Increasingly, particularly in the West, Yoga is being taught as a cocktail of physical exercises; an exhausting series of workouts that are branded as Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Hot Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and so on. Some of the SANSKRIT sounding names are misleading and have no relation to the REAL YOGA of ancient India.
Yoga is NOT about sitting cross-legged for six hours or stopping the pulse or beatings of the heart or getting oneself buried underneath the ground for a week or a month. Neither is Yoga all about standing on the head, for instance, or twisting the spine, or assuming any of the numerous odd poses which are demonstrated in the text-books on Yoga.
Yoga is so rich and diverse; it would be impossible and perhaps destructive to set a single standard. The great master PATANJALI devised the system of YOGA as a means to elevate one’s consciousness. The human body is a beautiful instrument, and should be taken care of; however, the body is an instrument, and is not itself the goal of Yoga.
LIFESTYLE
The aim is to be a loving, caring, sharing human being. The only way to achieve this is by self-analysis. You should consciously move away from negative thoughts and actions. You should make a sincere effort to give up addictions of all kinds. You should always look at the brighter side of life and stop indulging in self-pity.
TECHNIQUES
The goal of the various physical and breathing exercises devised by the great Yoga Masters is to harmonize the Body, Mind and Soul. This all round development of an ‘individual’ reflects on the well being of families, societies and human civilization as a whole.
Yoga expects you to be ‘gentle’ with yourself. Yoga helps you accomplish more by doing less! Above all, Yoga teaches you the art of LET GO……
NAMASTHE!
Naveen Kuttappa
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