Here in the West most of us think of yoga as physical postures, that’s what we know if we haven’t enquired any further. But there is much more to it.
There are many reasons why one may choose to practise yoga. Ask yourself, why do I practise yoga? Or why am I considering practising yoga? There are a myriad of reasons.
In the beginning you may choose to practise yoga because you heard it helps remove tension, relaxes you, or is a healthy way of exercising your body, removing stress of work, family matters or life in general. Or perhaps you are more interested in the philosophical side and want to know more. At some point in life we all wonder who or what we truly are? What is it all about?
Whatever the reason was in the beginning these may change as you progress further, the mysteries will unfold as you become more involved in the deeper aspects. At the very least it is one “pastime” where we don’t have to compete, society seems to be built on competing, from a very early age we are encouraged to be the best, instead of just making the best of who and what we are and not in comparison to others.
Whatever your reasons you must be patient, work hard, and with great perseverance all will unfold. Only with regular practise will the deeper aspects reveal themselvesAs Pattabhi Jois said it is “99% practice 1% theory” (founder of Ashtanga Yoga Mysore)
Physical aspects – yoga postures (asana)
Yoga asana (postures) is undoubtedly very good healthy exercise for the body. Cleansing the body by removing toxins (blockages). Stimulating inner organs, glands and nervous system. The movements oil the joints keeping or increasing free movement of the skeleton, always a good thing especially as we age. As my Father (my very first yoga teacher way back in the early 60’s) used to say “you have to keep moving”.
Quietening the chattering mind.
While practising asana we focus on our breath (ujayi breath), the sound of the breath moving over the throat. As we continue to practise focussing on the breath (single point of concentration – dharana) it deepens and slows. The chattering monkey mind takes a rest. This is one of the reasons we feel more relaxed after a yoga asana session. Of course we can at any moment in time, not only during asana practise, just take time to sit quietly and focus on the breath. Letting all the mind stuff, the thoughts, bubble to the surface and release them, without going deeper into the thought and turning it into a major epic. Most of the stress we feel is caused by an overactive mind, the conditioned mind. It is a huge task to still those constant fluctuations. In the beginning you may only manage it for a moment, but will feel the instant benefit. Always coming back to the breath will help the mind to quieten.
Whatever your reasons for thinking of or indeed practising yoga just go for it, forget any goal and enjoy the journey.
