"Yoga is an art, a science and a philosophy. It touches the life of man at every level - physical, mental and spiritual. It is a practical method for making one's life purposeful, useful and noble. Yoga is a friend to those who embrace it sincerely and totally. It lifts its practitioners from the clutches of pain and sorrow, and enables them to live fully, taking a delight in life. The practice of yoga helps the lazy body to become active and vibrant. It transforms the mind, making it harmonious. Yoga helps to keep one's body and mind in tune with the essence, the soul, so that all three are blended into one." ~ BKS Iyengar, Yoga Master
To understand what yoga is from reading this, is a bit like trying to know what a mango tastes like, in all its juicy texture and flavour, without ever having eaton one! Yoga also cannot be understood by reading a book or watching a DVD - yoga is an experience - the best and really only way is to taste it for yourself.
Often people think yoga is a form of exercise that makes you flexible or, that you need to be flexible in oder to 'do' yoga. Perhaps you know that yoga helps you to breathe better and relax. I used to think yoga was about being a hippie and putting your leg behind your head! Whatever you think yoga might be, it is probably fair to say that yoga is much more than that.
Yoga is in fact an ancient Indian system of practical science and philosophy that is around ten thousand years old. It is one of the six classical systems (or darshans) of Indian philosophy. Yoga grew from the need to understand the various aspects of human experience, from the physical to our more subtle inner-workings. Yoga is therefore a tool of self-enquiry and for ongoing self-growth. Yoga provides a system for helping us to understand and manage ourselves, for healing and strengthening the body, for managing emotions and for getting a greater sense of our purpose in life.
The practices of yoga - including body postures, breathing and meditation - work by uniting and focusing our attention and action, bringing us more mindfully into the present moment. In yoga we are encouraged to notice whatever is going on in our body and in our mind, with full acceptance and without judgment. Being present and attentive like this has the effect of bringing a richer quality to our experience. We are able to notice an underlying stillness and contentedness - an experience that is beyond our body and mind and beyond that which we may normally experience in our day-to-day lives.
Have you ever stopped to wonder, why you do what you do and what your life is all about? Whether we realise it or not, our lives tend to be driven by satisfyng the constant desires of our mind and the ego. We get caught in our thinking and often rush through life from one thing to the next, without appreciating and putting our full attention on what we are experiencing in each moment. The ancient Indian yogis, in their pure wisdom, knew better. They realised that the distractions of our mind cause imbalanes in our nervous system. They realised that being at the constant whim of the egoic mind, in pursuit of pleasures and avoidace of pain, was a never-ending battle. And they realised that there was a more fulfilling way to live life and that having lasting happiness lay in the ability to overcome the tendencies of the mind. These methods of overcoming the mind they systemised as yoga.
"A strong healthy body is certainly desirable, but all authentic Yoga revolves around the grand ideal of liberation or spiritual Self-realisation." ~ Georg Feuerstein
The goal of yoga is to still the fluctuations of the mind and ultimately, to have freedom from the restraints of the mind (or the Self), known as Self-realisation or enlightenment. We 'realise' a level of authentic happiness that isn't driven by external things - we realise that this happiness is our true, authentic nature. We realise that we have an innate connection with all living beings and perhaps even what the purpose of our human existence is all about.
The beauty of yoga is that you don't need to have any spiritual beliefs or be on any path to enlightenment to experience the benefits that yoga brings! It is quite acceptable that many students of yoga remain satisfied with yoga's physical and mental benefits, without going any deeper. Irrespective of your interest or motive, yoga cannot help but induce in you a sense of happiness, lightness and ease. And it may just change your life.
Can you practice yoga?
Anyone can practice yoga at any age, irrespective of health, gender, religion or physique, even if you are not flexible or strong. If you have any health or fitness concerns, consult your doctor before trying yoga and be sure to let your teacher know before class. Many medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis or back injury can be alleviated through yoga. Whether or not you have a specific goal in mind (such as losing weight, relieving stress, practicing relaxation, gaining flexibility, strengthening the lower back, gaining peace of mind or enhancing overall well-being) yoga will help with your capacity to set and accomplish your goals.
At Momentum, I regularly teach Beginners Hatha Yoga Courses that give a thorough grounding in the basics of the practice. If you are new to yoga, this is a good place to start. It is important to understand that there are many different styles and teachers of yoga, and finding one that is right for you is essential and could make the difference to you liking or disliking yoga. Different people require different yoga styles and practices.
The spirit of all yoga is non-competitive. Each person is encouraged to accept themselves just as they are, and let their body develop at its own pace, letting go of the ego. No one is better than anyone else in yoga - everyone is just different.
A recent survey found that most Australian yoga students are simply ordinary people who decide they need to improve their health and lifestyle. Click here to read more about starting yoga for the first time. It is encouraging that in Australia today, more people participate in yoga than play Australian Rules Football! (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003)
What can you expect from a yoga class?
A yoga class is typically 1.5 hours.
A yoga class may include a combination of physical postures (called asana); breath control/extension techniques (called pranayama) and meditation - designed to strengthen, balance and bring flexibility and relaxation, to both the body and mind. To find out more about Momentum's yoga classes go to Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and the Classes and Courses pages.
Yoga - the real deal
Ulimately, yoga is about transformation, not hamstrings. Authentic yoga will open your eyes up to a new level of experience and it can change your life - your habits, your attitude, your health and your outlook. For dedicated students and yoga teachers, yoga offers a unique spiritual journey and becomes a holistic way-of-life.
Yoga cultivates self-awareness and mindfulness, teaching us to accept and live in the present moment. Yoga opens the the mind and opens the heart. It draws us towards a deep, profound state of love, allowing us to experience our natural, inner beauty and wisdom - being the essence of who we truly are.
