Yoga is not just a set of postures (asanas) or breathing exercises (pranayams), rather it is a way of living. The benefits of Yoga are phenomenal. Right from improving your physical fitness to increasing mindfulness, Yoga can do wonders. It is for this same reason that it is now being practised by millions of people around the world.
Though it has become popular, there are a large number of people who are still reluctant to take up Yoga. They cite irrational reasons like it’s against their religion, they are not flexible to do yoga or that they do not have time for it. If you are of the same view then let me just tell you one thing –
“If you have a body and you are breathing, you can easily do Yoga!”
It is 5,000 year old tradition that has been practised in the Indian subcontinent since its inception. In the last 100 years, it has spread all around the globe. Yoga is not a once in a while thing, rather a practice that needs to be done daily. The Yoga lifestyle is all about living with the teachings of the tradition every moment.
Doing the asansas and pranayams result in a lot of benefits. But there are many other factors also that you need to be aware about to live a healthy yogic lifestyle.
1. Give attention to your breath
Breathing is possibly the most important involuntary action that humans perform. On an average humans inhale and exhale 20 times in a minute. But have you ever paid attention to it? Breathing is responsible for removing 90% of the toxins that accumulate in our body.
It is important to give attention to how you are breathing. Sometimes during the day, just bring your attention to the natural process of breath coming in and going out of the body. You’ll see how the mind gently relaxes. Even during your asanas your attention should be completely aligned with your breath.
2. Food
Food is one of the primary sources of energy. So should we eat more to get more energy? Absolutely not! The kind and the amount of food that we eat plays a vital role in shaping the state of our minds and the agility of our body. Yoga classifies food into 3 categories – Tamasic (stale and heavy), Rajasic (sour and spicy) and Sattvic (balanced diet).
Tamasic food (meat and stale food) makes the mind and body dull and lethargic. Rajasic food (chocolates, fried food, spicy, etc.) has a stimulating effect on the mind and body. Sattvic food on the other hand (milk, honey, fruits and vegetables) brings clarity in the mind and strength in the body. Having a Sattvic diet is one of the most important precursor for living an ideal yoga lifestyle.
3. Detoxify
The kind of diet that we nowadays consume increases the acidity level in our body. Breathing exercises and yoga postures help to cleanse the body off these acidic elements. But there are other things as well that you can do to make cleansing more effective.
Having a glass of cucumber and lemon water in the mornings (empty stomach) can help you reduce the acidity level of your body. This will help you to detoxify the body and stay fresh from both the outside and within. You will feel rejuvenated and your skin would also start glowing and feeling fresh.
4. Practice mindfulness
Another important aspect for living a yogic lifestyle is observing the state of your mind. Often in our busy schedule we tend to neglect the state of our mind. Just a few minutes of introspection can help elevate your whole conscience.
Thinking before speaking or doing any action is also important. Often we spend hours chatting with our friends or watching movies/series on online streaming sites. We need to be cautious about our actions, limit the use of gadgets and cut down unnecessary conversations. This will make us more efficient and productive. An important characteristic of a Yogi!
Another important thing is to bring your mind to the present moment. Often our mind keeps oscillating between the future and past but the reality is right here at this moment. So make a continuous attempt to keep your mind steady and in the present moment.
5. Sleep properly
Sleep is one of the natural ways in which the body heals itself. Most of the damaged tissues are repaired while one is sleeping. It is important to have at least 6-8 hours of sleep. Everyone’s body is organised differently and you should be able to figure out the right amount of sleep your body needs.
Going to sleep at a regular time daily is also very important. The modern gadgets and social media applications has made our sleep schedule go haywire. You can also lie down sometimes on your back and practice Yoga Nidra, an effortless Yoga posture to bring deep relaxation.
6. Read spiritual books
If you want to unravel the deeper secrets of yoga lifestyle, it is essential to read some of the spiritual books. Ancient texts like Narada Bhakti Sutras, Patanjali Yoga Sutras and Yoga Vasishta have elucidated in detail about the subtle aspects of a yogic lifestyle.
Though they were spoken and written thousands of years ago, the content that is mentioned in them are still relevant in today’s modern time. Patanjali Yoga Sutras for example talks about the obstructions that one might face on the path of yoga and how to overcome them. It is one of the most primitive and revered texts on Yoga.
7. Meet people who practice Yoga regularly
If you want to know something better, meet a person who knows it best. There are thousands of people who have been practising Yoga for years now. Through their practices they have learned about wisdom that is not easy to comprehend otherwise.
You must make an effort to meet them and understand their insights on Yoga. It will help you develop a better understanding of Yoga and motivate you to go deeper.
8. Set your goals in life
Yoga brings about a lot of clarity and confidence in the one who practices it regularly. You should aim to write down your goals and review the weekly/monthly progress. Anything that we do in life should bring us closer to our ultimate goals.
Living with a disciplined yoga lifestyle brings forth a zeal to work with an unmatched enthusiasm. This facilitates in achieving our goals and bringing perfection in all the dimensions of life.
I have been practising Sudarshan Kriya Yoga for more than three and a half years. Apart from helping me increase my focus and creativity in professional life it has helped me understand the subtle dimensions of life. It has elevated my conscience to such a level that I am able to understand people and mentor them to become better individuals. Sudarshan Kriya is the best thing that has happened to me. - Milind Choudhary
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