Your Yoga: A Spiritual Practice

It is unfortunate that some people use yoga for purely physical reasons because it is a profound spiritual practice.

With a devoted and consistent practice, yoga will lead you toward the spiritual enlightenment outlined in such classic texts as the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita.

Yogic Spirituality

Yoga is not a religion. In fact, devotees of many different religions participate in a healthy yoga practice. Some people might consider yoga to be their “religion” in the sense that it is their path or lifestyle of choice.

Literally, yoga means “union with god,” and in Hinduism, Krishna is the godhead, the symbol of pure consciousness. The difference between Hinduism and yoga is that yoga does not require you to worship, only to observe and honour.

What Does Spirituality Mean To You?

Many people consider themselves to be spiritual because they believe in something greater that connects us all. They may refer to that “something” as god with no particular form, shape, face, or name. To them, being spiritual has more to do with the foundational principles that are shared by many organized religions — beliefs, for example, such as treating people with respect.

In our daily lives, we are often distracted by meaningless external stimuli. Yoga reminds us of our interconnectedness with everybody and everything in the universe. By being mindful, meditating, and controlling our senses, it enables us to see clearly and connects us with the truth.

Taking Your Yoga Practice into Every Day

It’s not as hard as you think. Simply by applying some yogic principles to your daily life, you will begin a journey into spirituality.

Do Good, Be Nice. Ahimsa is the yogic practice of nonviolence. Be kind and gentle with yourself and others. You can be your own worst critic. You may unfairly judge other people. Stop unhealthy and negative thought patterns. Be compassionate, understanding, and loving.

Be Mindful. Pay attention! If your life seems to be a continual string of mindless actions, it’s time to get present! Make each moment count.

Meditate. Take time to meditate, especially if you have a hectic schedule. Meditation is deeply empowering and calming, and it connects you with yourself and the Divine.

Read. Studying yogic philosophy is a devotional practice. The Yoga Sutras, written by the sage Patanjali, may, arguably, only be of interest to a very dedicated yoga practitioner. However, try reading a bit of the Bhagavad Gita daily. You may find it more straightforward.

The Bhagavad Gita

This central text of Hinduism is like a Bible for yogis in the sense that it teaches lessons and offers guidelines through the telling of a story. In Christianity, the Bible uses various stories called parables to impart God’s teachings in a memorable way.

The Gita takes place on a battlefield (representing inner turmoil and spiritual battle) as a conversation between the warrior Arjuna and the Supreme Being Krishna. Its central teaching is that of karma yoga (selfless service).

By studying and applying the lessons of the Gita to your life, you will extend your practice on the yoga mat toward a greater development of your spiritual being.