Yoga is more than exercise
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali give us instructions for awakening to our true nature, our interconnectedness, and to our cosmic intelligence. Yoga teaches us that we are not the body, we are not the mind, we are not the ego; There is something eternal that is beyond that. When we realize this truth, we cannot be lonely because we know that we cannot be separated from the source.
In the Yoga Sutras, we are given an 8-limbed path to liberation that begins with ethical guidelines for living a yogic life and progresses through techniques to focus attention, consciously direct energy, and reach a state of union between the mind, body, spirit, and nature.
The yamas are character-building restraints:
nonviolence
truthfulness
non-stealing
non-excess
non-possessiveness/nonattachment
The niyamas are character-building observances:
purity
contentment
self-discipline
self-study
surrender
Asana is the physical movement of yoga designed to open the energy channels.
Pranayama is the conscious direction of breath and energy.
Pratyahara is the practice of focusing the senses.
Dharana is the practice of concentration, of holding space and being present.
As we practice consciously directing our attention, we develop dhyana or meditation. Dhyana is the practice of paying attention for an extended period of time.
Through these seven branches, we work towards samadhi (enlightenment), or the awakened and liberated heart and mind.
living a yogic life
In classical texts, the first word of a teaching is the most important. The 8-limbed path begins with ahimsa, which means non-violence or non-harming. This means that all of the teachings of the 8-limbed path can be distilled to this one principle of kindness. The path of yoga moves from gross to subtle, which is to say that it begins with our relationship with society and ends with our relationship to our highest Self. This means that you cannot awaken if you don’t focus on the needs of society. The word yoga means union, and since we are all connected, we cannot liberate ourselves without working for the liberation of others. This means that ahimsa is not just about kindness to ourselves, but also how we interact with society. You cannot awaken and be a jerk to your neighbors.
Ahimsa is non-injury to yourself and to others in thought, speech, and action. What would life be like if every thought, word, and action was done with non-violence and non-harming? What would it be like to live life without having mean, negative, cruel, or violent thoughts? Without ever gossiping or snapping at anyone? What would it mean to never act in a way that would harm another being? Imagine never forcing your breath or pushing your body too hard. Imagine never eating more than you should or sleeping less than you need. Imagine never working so hard that you burn out. When practicing ahimsa, you would practice deep self-care by eating well, prioritizing rest and sleep, exercise, and meditation. You would practice deep community-care by rooting out the seeds of injustice and oppression and making sure that your neighbors are well-cared for. If ahimsa was the guiding principle, it would put everything else into order and you would be living in a state of yoga.
Every part of our practice (studying philosophy, mantra, mudra, pranayama, meditation, asana, etc.) is yoga. But the true yoga is living your yoga. What is the purpose of our time on the mat if not to guide us into becoming more engaged, compassionate, and aware beings? Your personal practice informs your life, and your life informs your practice. And, this is a lifelong practice of cultivating peace in the world, starting with cultivating peace with ourselves.
HOW CAN INTEGRATING YOGA INTO YOUR WELLNESS PRACTICE IMPACT YOUR HEALTH?
Yoga benefits the physical body by improving flexibility, strength, circulation and digestion. It benefits the mind by improving focus and the ability to remain centered through all of life’s ups and downs. Yoga benefits the spirit by giving you tools to directly manage stress, which improves the flow of prana. In Eastern philosophy they say blood follows prana and prana follows spirit. I would add that spirit follows nature. A healthy life is a balanced life, and integrating yoga into your wellness practice can make such a difference in your physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.
