Basics of Yoga

Every one wants to be happy! Happiness directs our lives. To overcome the pain and to achieve happiness has been the fundamental drive in all humans. This natural feeling is found not only in human beings, but also in animals.

Yoga is a very ancient science that helps us not only to develop flexibility and strength in our bodies, but happiness and peace of mind also. Yoga believes that happiness is our natural state. When the body and the mind are out of balance, we cannot experience this happiness.

With the help of yoga poses, breathing exercises, focusing within and meditation, we can bring back this harmony of body and mind, and achieve this natural state of happiness. At the base of the yoga practice are the following five basic principles:

  1. Exercise
  2. Breathing
  3. Relaxation
  4. Diet
  5. Meditation

1. Exercise

The body is the physical manifestation of a being. The practice of Yoga has beneficial effects to every part of the body - muscles, joints, ligaments, blood circulation, digestion, etc.

2. Diet

We are what we eat. A proper diet should accompany a yoga practice to maintain a healthy physical body. A diet of purely fresh, locally grown, and organic ingredients is recommended.

3. Breathing

Central to a yoga is proper breathing. Yoga emphasizes attention to breath, and taking long, deep inhalations that begin in the lower abdomen and fill up the entire chest cavity. This increases lung capacity and oxygen flow throughout the body, which clears and cleanses the mind.

4. Relaxation

One can achieve inner peace through proper relaxation leading to spiritual cleansing.

5. Meditation

The final but most important aspect of the yoga philosophy is positive thinking and meditation. Meditation allows one a way to ease the constant chatter of the mind, and control it.

According to Upanishads

ur Upanishads says that our natural state is state of silence where our minds stops chattering. It is the state free of all thoughts or a state of peace.

When your mind is free of thoughts it is a state of BLISS, KNOWLEDGE and CREATIVITY. Peace is important for all those who:

  • are in search of greater and more permanent happiness and bliss
  • seek knowledge
  • want to be totally free
  • aspire to become more and more creative

An ideal society is one in which the above features are found. It is constructed by setting up and observing the prescribed social norms and value system (Yamas and Niyamas) habits, customs, manners, etiquettes, etc. These will help us to move in the direction of peace.

India for centuries has stood for such a social setup. You need to create such a environment where all individuals progress towards their goal of peace and the achievement of the required social values.

You must work towards the creation of an Spirituality Inclined Environment. With such a spiritual background, you are free from over stimulation, unhealthy competition, comparison, stress and pressure to achieve unrealistic targets. Each soul is potentially divine as Swami Vivekananda puts it, every child is differently gifted. Through yogic practices we should calm down our mind and nurture our area of interest and talent to achieve our potential.