One of the trendiest workout classes of the twenty-first century has become yoga of all sorts. With class names focusing on the physical benefits such as power yoga, hot yoga, strength-training yoga and so on. Before it was accompanied by fad diets and outrageously priced lululemon pants, yoga was considered a philosophy of life. Originating with the congruent spirituality beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism, yoga was initially created to increase divine and mental health. However, both the spirituality and mental teachings of yoga have been lost in society, due to the popular longing to be physically fit rather than psychologically fit. Some of the most powerful teachings of yoga aren’t learned on a mat. In fact, there are many ways you can practice yoga every day without needing to attend a class. Here are just a few:
Be aware of your chakras.
You have seven chakras, each representing a part of you and your sense of being in this world. Your first chakra is your root chakra, it represents the feeling of being grounded and is located at the base of your spine. Your second is the sacral chakra, located a little below your belly button. It represents your openness to connect with others. Third, is your solar plexus chakra. This is your representative of your confidence found in your upper abdomen. Fourth is the heart chakra. Your heart chakra is located in the center of your chest and signifies your ability to love and allow yourself to enjoy inner peace. Fifth, located in the throat is your (wait for it) throat chakra. It allows you to have open and positive communication and expression. Sixth is your third eye, found between your eyes. This chakra allows you to be aware of your focus, intuition, and to be aware of the big picture. Finally, your last chakra is the crown. At the top of your head, the crown chakra signifies your spiritual self. If you can relate to an issue you are having to one of these chakras, it becomes easier to solve. By focusing on a chakra that is closed or is too open you can work on yourself to mentally and spiritually healthier.
Take the time to meditate.
You don’t have to be perfect at it, because, well, no one is. How ever much time you can dedicate to it is worth it, even if it’s just a minute. Take the time to not worry about time. In fact, don’t think about anything. If a thought comes to mind during your sacred time to yourself, put it in a bubble and let it float out of mind. The whole point of meditation is to completely clear the clutter of your mind. This helps you focus on your other day to day activities in a more positive light. It doesn’t have to be super serious either, it shouldn’t feel like a chore. Make it exciting for yourself by picking a special spot in your room with a favorite blanket to sit on and maybe lighting a scented candle nearby. Creating a small space dedicated to clearing your mind will make you meditation time more enjoyable and relaxing. When you meditate be aware of your pranayama, or “extension of breath.” Take longer and deeper breaths than usual as you settle your mind. Inhale and exhale slowly both in and out through your nose; this is known as the ujjayi breathing technique. People say it imitates the sound of the ocean, thus receiving the nick name “oceanic breath”. If you feel the need to think about one thought specifically, see if you can connect it to one of your chakras. Use that chakra as your focal point for your meditation by thinking about the physical placement of it. Just focus on the physicality of the chakra, then after your meditation reflect on how you want to improve. Let the power of your mediation to better your mind.
Follow the five yamas, or guidelines, of yoga.
The yamas are to help you follow the moral and ethical beliefs behind the practice. They are also used to help you follow the spirituality beliefs of yoga such as Ishuara Pranidhana, which means “surrender to the universe.” By doing this, you have the opportunity to detach from your ego to find peace, love, clarity, grace, and freedom. The yamas are the long-lost soul of today's yoga practice. The first of the yamas being ahisma, which is Sanskrit for kindness. That’s right, by being kind you are practicing yoga. The second yama is satya, truthfulness. By being honest with you words, thoughts, and actions you are abiding by this guideline. Third is asteya, meaning “non-stealing.” This is also in reference to desire or greed, which can result in negative thinking towards yourself and others. Fourth is brahmacharya, which explains that you must further control your impulses. Everything is good in moderation, and by moderating your wants, you can use more of your energy to better yourself mentally and spiritually. By restraining from an impulse, you can become wiser and increase your patience. The fifth and final yama is aparigraha, meaning “non-coveting.” This guideline encourages those who practice yoga to stick to the necessities. Materialistic items don’t last forever, and it is better to find what you possess in yourself instead of what’s in your house. Keeping these ideas in mind during the day is an excellent way to practice the spiritual teachings of yoga and will further benefit your dharma, meaning your inner peace and happiness.
So you see, there is more to yoga than just trying to achieve a toned and flexible body. The physicality is only one small part of the practice. It is much more challenging to retrain your brain and your inner essence, but by taking the time to work on yourself internally will make you happier than anything in your external world. Where your yoga pants are from is not nearly as important as where your mind is and what direction you want to take with yourself. So take the time to pick a part of the mental or spiritual practice everyday and let it guide you to your better dharma.
Namaste.
