What Yoga means to me

Yoga means different things to different people. One kind thinks of Yoga as a means of staying fit while the other use it to gain flexibility. There is another set of people who perform Yoga poses to gain followers on Instagram and other social media platforms while some seek yogic practices to lead a stress free life. For me, Yoga is a Lifestyle. As cliché as it sounds, it is an honest truth. 

I have tried many forms of fitness: Cardio, Heavy Weight Lifting, Cycling, Running, Zumba, Dancing, etc. Yoga is a standalone concept which takes into the account the connection between the mind and body. It works on the root cause of the problems rather than temporarily solving the physical issues. As I am getting deeper into the meaning of Yoga and its principles, my belief and commitment towards it is becoming stronger. 

Is Yoga a way to Popularize Hinduism?

Yoga uses teachings from the Hindu scriptures such as Bhagwad Gita, Upanishads and Vedas as the basis of its philosophy. Does this mean, if one makes Yoga his lifestyle, he or she is adopting Hinduism? Although Yoga Principles have evolved from Hinduism, it belongs to no particular religion. It is merely a practice of controlling your senses and mind to know yourself and the Supreme Lord. 

Significance of a Guru

Yoga emphasizes on the importance of having a Guru. If you wish to commit to a particular field or area of expertise, you must first identify and surrender to a Guru. A Guru can be any individual who imparts knowledge and directs you on a quest. This person may be an acquaintance, friend or a skilled teacher. In Yoga, a Guru is the one who initiates you on a spiritual path – to attain Moksha.  So, if you are seeking to take your Yogic Journey to a higher level, it is advisable that you first associate yourself with a trustworthy Guru.

Speaking of myself, I have a Yoga Guru who guides me in the right direction whenever I am perplexed through his knowledge and experience. I also have a few friends who “act as a Guru” in my life and aid me in making the right decision in life. 

For a deeper understanding of a Guru, let us look at “Guru Stotram” – one of the renowned prayers used in Yoga. It is a conversation between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati where Shiva is explaining to his wife what a Satguru is. Satguru is a teacher who helps us identify ourselves, against all the odds. He guides us on the path of the Spirituality. These verses are simply praises and gratitude towards the ideal Guru.

Guru Stotram

Gurur-Brahmaa Gurur-Vissnnur-Gururdevo Maheshvarah |

Gurure[-I]va Param Brahma Tasmai Shrii-Gurave Namah ||1||

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Meaning

Guru Stotram is a prayer which explains the guru as the one who is Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh / Lord Shiva. In short, Guru is the ultimate Brahman and we salute that Guru.        

Understanding Yoga

Yoga is a concept with profound meaning. I believe even a lifetime is not sufficient to fully understand it. It is a path that will take you to a position where you can clearly distinguish between what you think is real and the Ultimate Reality. Yoga is a connection of mind and body. When this is fully established, we start understanding our true self. Through this, we are able to establish a connection with our surrounding and ultimately the Supreme Energy. 

Sounds simple enough?

It actually is. We just have to go about it step by step. The sequence of steps may differ from person to person. Here are the steps I propose:

1.      Basic Stretching

2.      Beginner’s Asanas

3.      Sthiram Sukham Asanam

4.      AUM Chanting

5.      Understanding the concept of Meditation

6.      Practicing Meditation

7.      Balancing Life and Yog

In the next blogs, I will cover each one of these concepts in depth. If there is a particular concept or topic you would like me to cover in my writing, please feel free to mention it in the comment section below and I will be happy to incorporate them in my write-ups.