“Seekers who believe they must practice yoga only in the meditation room are under a great illusion. They must practice yoga in society as well. Practicing yoga in the meditation room is easy because there are no external disturbances. But one encounters many disturbances while practicing yoga in society, which makes it very difficult. The true yogi is one who can successfully protect his mental steadiness while in society.”
I often speak of taking Yoga off the mat. Swami Kripalu summed it up quite nicely in the quote above. Yoga was first a philosophy of living and the asanas came later. You can read more from reading the Yoga Sutra's by Pantajali.It's a selection in the Lending Library. Not any easy read but interesting.
Each posture has a purpose in the body as well as the mind and spirit. It's really complete. I often thought as I studied psychology in grad school that Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs was missing one thing "spirit." That which keeps us whole and when our spirit is damaged, so are we. It's a tough world out there these days, things move so fast we probably don't always have time to comprehend them. We are overburden with too much information. We are constantly "distracted."
Practicing Yoga will lead to more mindful behavior, to paying attention and in the present because where else can we be but the present! Start your practice at home. Grace Graber who is 80 years old wakes up each morning with back stretches and a few Yoga postures she enjoys. Her doctors are impressed with her breathing! She takes her practice seriously and makes it a part of her life.
At 80, she moves well, swims, works in the yard and has good energy. I admire Grace (aka "Teddy). She has been doing Yoga for 10 years now and probably another 10.
Yogic philosophy gives us what we need to live healthy lives, mind body and spirit, Take it with you, wherever you go. Namaste,
I often speak of taking Yoga off the mat. Swami Kripalu summed it up quite nicely in the quote above. Yoga was first a philosophy of living and the asanas came later. You can read more from reading the Yoga Sutra's by Pantajali.It's a selection in the Lending Library. Not any easy read but interesting.
Each posture has a purpose in the body as well as the mind and spirit. It's really complete. I often thought as I studied psychology in grad school that Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs was missing one thing "spirit." That which keeps us whole and when our spirit is damaged, so are we. It's a tough world out there these days, things move so fast we probably don't always have time to comprehend them. We are overburden with too much information. We are constantly "distracted."
Practicing Yoga will lead to more mindful behavior, to paying attention and in the present because where else can we be but the present! Start your practice at home. Grace Graber who is 80 years old wakes up each morning with back stretches and a few Yoga postures she enjoys. Her doctors are impressed with her breathing! She takes her practice seriously and makes it a part of her life.
At 80, she moves well, swims, works in the yard and has good energy. I admire Grace (aka "Teddy). She has been doing Yoga for 10 years now and probably another 10.
Yogic philosophy gives us what we need to live healthy lives, mind body and spirit, Take it with you, wherever you go. Namaste,
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