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T'ai chi | Tao | Yoga | Shamanism
What is yoga?
Though generally thought to be a fashionable form of exercise practised by the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, yoga is more than just a set of co-ordinated movements designed to give celebs super-bendy bodies. Like most Eastern philosophies, the physical aspect of yoga works in conjunction with a sound philosophy. Yoga is the act of working towards spiritual liberation, and so whatever your perception of 'spiritual liberation' is can become your own personal yoga. Hence there are many types of yoga that can be practised. The idea is to free the mind from the apparent constraints of the body – the physical self – and to push boundaries both spiritually and mentally.
What's the big Idea?
According to yoga philosophy we should aim to rethink our existence in line with the evolution of nature – that we are one and the same. And so the way we feel inside affects the environment around us and vice versa. The idea is that the world around us is just an illusion and that our physical presence is part of that image – that our spirit is only encased in our body. Yoga encourages us to recognise our true nature – which, it says, is unchanging – and learn to live with it, in a harmonious way. The result? Spiritual liberation.
What can yoga do for the body?
There are varying yoga techniques suited to all ages and physical requirements.
Generally, yoga involves learning a series of slow-moving positions designed to promote stamina, strength, greater flexibility and good posture. Meditation and self-awareness are also part of the yoga technique. Learning to breathe slowly and rhythmically can also greatly assist the body in moving into and sustaining positions. Yoga encourages us to work at our own pace and regular practice can result in amazing progress. The physical imitations of yoga, in fact, are endless – some yogis are said to be able to levitate in mid-air, such is the power of their minds over their bodies.
What can it do for the mind?
Essentially, yoga aims to quieten the mind while it concentrates on physical moves. It encourages us to let go and relax. Freed of daily mental and physical restraint, we can focus on the soul. Discipline achieved through practice can result in good mind control. It is thought that through such meditation, we can merge with difficulties and problems and overcome them.
Words of wisdom
'There is a real core within the personality, a true Self which can be known and realised in experience, which is one with the spiritual reality beyond the universe.' (Advaita Vedanta, Yogi)
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