitioner to experience
meditation and stillness within.
Hatha Yoga has been very popular in this new age for the
known benefits of strengthening body and mind,
increasing flexibility, promoting good health by
massaging the inner organs and balancing systems of the
body,
relieving stress and insomnia, restoring a supple and
healthy spine, relieving back problems and muscle
tension, re-aligning healthy posture, addressing stress
and anxiety, and maintaining general well-being of the
practitioner. Meditation completes the
practice, through stillness and neutral response to
senses, few may experience absolute focus and
concentration, and handful may experience enlightenment. Yoga
reveals another dimension to one’s life.
As a
practitioner, yoga is a philosophy of life, an art and a
practical science – interwoven. Yoga is a way of living,
belief and faith. Yoga is spiritual and offers
transformation to the practitioner. Yoga is a journey of
continuous liberating experiences. Yoga is the
search process within oneself, and the connection with
divinity – the universal Self. Yoga is itself healing and
therapeutic. Yoga could not be defined with just words…
but the experience of the journey itself. |
