Yoga is a practice of physical exercise and so much more. The more we practice the more we learn and experience that it is a science of living in harmony and a path to realise the Truth.

 

Whether we are new to yoga or have been practicing a long time, these basics are for us all. They refer to our practice on the mat, but at the same time are cultivating positive changes in us that we’ll take into our daily life.

 

 

Intention

 

We all come to yoga for different reasons. That reason is developed into our intention. We use this intention, to guide how we practice, and our practice becomes uniquely our own because of this. For this reason, yoga is not competitive. It is about our personal journey.

 

Our intention may change as we change. It may start as wishing to relieve pain from our back and over time become a direction from our heart that changes our life path. When our intention is made with sincerity it essentially is our purpose, our motivation for our yoga practice and keeps it relevant and fresh.  

 

Intention, attitude and effort count for a lot in our yoga practice, and they have a flow on effect into our daily life. 

 

 

 

Awareness

Cultivating awareness on all levels of our being is an amazing benefit of our yoga practice that reflects positively into our daily life. This is where the transformations begin.

 

Awareness in the body of how it is feeling in the present moment and responding accordingly. Watching when to go deeper or when to ease off etc

 

Awareness of the mind. Listening to what we are telling ourselves and witnessing our old habits and attitudes that we have collected and cultivated. Allowing the safe space of our yoga practice give us courage to touch in on the vulnerable parts and being awake and brave to create those habits and attitudes, that kind of self-talk that leads us to realising our intention.

 

Awareness of the breath. Learning to read the signal, the changes in the breath and what that is telling us about our body, mind and energy. Also learning to use the breath.

 

Awareness of energy. Yes, yoga is energy work – our own personal acupuncture treatment, our own vitality booster, our own aura cleanser, our own chakra opening and aligning practice.

 

 

Discipline

Discipline is a form of self-love.

 

It is an act of giving ourselves what we need to nourish, grow and evolve. Discipline is what helps us not get distracted by the screams of immediate demands, the attractions of desires or fleeting pleasures. Discipline is the support structure that helps us keep going as we break away from attitudes and habits that no longer serve us, because we are what we repeatedly do.

 

“Your discipline is your guru.” ~ Vishwaguruji

 

Discipline is not fixed or rigid. It is not about force. It brings skills such as learning not to give up on ourselves, to endure, to not be lazy, to drop doubt etc. Through our discipline we stick with our sadhana and can reap the benefits.

 

So bring your intention to your sadhana, do it with love, don’t let it be a burden.

 

 

Relaxation

Relaxation is both the foundation for and the fruits of our yoga practice.

Sometimes I think that relaxation is where all the magic happens!

 

A vital component of a balanced yoga practice, relaxation:

-          Reduces tension in the muscles so we can stretch and strengthen more effectively

-          Helps bring the mind to the present moment so our practice can be more mindful and not get caught up in stress

-          Invokes the relaxation response of our nervous system which is responsible for rejuvenation and healing. Relaxing after asana is when the deeper benefits of those asanas can activate.

-          shifts our inner dialogue

-          helps us have a better quality relationship with ourselves and others

 

Relaxation creates a relaxed inner space from where we can respond to life from (as opposed to a tense one) and this changes everything for the better.

For example:
I am stressed. I accidentally knock a glass of OJ off the table. I react. The inner dialogue explodes! More tension in the body and ugly words flying out of my mouth. Blame it on someone else who stupidly put the glass to close to the edge. Or berating my useless good for nothing clumsy self. Drama. Poor relationship with myself and with others. Rigid. Limited perspective.
I am relaxed. I accidentally knock a glass of OJ off the table. I clean it up. The end.

 

Relaxation changes everything.

 

 

 

The Power of Gentle

Never underestimate the power of a gentle practice. Supported by our discipline, going gently yet persistently, will take us were we want to go. It is not a race. Hopefully, our yoga practice will continue with us until the end of this life!  

 

Ahimsa is a yogic practice that means nonviolence. No asana or technique is worth injuring ourselves.

 

At times, when we are judgemental, negative, or forcing, our response is to resist, tighten or close off for protection. In that way we create more barriers! A gentle approach takes us compassionately and persistently without force. Letting us soften/ extend/ strengthen and go deeper when we are ready. When we become aware of resistance and respond by being gentle, we allow space and ease for a truthful understanding of ourselves so we can then work to overcome these obstacles. This is on all levels – physical, mental and energetic.

 

 

Openness

We come to our yoga practice with our life experience and prior knowledge and this colours our yoga experience. While some of this is important, in terms keeping the practice safe (eg if you have a bad knee you will avoid or modify asanas so as to not make it worse), it also has the potential to limit us.

 

There is a teaching, a story where the student went to the master to learn. During the class the student continually interrupted the master to give their own knowledge and experiences. The master calmly invited the student to tea. The master poured the tea into the students cup and continued pouring until the cup was full then over flowing. The student told the master to stop pouring, the cup is already full. The master replied that this is you, and I cannot teach you until you empty your cup.

 

Vishwaguruji instructs at the beginning of meditation and yoga nidra to have

“no expectations”.

This is it!

 

No expectations and openness to learning, to the experience, to the newness of each day and moment, to our ever changing body and life situation, to the evolution of our thoughts and emotions etc. Stay open and stay fresh.

 

 

Summary

Our yoga practice is exactly that – practice! They say, how we practice on the mat is the same as how we are in our daily life. Even though we all are in class together practicing the same move at the same time, how we do it and our inner workings are all unique to us. These basic principles are tools to help us on our own personal yoga journey.

 

 

 

HH Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwaranandaji (Vishwaguruji) is the founder of Yoga in Daily Life the System. Excerpt from the satsang in Edinburgh 8/09/2010 Scotland

 

written by Larissa Gita according to my own experience.