What is Yoga? I know it seems like a silly question, but if you’ve heard of Yoga at all, it probably came up in conversation. Whether it was a family member or just someone who you’ve met recently, chances are they will have some kind of definition of Yoga that you’ll find to be somewhat useful.
Of course the question arises as to what is Yoga. As I’ve said before, Yoga is a branch of the body-mind technique known as Theravada Buddhism. It is an ancient system of physical and mental discipline that draws its teachings from a series of texts called the Yoga of Patanjali.
The founder of Yoga, Patanjali, lived during the 5th century B.C. He developed the basic principles of this practice to help his students practice a life that was as harmonious as possible. This form of philosophy is considered to be one of the most powerful means for achieving inner peace and inner balance.
There’s no need to believe that anyone has to believe in God or follow any other religion in order to practice this system. But you do need to understand that this form of therapy is one of the few remaining true ways to achieve inner balance. Even when you’re using your mind and will power to control your physical desires, you still have the ability to make a difference in the world.
In order to practice Yoga, you first have to become aware of where you are in your life. You may not have realized it before, but you have three levels of consciousness you can reach when practicing the practice. You can go from “being” to “nothing,” then “being” again and finally “doing.”
People who do Yoga all come back to a state of peace and balance. It’s a mind-body-spiritsystem and the fact that there are many different levels of consciousness makes it so powerful. There is no right or wrong way to practice Yoga, it’s a matter of choice.
Another thing that Yoga teaches you is that there is an end to the line you are walking with your current thinking and action. Once you’ve accomplished your goal of becoming a “being” once again, there is no turning back. Therefore, if you don’t reach that state of being and becoming, you will never reach that state of living in harmony and balance.
For those of you who are looking for a simple solution to your problems, Yoga offers a perfect approach, which makes it the perfect meditation practice. Its principles are very simple and easy to follow. It just takes a little effort on your part to really pay attention and then achieve the balance you seek.