Yoga and Gratitude
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Gratitude is something we often forget about on a day to day basis. Sure, we try to maintain it, appreciating that we have things that we want, like good jobs, and grateful that we dont have things that we dont want, like bird flu. But, no matter how hard we try to have it, in every day life its easy to lose; gratitude often falls through the cracks like the ease of car keys becoming lost in the cushions of a couch.
Gratitude is a virtue or law that manifests gratefulness, appreciation, and thankfulness. It is thought of as the first law of attraction, the springboard from which a pathway towards moment to moment self awareness gains momentum. It is what allows us, as human beings, to grow.
When it comes to yoga, some may assume that gratitude means tipping your instructor at the end of class. However, gratitude and yoga actually go hand in hand, with each affecting the other. This actually makes a lot of sense, considering both gratitude and yoga are strong advocates of self awareness and mindfulness - they on are the same team, coaching each of us on how to ease into the flow of life, rather than bumping up against life and losing sight of what we are thankful for.
Yoga promotes a persons emotional and physical well being. And, as studies have shown, so does gratitude. Its as if both are vitamins for the soul. Yoga and gratitude both improve a persons ability to handle stress (which directly impacts physical health) and improve the way a person interacts with others. Both also rid the body of negative emotions, replacing them ...more
Karmic Yoga and the Necessary Mindset
...hen selling it to buy drugs to sell to other people, that is when you are engaged in Karmic Yoga. That is when you are face to face with your self and all of the social mores and norms about what you should do and what this person deserves. The struggle between the normal reaction of lashing out, and the action that comes from the greater insight that this person has been conditioned to do this by his or her life circumstances and the outcome are Karmic Yoga.
It is not done in a place of comfort. It is not done with a smile on your face all of the time. You are not rested all the time when you do it. You dont even feel like doing it sometimes. This is Karmic Yoga.
Like everything else, however, there is another side to it. There are people who are very thankful, loving and kind who you meet along the way. You touch their lives deeply. Some of them can pull themselves up out of hunger, poverty and crime, just because you have been working with them. It is as if you, like the hand of God, are supplying their needs and helping them to grow and become strong...more
A Brief Timeline of Yoga
...and the energy of the Divine. In the eight limb system of classical yoga, kirtan is considered to be pratyahara (focusing the mind inward) and is a bridge between our inner and outer selves. Bhakti yoga is the divine melody and rhythm of the human spirit, expressed in chanting and song.
karma Yoga
karma yoga is selfless service to others. This yoga asks that the yogi make his/her actions in this world expressions of devotion and offerings to God, without considering personal gain. If you do community work, volunteer work, or just do something very nice for someone for no reason at all, you are performing acts of karma yoga. Ghandi's years of selfless service to South Africa and India are famous examples of the work of karma yoga.
Dream Yoga
Dream yoga is about listening attentively to what your dreams are telling you. This knowledge is used to better your waking life by helping you pay more attention to your daily realities, dreamed or shared.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is the study of the philosophy of yoga; Jnana is the sanskrit word for knowledge . The practice of this yoga involves deep meditation practice, study of the self, the True Self and the transcendental Self. The yogi is challenged to examine the real and the illusory. In order to do so the yogi must use his/her mind to retrain the mind to separ...more
Yoga is a Journey, Not a destination
..., ones which have deeps roots. At times you will feel like you are getting nowhere, and then something will happen and your 'new' reaction will show you how far you have come. You will begin to have clarity in what once were confusing situations, and by really knowing who you are you will make decisions with detachment as well as love and compassion. When a fear arises, try not to stamp it out or ignore it, welcome it, acknowledge it. Just as in a yoga posture - find the edge and work with it - in time you find that the edge is not actually the place to be avoided but it is indeed your path - to be followed. By kn...more
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