WHAT IS YOGA

Yoga means Union—The union of body mind and spirit, that is what makes it different from other physical exercises. It is the most natural form of exercise.

According to scriptures it is said that—when in higher stages of meditation and spiritual practices the rishis and munis had acquired the yoga postures naturally some thousands of years ago. So yoga is not man made or designed.

It is said that the first sound of this universe is “ OM”. Before that there was darkness and light came with the sound of om. OM gave rise to words and knowledge which was compiled as the Vedas. There are 4 vedas—Rig, Sam, Jajur and Atharva—then there are 4 upavedas or sub vedas, 6 upangas or components and then 6 subcomponents out of which , one is yoga. There are several types of yoga as well like—Gyan Yoga , Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Hath Yoga, Raj Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Shiv Yoga Naad Yoga, Laya Yoga and many more…..

Rig Veda is one of the most sacred and one of the oldest book of human history. It is about 8 to 10 thousand years old and Yoga is a part of this vedic literature.

Maharishi Patanjali , considered to be the authority of yoga, propounded yoga nearly 5000 years ago. Lord Krishna and many other saints of India have spoken about yoga.

Earlier yoga was confined to a certain class of people and it was very tough to learn as the process was not a very easy one. Thanks to the efforts of many spiritual and religious leaders of India, that the door of yoga has been opened for all and it is reaching every human being in this planet. Yoga is bringing harmony to thought, word and deed.

Maharishi Patanjali elucidated 8 limb of yoga.. namely

YAMA—Social Ethics

NIYAMA—Personal Ethics

ASANA—Postures

PRANAYAMA—Directing the Life Force

Pratyahara—Turning the Senses inwards

DHARANA—One Pointed Focus

DHYAN—Meditation

SAMADHI—Merging with the Self

Somehow Yoga is only connected to physical exercise in todays age. Whereas the central training of yoga is maintaining a equanimous mind.

The Bhagwad Geeta says –Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam—Skill in Action is Yoga and expression. Yoga is not just exercise , it is how skillfully we communicate and act in any given situation.

Yoga is more of a mind skill. It means whatever you do , if you are doing it out of joy and love , you are a Yogi—A Karmayogi .  The same action without any care or love is not yoga.

Krishna  says in the Bhagwad Gita —-Samatwam Yog Uchchayate means—Equanimity in the mind is a sign of yoga. The ability to remain centred in adverse situation is yoga, Whatever is close to our nature , which is harmony and joy is yoga, and postures make the body healthy, pranayama and meditation takes the mind deep within. Uniting diverse aspects of life of existence is yoga. Every child is a yogi born with yoga postures and exhibits all the qualities of a yogi naturally.

The WOW experience of life is a prelude to yoga. Anyone engrossed totally in whatever one does is yoga. When one is in harmony within the journey of life is calmer, happier and more fulfilling and life starts flowing in a direction and unites with its very source.