Why practice Yoga & How to maintain the practice

Yoga is a beautiful practice. It is a journey. It is a way of life.

But why do we practice yoga?

Yoga helps us go within, it helps us to know what is my true self; to find out who I truly am. I am not the body, I am not the mind. And so yoga takes us within, so we can identify with this place, and discover this true essence. Consciousness. Aum.

It is important to know that yoga teaches us of our different states of mind.

It teaches us of our duty and of right action.

For example; we are given six principles to bring success to our yoga practice:

1. Utsaaha - Enthusiasm. (To be positive, to take to challenges with enthusiasm, to be joyful).

2. Saahas - Courage. (Practicing yoga might lead you from the norm, and in this you need courage to stand for oneself, to stay true to the practice).

3. Dhairya - Perseverance. (Yoga can be very challenging and you will need to persevere beyond these challenges).

4. Tattvajnana - The why of practice. (Understanding the philosophy and theory behind yoga).

5. Nischya - Firm Determination. (It takes determination to maintain your discipline and continue with your yoga practice).

6. Janasanga Parityaga - Avoid company of wrong people. (Others might critize or discourage you from your practice, so best to keep it to yourself until you have had some success).

Yoga also teaches us about the fluctuations of the mind. How it becomes distracted with the senses or harmful ways of thinking. It teaches us that our mind is a tool and that when we train our mind through meditation which in essence is concentration, we can then direct our mind to things that serve our greatest good.

Namaste

Mikey