What is Yoga? Is yoga a religion, a philosophy, an exercise, or a way of life? Yoga is most definitely not a religion. there is no central figure in yoga. Yoga means “union”. It’s true that many people feel more centered and self-aware when they practice yoga because in this busy world, we rarely take time to relax our body or our mind. Yoga is not a religion and it can be practiced by anyone of any faith.
Yoga can provide us with many benefits: lower blood pressure, increased flexibility (both physical and mental), emotional clarity, mental focus, and better sleep, to name a few. We will notice some of these changes right away. Others come with time, as the practitioner becomes more accustomed to the poses.
Yoga began more that 8,000 years ago in India as a way of living a more conscious life in order to live longer and be able to perform more “good deeds”. The physical practice, Hatha Yoga, a series of the asanas (poses) was brought into practice as a way to calm the mind, fatigue the muscles and prepare the body to sit in meditation. The fact that the asanas also build strength where there once was weakness and flexibility where there once was tightness is an added bonus.
There is a humane benefit to the practice of yoga as well. Most students begin their practice for the health and beauty benefits. Because it is highly targeted exercise, students notice positive benefits right away and they’re motivated to continue to learn more. Before long, they notice a growing sense of calm in their thoughts and feelings and this is naturally shared with the people in their life. Family members often note more kindness and patience in the practitioner’s life. This is understandable because as we grow to appreciate the grace and mystery of our own body, it’s natural to want to share our wonder and joy with others.
In this way, yoga practice can take us “off the mat and into the world”. When we find a disciple like this that enhances the quality of our life, it’s normal to want to learn more about the physical principles that underlay the practice so we can apply it to our social and community life as well.
This is the great thing about Yoga; each of us can take from it as little or as much as we like. We can all enjoy the wonderful practice of Hatha Yoga and all of its physical benefits and we can each chose if and when to progress into a daily Yogic lifestyle off the mat according to what we feel is right for us at the time.
Webster’s New Dictionary defines Philosophy as: the study of the principles underlying conduct, thought, and the nature of the universe. It defines a Philosopher as: a lover of wisdom; one who acts calmly and rationally in the affairs and changes of life.
The Philosophy of Yoga is to constantly study our actions, thoughts and spoken word to create peace with the universe and those that reside there. Once we begin this study and become a Yogic Philosopher our primary purpose is very simple; BE GOOD, DO GOOD!
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