“What soap works for your body, yoga is for your mind “.
It was a tedious journey of 17 hours, and the thoughts of bed, pillows and a cozy sleep had already started to take dives in my mind. Even though I had a long voyage from New York to Mumbai which had torn me in parts the ambience, the flavor and more ever the people took my breath away. I was amazed by the velocity of this city which, traveled with an equivalent speed of light. My mind was kept wondering throughout my ride to the hotel “Jesus, how am I able to cope with the pace of this city?
Everything here steals your heart. My next day, with my guide left me amused. The city drowned me in thoughts and endless oceans. I remember the moment my publisher asked me to write about my experiences in India. After a day my curiosity had reached at its highest peak I wanted to know every damn thing about this country, about this city, the people, and their endless energy I mean everything.
I was trying hard to race with the city but every night I drained every bit. It was a morning walk wherein I saw this bunch of people meditating in quiet as if they have achieved nirvana. They looked so peaceful and calm; it made me tempt. I made a point that my guide cum friend informs every bit about it to me and he was humble enough to give me a proper direction. I was on cloud nine when I started practicing this miracle called as YOGA. I just cannot tell the bliss I attained after practicing this peaceful way to cure your mind, body and heart.
And now through my writing I would like to spread the joy that I got from this beautiful experience.
Yoga is derived from Sanskrit word which originated from India referring to physical and mental disciplines.
The Sanskrit word yoga has numerous meanings, derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” meaning “to control,” “to yoke” or “to unite. Translations include “joining,” “uniting,” “union,” “conjunction,” and “means.”
Yoga is 5000 old science which dint start with a bunch of students in a classroom but on a battle field by Lord Krishna, where he bestowed this knowledge to his heartsick student Arjuna. And in yoga tradition, patanjali is complier of yoga tradition. Even his name was glorified, it is said that desiring to teach yoga to the world, he fell (pat-) from heaven into the open palms (-añjali) of a woman, hence the name Patanjali. He is also often respectfully referred to as Patanjali Maharishi, or great sage. He dedicated his life to humankind.
The Vedic Samhitas contain references to ascetics, while ascetic practices are referenced in 900 to 500 BC early commentaries on the Vedas. Several seals discovered at Indus Valley Civilization sites in Pakistan depict figures in positions resembling a common yoga or meditation pose.
It is well said by Sharon Gannon “you cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do is yoga exercise which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.”
Yoga is not about mind over body but all it is about creating a concord between your mind and body. Yoga is an act performed by the conscious state of mind which takes care of your body and mind gracefully and elegantly.
Yoga is about getting uncluttered away from all that is there in us, which prevents us from living our life to the fullest. Yoga makes us aware of how and where we restrict our mind, heart and body, which eventually teaches how to open and release these blockages. Once this blockages are cleared out even our energies get unloosen. As we enter this phase we start to enjoy a harmonious life and let our life flow with its own direction. It gives an immense energy which makes no doubt leaves you strong physically but makes you inner strength like rock.
Like Rodney Yee explains us in clear state “yoga is really trying to liberate us from the shame about our bodies. To love your body is very important thing- I think the health of your mind depends on your being able to love your body “
There are miracles that have yoga have performed on ones body and not to forget it is a science. Science creates miracles when you believe in them. I would like you to flash some light on the mind blowing effect of yoga:
- Yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised and hence the flexibility of joints
- Yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body. Due to yoga, it has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid it starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously work upon.
- Yoga is perhaps the only form of exercise which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate – that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga stimulates and massages organs which, in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.
- Through gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.
- Yoga has brings down stress and enhances powers of relaxation which you can’t realize however good medicines you intake. It also hikes up physical strength, stamina and flexibility
- Though ancient ages it has bestowed greater powers of concentration and self control and also has infuses urge control on the body.
- Yoga has powerfully helps to rehabilitate the old and new injuries and through its tranquility intensifies tolerance to pain.
- It very encourages functioning of the immune system which in turn improves your blood circulation. Also it cleanses and improves overall organ functioning resulting healthy and glowing skin
- And the most importantly it brings on great peace and calmness in your inner character which simplifies you as a person giving an immense to fight with the adversities of life.
I would like to conclude with the saying of Osho “You can enter yoga or the path of yoga, only when you are totally frustrated with your own mind as it is. If you are still hoping that you can gain something through your mind, yoga is not for you”
Through out my entire stay in India this knowledge I gained was most precious, yoga heals, nourishes and rejuvenates.
But this also goes to the people who are enjoying the benefits of yoga that “Beginning is easy. Continuing is hard “.
