What are the main benefits of practicing yoga. How does yoga impact physical health and mental well-being. Can yoga be suitable for beginners and people of all fitness levels. What are the different types of yoga and their unique purposes.

Understanding the Core Purpose of Yoga

Yoga, an ancient practice with roots in Indian philosophy, has evolved over thousands of years to become a popular form of exercise and stress relief worldwide. But what is the true purpose of yoga? At its core, yoga aims to unite the mind, body, and spirit, fostering a sense of harmony and self-awareness.

The Sanskrit word “yoga” comes from the root “yuj,” which means to contemplate or to unite. This reflects the practice’s dual purpose: self-reflection and the joining of individual consciousness with universal consciousness. While modern practitioners may have varying goals, from physical fitness to stress reduction, the original intent of yoga remains a journey of self-discovery and inner peace.

The Evolution of Yoga’s Purpose

As yoga has spread globally, its purpose has diversified to meet the needs of different practitioners. For some, yoga serves as a path to improved flexibility and strength. Others seek its benefits for stress relief and mental clarity. Regardless of the initial motivation, many practitioners find that yoga offers a holistic approach to wellness that transcends their original goals.

• Physical fitness and flexibility
• Stress reduction and relaxation
• Mental clarity and focus
• Spiritual growth and self-awareness
• Pain management and healing

The Physical Benefits of Yoga Practice

Yoga offers a wide array of physical benefits that contribute to overall health and well-being. Regular practice can lead to significant improvements in various aspects of physical fitness and bodily functions.

Improved Flexibility and Strength

One of the most noticeable physical benefits of yoga is increased flexibility. Through various poses and stretches, yoga helps to lengthen and strengthen muscles, improving overall range of motion. Additionally, many yoga poses require practitioners to support their body weight, which builds strength in both major and minor muscle groups.

Enhanced Respiratory Function

Yoga places a strong emphasis on breathing techniques, known as pranayama. These exercises can significantly improve lung capacity and efficiency. How does this benefit overall health? Improved respiratory function can lead to better oxygenation of the blood, increased energy levels, and enhanced physical performance in daily activities and other forms of exercise.

Balanced Metabolism and Weight Management

Regular yoga practice can help maintain a balanced metabolism, which is crucial for weight management and overall health. Certain styles of yoga, particularly more vigorous forms like Ashtanga or Power Yoga, can provide an effective cardiovascular workout, contributing to weight loss and improved fitness levels.

Pain Relief and Injury Prevention

Yoga has been shown to be effective in alleviating chronic pain conditions such as lower back pain, arthritis, and headaches. The gentle, low-impact nature of yoga movements, combined with its focus on proper alignment and body awareness, can also help prevent injuries in daily life and other physical activities.

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Yoga

While the physical benefits of yoga are often the most visible, the practice offers profound mental and emotional benefits that can significantly improve overall quality of life.

Stress Reduction and Relaxation

One of the most widely recognized benefits of yoga is its ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques helps activate the body’s relaxation response, lowering cortisol levels and promoting a sense of calm.

Improved Mental Clarity and Focus

Regular yoga practice has been shown to enhance cognitive function, including improved concentration, memory, and decision-making skills. The mindfulness aspects of yoga help practitioners develop greater mental clarity and focus, which can be applied to various areas of life.

Emotional Regulation and Mood Enhancement

Yoga can be an effective tool for managing emotions and improving mood. The practice encourages self-awareness and mindfulness, which can help individuals recognize and regulate their emotional responses. Many practitioners report feeling more balanced, positive, and emotionally resilient as a result of their yoga practice.

Yoga for Beginners: Getting Started on Your Journey

One of the most appealing aspects of yoga is its accessibility to practitioners of all ages, body types, and fitness levels. For those new to yoga, getting started can be an exciting but potentially intimidating prospect. How can beginners approach yoga to ensure a positive and sustainable practice?

Choosing the Right Style of Yoga

With over 100 different styles of yoga, it’s essential for beginners to find a practice that aligns with their goals and physical capabilities. Some popular styles for beginners include:

• Hatha Yoga: A gentle, slow-paced style focusing on basic poses and breathing exercises
• Restorative Yoga: A relaxing practice using props to support the body in passive poses
• Yin Yoga: A slow-paced style holding poses for longer periods to target connective tissues
• Vinyasa Flow: A more dynamic style linking breath with movement in flowing sequences

Essential Tips for Yoga Beginners

To make the most of your yoga journey as a beginner, consider the following tips:

1. Start with beginner-friendly classes or instructional videos
2. Focus on proper alignment and breathing rather than achieving perfect poses
3. Listen to your body and respect its limits
4. Use props like blocks, straps, and bolsters to support your practice
5. Be consistent with your practice, even if it’s just for short sessions
6. Don’t compare yourself to others; yoga is a personal journey

The Role of Breathing in Yoga Practice

Breath awareness and control play a crucial role in yoga practice, serving as the bridge between the physical and mental aspects of the discipline. How does conscious breathing contribute to the overall yoga experience?

The Importance of Pranayama

Pranayama, or yogic breathing exercises, is a fundamental component of yoga practice. These techniques involve controlling the breath to influence the flow of prana, or life force energy, throughout the body. Regular pranayama practice can lead to numerous benefits, including:

• Improved lung capacity and respiratory function
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Enhanced focus and mental clarity
• Balanced nervous system function
• Increased energy and vitality

Integrating Breath with Movement

In many yoga styles, particularly flow-based practices like Vinyasa, breath is synchronized with physical movements. This integration of breath and movement creates a meditative, flowing practice that enhances body awareness and promotes a sense of inner calm. By focusing on the breath during asana practice, practitioners can deepen their experience and cultivate mindfulness both on and off the mat.

Yoga and Holistic Health: The Osteopathic Perspective

The principles of yoga align closely with the osteopathic approach to health and wellness, which emphasizes the body’s natural ability to heal itself and the interconnectedness of all body systems. How does yoga complement osteopathic medicine in promoting overall health?

Preventive Medicine and Self-Healing

Dr. Natalie Nevins, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, highlights the synergy between yoga and osteopathic medicine: “As an osteopathic physician, I focus a lot of my efforts on preventive medicine and practices, and in the body’s ability to heal itself. Yoga is a great tool for staying healthy because it’s based on similar principles.”

Holistic Approach to Wellness

Both yoga and osteopathic medicine take a holistic view of health, considering the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This comprehensive approach can lead to more effective treatment and prevention of various health issues, from chronic pain to stress-related disorders.

The Spiritual Dimension of Yoga Practice

While many people approach yoga primarily for its physical and mental benefits, the practice has deep spiritual roots that continue to influence modern practice. How does the spiritual aspect of yoga contribute to overall well-being?

Self-Reflection and Inner Peace

At its core, yoga is a practice of self-reflection and inner exploration. Through regular practice, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world. This self-awareness can lead to a greater sense of peace, purpose, and fulfillment in life.

Connection to Something Greater

For many practitioners, yoga offers a pathway to connect with something greater than themselves, whether that’s conceptualized as universal consciousness, nature, or a higher power. This sense of connection can provide comfort, inspiration, and a broader perspective on life’s challenges.

Ethical Living and Personal Growth

The philosophical aspects of yoga, particularly the yamas and niyamas (ethical guidelines), provide a framework for personal growth and ethical living. By incorporating these principles into daily life, practitioners can cultivate positive habits and relationships, contributing to overall well-being and social harmony.

As we’ve explored the multifaceted nature of yoga, it becomes clear that its purpose extends far beyond physical exercise or stress relief. Yoga offers a holistic approach to health and wellness, addressing the needs of body, mind, and spirit. Whether you’re seeking improved flexibility, stress reduction, or deeper self-awareness, yoga provides a versatile toolset for enhancing overall quality of life. By embracing the practice with an open mind and consistent effort, individuals of all backgrounds and fitness levels can experience the transformative benefits of yoga.

Benefits of Yoga | American Osteopathic Association

Say om

Learn about the different types of yoga and how it can be used as a tool to help you stay healthy.

Like yoga, the osteopathic approach to wellness focuses on your body’s natural tendency toward health and self-healing.

“The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,” explains Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, California.

While there are more than 100 different types, or schools, of yoga, most sessions typically include breathing exercises, meditation, and assuming postures (sometimes called asana or poses) that stretch and flex various muscle groups.

“As an osteopathic physician, I focus a lot of my efforts on preventive medicine and practices, and in the body’s ability to heal itself,” says Dr. Nevins. “Yoga is a great tool for staying healthy because it’s based on similar principles. ”

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine​, or DOs, focus on prevention by examining how your lifestyle and environment impact your health, rather than just treating your symptoms.

Beginners welcome

Because there are so many different kinds of yoga practices, it is possible for anyone to start. “Whether you’re a couch potato or a professional athlete, size and fitness levels do not matter because there are modifications for every yoga pose and beginner classes in every style,” says Dr. Nevins. “The idea is to explore your limits, not strive for some pretzel-like perfection. It is a great way to get in tune with your body and your inner self.”​

Physical benefits

“The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome,” explains Dr. Nevins. “Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia.”

Other physical benefits of yoga include:

• increased flexibility
• increased muscle strength and tone
• improved respiration, energy and vitality
• maintaining a balanced metabolism
• weight reduction
• cardio and circulatory health
• improved athletic performance
• protection from injury

Mental benefits

Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. “Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate,” says Dr. Nevins. “Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.”

Yoga’s incorporation of meditation and breathing can help improve a person’s mental well-being. “Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness; increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the mind; centers attention; and sharpens concentration,” says Dr. Nevins. Body- and self-awareness are particularly beneficial, she adds, “because they can help with early detection of physical problems and allow for early preventive action.”

Ask a Yogi: What is the Purpose of Yoga?

Some students of yoga are focused on flexibility and mobility.
Others are concerned with building physical strength and an exercise regimen.
Maybe they start a yoga practice looking to relax and de-stress from their busy lives.

Everyone has their own intention for practicing yoga. The purpose is different for everyone.

However, yoga’s original intent is actually self-refection. The word “yoga” has been translated from the Sanskrit root word yuj which means to contemplate. Yuj has also been translated to the English root word yoke, which means to join or unite.

Typically, yoga teachers talk about yoking or uniting the mind, body, and spirit.

But what exactly is the point?

A yoga practice focuses on the breath. When we become conscious of the breath and the body, it can produce a sense of harmony. We become aware of our truest self that is free of desire or anxiety.

We find peace with ourselves.

When I first started practicing, I doubted a lot of yoga’s metaphysical, woo woo principles — separating myself from those who believed in energy bodies.

I promised myself I wouldn’t become brainwashed by the yoga community who all seemed to buy into the practice of sage burning. No chakras, no oils, no mala beads, no “om” chanting, no saying any of the following. 

I focused on the physical benefits of yoga. I enjoyed the way the poses felt in my body — the way triangle pose opened my sides, and how locust pose strengthened my back. With my background in dance, I became entranced by vinyasa yoga and how it interconnected all these poses into a beautiful flow. At the end of each class, I felt relaxed and refreshed.

After practicing for almost year, I felt strong and pain-free. My goal shifted from nurturing my own body with yoga to helping others feel confident in their own bodies through yoga. I enrolled in a 200-hour yoga teacher training a year after starting my regular practice.

As I learned more about yoga, my perspective gradually began to shift from an asana focus, worried about the alignment and muscles involved in each pose to a more meditative experience. I realized my journey into yoga had just begun.

Our world is changing faster than ever before.
Our universe is expanding from order to chaos.
Our minds are constantly consumed with thought and inundated with stimulation.

So when I take a step back and notice my breath, I find that time slows down.

I am present. There is no other feeling more whole and satisfying.

My yoga practice means much more than holding Warrior 3. I can always stretch and strengthen my muscles at the gym.

Yoga is much more than exercise…

Yoga is about discovering yourself.

There are many things outside of our control.
Our situations will forever change and fluctuate. We may envision ourselves as the victors one month and victims the next.
However with practice, we can observe and begin to change how we perceive our situations. 

Yoga is a process of observation and change.  When we are able to free ourselves of worry or thought, we can sit with the self in its purest form.

This is a skill that doesn’t come easy to most of us, and it took me years to understand.

As I continue to practice yoga, the more I notice the subtler benefits– the sensation of freedom not only in my body and mind, but even in my soul.

While most yogis believe yoga is a union of body, mind, and spirit, I believe it’s more of an evolution than a trifecta. First, we learn to experience the body. Then, we learn to observe the mind. Finally– we can recognize our spirit.

What does yoga mean to you?

Philosophy and purpose of yoga – Formula Yoga

Swami Vishnudevananda (1927 – 1993) Indian guru, yogi, student of Swami Sivananda, founder of the International Organization of Sivananda Yoga and Vedanta Centers. In 1947, at the age of 20, he took sannyasa (became a monk) and was appointed as the first teacher of hatha yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. There he taught thousands of students, both Indian and Western. At the same time, he continued his own practice, mastering the difficult, advanced techniques of hatha yoga. Soon Swami Vishnudevananda began to practice deep sadhana . With the permission of his teacher, Vishnudevananda settled in a small house in the Uttarkashi mountains. Four times a day he conducted four-hour sessions of asanas and pranayamas . His only food was rice and lentils.

In this text, we invite the reader to read an excerpt from his famous book “Yoga: a complete illustrated guide” published in 1960 in English. Very often, it is difficult for people to understand why they start any activity. Man is, first of all, a being who tends to look for meaning in all his deeds and undertakings. It is on this occasion that introductory fragment “Philosophy and Purpose of Yoga” is an ideal text to answer the question – why and for what it is necessary to do yoga?

Swami Vishnudevananda doing the “ basti ” pose
(cleansing the lower intestines)

A person who is not satisfied with modern inventions and knowledge of the ever-discovering mysteries of nature tirelessly searches in other planes. When he observes the wonders of nature, studying the mysterious atom, the basis of all things, watching the stars and planets, which, despite their innumerability, move in this vast space, diverging and colliding with each other, his mind refuses to work.

The weary mind, wandering among the galaxies in outer space, of which our planet is a tiny grain of sand, comes back disappointed and embarrassed.

Man is no longer satisfied with his mind, this thinking machine, unable to answer the questions: “What is the purpose of life?”, “Who am I?”, “Where am I going?”, “Is physical death the end of everything?” and so on. This mind, of which man is so proud and which, in his opinion, should know everything, returns to his plane, unable to find where the galaxies end, the greatest that he can comprehend, and what shape the electron has , the smallest particle it can approach. By virtue of some incomprehensible law, the human mind is not able to penetrate either above or below these limits.

It is foolish to search for truth with such a limited tool as the intellect, or to try to answer the eternal question about the purpose of life.

And yet we cannot ignore the truth if it exists. In fact, there are people, although they are few, who, overcoming the limitations of space and time, can see the past, present and future without the help of a weak intellect. They are called seers or saints, and they know the scientific method of such a knowledge of the truth that the intellect can satisfy, although their knowledge is higher than this intellect. Although their method seems deceptively simple, it is actually very difficult for the untrained and impure mind. They use the same scattered mind rays that most people use for external observation and feeling, but they focus them on the hidden inner depths of their heart, and these concentrated mind rays illuminate the dark nooks and crannies of the unknown.

As long as the wandering mind is directed outward towards objects, it cannot come face to face with truth, God.

The answers to transcendental questions come to seers and saints not as a result of intellectual research or laboratory experiments, but from an unknown, limitless source of wisdom and knowledge obtained during long hours of silent contemplation, when rational activity ceases. Since real knowledge about God, about truth and answers to all questions of this kind come only when the mind and intellect are silent.

Now the question arises: what is the use of such knowledge? Does God exist? Is there life after death? What is the purpose of life? After all, having no purpose, we would not bother to search for answers to such questions.

Pose Oordhwapadmasan (lotus on the head)

Those few who have discovered the truth claim that it frees us from all suffering. In comprehending the truth, a person comes face to face with something that, by its very nature, remains eternally pure and perfect. The source of all our troubles is the fear of death and illness, as well as unsatisfied desires. When a person comprehends the truth and his true nature, he discovers that he is immortal. He will never die, and he does not need to be afraid of death. When a person learns about his perfection and completeness, he is freed from useless desires. Realizing his true nature, realizing that the “Kingdom of God” is within us, a person gets rid of the fear of death and experiences complete bliss, even while in a physical body.

The goal of life is to achieve, even in this birth, a state of freedom from death, pain, sorrow, old age, disease and new rebirths. To save people from these misfortunes, each religion uses its dogmas. Many believers blindly follow their leaders, knowing neither the purpose of life nor the purpose of religion, and are content with faith alone, while most religious leaders demand total obedience from the people. This state of affairs, when the blind lead the blind, has caused many sincere seekers to deviate from the true path due to a lack of confidence in theoretical knowledge.

All founders of religions saw God; they all saw their own souls, saw eternity as their future. They preached what they saw and gave methods to achieve this state, or knowledge, where everyone can see the nature of their eternal immortal soul. Modern believers and preachers are more busy with prayers than with practice, arguing that such experiences are possible only for the founders of religions, but not a single person can gain real spirituality until he reaches the perception of these teachers. Any person must feel the truth within himself, only then all his doubts will disappear and he will get rid of suffering. Christ said: “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31, 32).

The science of yoga provides a practical, scientifically based method of understanding the truth in religion. Like every science, the science of yoga uses its own method of research and claims that the truth can be comprehended. But it can be known only by going beyond the senses, when the mind and intellect stop their functions.

Swami Vishnudevananda

When expounding a theory, the yoga teacher does not stop to prove it, he does not try to demonstrate to his students or argue: his teaching is already credible, because he himself experienced what he was taught. The truth he teaches is an accepted fact, and those who are ready for it intuitively recognize it. On the other hand, no amount of argument or discussion can bring the truth to those who are not yet ready or not developed enough to receive it.

The teacher realizes that much of his teaching is just scattered seeds, and that for every thought the student masters, there are a hundred of them that will enter his consciousness only after his mind is ready to understand and accept them. This does not mean that every yoga teacher requires students to blindly accept his teachings. He knows that the student cannot immediately accept everything, so he ensures that the student accepts only that part of the truth that he can prove to himself based on his own experience. Before a student can achieve a deeper understanding, he must cultivate through practice, prayer, and a virtuous life. Following the path of yoga, the student begins to realize much of what the teacher has already prepared theoretically for. To a certain extent, the disciple is advised to follow the teaching as long as he is able to comprehend the truth within himself. At first, he will benefit from the advice and experience of teachers who have passed this path before him.

But each person must learn from their own experience. Following this path, he will, at every stage of his journey, find signs left as milestones by those who have walked this path before him, and in turn will leave his road signs for those who follow him. A real student does not follow a blindly indicated path, he uses these signs to reach the goal without straying from a difficult, bumpy path.

A good illustration of this approach is the following story. One day, an Indian teacher, along with numerous followers, went to the sacred river to perform the rite of bathing. Following custom, the teacher took a vessel with him so that after bathing he would draw holy water from the river. Arriving on a sandy shore, he dug a hole, immersed a vessel in it, and poured a pile of sand on top as a guide. Those who came with him did not see what he was doing, but noticed that he poured a pile of sand. Deciding that this was part of the ceremony, they followed his example and poured the same heaps of sand along the entire coast. After finishing the ablution, the teacher began to look for his vessel. But then he discovered that the whole coast was strewn with heaps of sand. Surprised, he asked his students why they did it. Hearing in response that they were trying to imitate him, he was amazed at the stupidity of his followers, who blindly copied him. Needless to say, it took a long time to find the vessel hidden by the teacher.

Today we find such followers in every religion, people who blindly follow their guides without bothering to seek the truth. The philosophy of yoga and its teachers do not call for such blind faith, but require patience from the student, and many things that at first seemed vague to the student become clear as he moves forward.

There are various types of yoga that allow you to achieve universal consciousness, oneness with God. Yoga is a science by which a person approaches the truth. The goal of all yoga practices is to comprehend the truth in which the individual soul is identified with the Supreme Soul, with God. To do this, the soul must transcend the various sheaths or bodies of the soul that define individual consciousness.

Spirit ¹ , or the pure consciousness of man, is essentially integral, indivisible, infinite by its very nature, passive and unchanging… we find the same spirit in everything, from mineral to man.

Mind and matter are the embodiment of spirit or pure consciousness. The creative power of the mind forms the cloaking environment of consciousness and creates forms from the formless spirit, transforming the infinite into the finite in the form of self-consciousness, or individuality.

The spirit, or pure consciousness, never changes, the same spirit fills everything, from man to stone. Rising in the process of evolution from stone to man, the spirit, as pure consciousness, changes its expression. In the inorganic realm, the spirit manifests itself in its most primitive form, when consciousness is barely perceptible. Modern scientists already have some evidence that a living being can be created from inorganic substances, and experiments in this direction continue.

The first scientist who succeeded in obtaining objects similar to living things from inorganic matter during his experiments with stones was Andrew Cross. In 1837, he tried to obtain crystals by electrically heating iron oxide in the presence of hydrochloric acid and potassium silicate. Small white pimples appeared on the stone, which after twenty-six days turned into exact copies of insects. Two days later they were already able to move. Cross wrote: “Neither by word nor deed have I given anyone a reason to admit that I consider them (insects) as an act of creation. I didn’t even think of creating some kind of theory to explain their appearance. It was a matter of chance.”

Another scientist, Morley Martin, who died in 1838, claimed that he was able to recreate life from the most ancient breed – the Azoic. He heated the rock until it turned to ashes, and then subjected it to a series of operations that formed tiny crystals, which he called “primordial protoplasm. ” Looking at these crystals through a microscope at 3,000x magnification, one could see thousands of tiny fish wriggling in them.

There is no reason to believe that life cannot be created from such seemingly lifeless material as stone or metal. According to yoga philosophy, there is no lifeless matter, since everything that exists is consciousness. Scientists say that inside the smallest particles – atoms – there is a very intense movement. But if there is movement, there must be some energy that causes it, and this energy is the basis of all life.

The ancient philosophy of yoga, according to which people, animals, birds, fish, trees, earth, stones and elements are one, is beginning to be accepted by the scientific world of the twentieth century.

Developed sensitivity can be found in crystals capable of taking on a certain shape and shape. At the next stage of evolution – namely, in the plant kingdom – consciousness is more developed than in the world of minerals, although here it is also on a subconscious level. It is even more developed in the world of animals, whose mind has various mental functions, and consciousness is more centralized. And finally, at the highest rung of evolution is a person who has the most developed intellect and other mental functions, such as cognitive ability, perception, will and knowledge.

Pose “Kukutasan” (cock)

From what has been said, one may get the impression that the soul is developing, that in its development it has gone from stone to man, but in fact, at all these stages of evolution, the soul remains unchanged. In the realm of inanimate nature and in man the spirit remains the same. Behind the changing forms of consciousness lies an unchanging, formless spirit, independent of the mode of its expression or the level of consciousness, but hidden at various stages of its development.

How can one explain the development of the spirit if it remains unchanged in all manifestations – from stone to man? The apparent development of the soul can be explained by the development of the body and mind in which it is contained and which mask it to a greater or lesser extent. The rays of consciousness of minerals cannot break through, as they are surrounded by a black screen.

Studying plants and animals, we notice that in them, due to the peculiarities of the body and some development of the mind, the spirit is expressed better than in minerals. Here consciousness breaks through the colored glasses of the lower mind.

Although the spirit of a person is less limited or hidden by the mind and body, even in this case there is a veil that prevents the full expression of the spirit or consciousness. Man lives at the level of self-consciousness. Animals live at the subconscious level and are not capable of any kind of self-awareness. The self-consciousness of a person is higher than the subconscious. Universal consciousness is above self-consciousness and represents the highest degree of awareness, where a person feels his true, or Divine Self, and identifies himself with it.

As the mind develops, the veil covering the soul becomes thinner and finally disappears completely. In this state, the soul realizes that it is immortal and identifies itself with the Supreme Being. This is the goal of yoga and all religions. Yoga is the scientific method of achieving a state in which there is no duality, there is neither subject nor object, in which the knower, the process of knowing and the known merge into one whole.

This can only be achieved when a person completely overcomes the limitations of body and mind that hide this pure consciousness or divine essence. In order to overcome the body and mind and be able to use them as tools to achieve the goal, the yogi observes a strict discipline of the body and mind. He studies in detail the shells in which the soul, or consciousness, is enclosed. Before embarking on the study of the spirit, it is essential to have a clear understanding of these vehicles or bodies through which the spirit expresses itself.

Man is a much more complex creature than is commonly believed. This is not just a soul enclosed in a physical body, it is a pure spirit, clothed in several shells, or bodies, for its expression. They have different densities (the physical body is only the grossest and most mortal of them), manifest themselves at different levels: physical, astral, etc.

causal. Although man has all three bodies, he mainly uses the physical body. Only to a very small extent does he deal with the astral body, mainly during sleep and meditation.

We will consider separately each of the bodies, their functions, qualities and other aspects: for example, how to control these shells and maintain them in a healthy state so that they can be used for specific purposes at any stage of their development.

After careful study and control of the three bodies, the student begins introspection, trying to answer the question “Who am I?” through introspection.

Modern psychology does not teach this process of introspection by which one comes face to face with truth, or God, where one comes to know that there is no pain or sadness, superiority or inferiority, individuality or division.

This knowledge brings a sense of unity with the whole world, and a person no longer perceives himself as a person, he identifies himself with God. This experience is beyond our understanding. It brings peace, which in the Bible is called “the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding” ² . This knowledge is the pinnacle of all knowledge, or Vedanta. In this state there is no difference between the knower, the cognition and the known. There is nothing more to know, because the spirit, or true man, is self-consciousness, and there is nothing beyond it that should be known.

If you know how long it takes even the theoretical study of Vedanta, which baffles even a person familiar with other cultures, you can imagine how difficult it is to experience these greatest truths: “Man is God”, “‘I’ am God”, “I am in everything”, and “I am the essence of all things”. The whole philosophy of Yoga and Vedanta comes from the theory of unity, which can be achieved through gradual improvement in the process of reincarnation.

Although adherents of many religions do not believe in the unity of the soul, this truth was recognized by some great prophets, including Jesus, who declared: “I and my Father are one”, “I” am in you, you are in Me “,” “I” am He.” Most of his followers do not even understand the meaning of this great wisdom and condemn the theory of reincarnation and the evolution of consciousness or soul. But this is clearly stated in the Gospel when Jesus says to Nicodemus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again ³ cannot see the Kingdom of God.

Nicodemus says to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised at what I said to you: you must be born again (again) ”(John 3:3-7).

If one does not accept the theory of reincarnation and the law of action and reaction, how then can one explain the misery and pain of this world? At all times we see people suffering from disease, old age and poverty. In every country there are strong and weak, healthy and sick, rich and poor, regardless of faith in God and no matter what religion they profess. Some succeed, apparently not believing in God, others, being virtuous and religious people, are less fortunate.

If God is merciful, why does He allow one person to suffer in the same place, in the same house, and another to enjoy all the joys of life, if both recognize him as Almighty? If He is merciful and full of love, He certainly cannot show favor to one and withhold favor from another. We also cannot accept the notion that a person goes to heaven or hell forever without being forgiven by an all-forgiving God. If an earthly father forgives his sinful son, why can’t the loving Heavenly Father do this, if He exists?

Pose “Anjaneyasana” (split)

Our life on this planet can last a hundred years, of which about fifty we sleep or dream. Part of the time falls on infancy, when a person lives almost entirely at the subconscious level. When sickness and old age come, the mental state of a person worsens, and, torn between fear and hope, he practically lives in a state of sleep.

Man does not have much time left to understand his Father and rise to a higher level of being. Most people die without having time to believe in God. So how can we assume that if in such a short period of life they failed to rise to a higher level, then they are doomed to eternal suffering in hell? Do they really have no chance of salvation?

Again, it would be too easy to assume that God is a factory for manufacturing people, that He produces new souls daily and sends them to Earth, so that they, having experienced suffering and pain, eventually go to hell or heaven on eternal times.

If there is no rebirth, then what is the purpose of all knowledge and the institutions that serve it: libraries and laboratories, churches and temples? Why can’t we spend our time the way animals or the backcountry people do, without all this modern civilization? Why do we strive for our efforts, will, compassion and service to bring peace to people and save them from suffering? If, having left the physical body, we cannot return to Earth again, why not destroy all of humanity along with its civilization with the help of new terrible bombs? If there were no rebirth, a person would not lose anything if the world were destroyed by a global war. Souls would stop coming to Earth; God could rest from His labors, since He would not send new souls to the earth polluted with radiation, where people, animals and plants could no longer exist. To answer these questions, we, as rational beings, must recognize the law of karma, or the law of action and reaction.

Every soul learns through trial and error throughout life and, moving forward, corrects these mistakes. Every deed, good or bad, bears fruit, and the future life of a person, the conditions in which he finds himself, depend on what he is doing at the moment. Thanks to suffering, a person learns more and more with each new birth, during each life cycle. Therefore, he wants to know more and more about his existence, about God and about the purpose of life. But these thoughts come to him only when he gradually evolves and his philosophy of life is no longer limited to thoughts of food, drink and entertainment.

Yoga philosophy not only provides an answer to all human questions, but also offers a scientific way to solve these problems and overcome suffering. In addition, the philosophy of yoga does not contradict any religion, any faith; any sincere person who is ready to embark on the path of searching for truth can use it. It contains no obscure doctrines. Even relatively small efforts will be more than rewarded: you will gain knowledge, strength and peace.

1. The words “spirit” and “soul” are used interchangeably in this text. – Note Author.
2. Phil. 4:7. – Approx. Ed.
3. John. 3:3. In the synodal Russian translation – “who is not born again.” The original Greek dialect has both meanings – both “above” and “again.” — Hereinafter approx. transl.

What is yoga. The Meaning and Purpose of Yoga

When we hear the word “yoga”, many of us immediately imagine a lean person in a loincloth, sitting on a mat in an intricately twisted pose. For some, yoga is associated with physical exercises and relaxation, for others – with unusual abilities like levitation and mind reading, for others – with breathing exercises.

Yoga is becoming more and more popular these days and more and more people are beginning to experience the benefits of yoga. But is yoga limited to a set of asanas to maintain physical health and breathing practices (pranayama)?

In fact, complex postures, pranayama, and relaxation are related to yoga, but these are only small particles of that huge layer of knowledge that yoga as a science contains.

Sanskrit word “yoga” means “union” . The ultimate goal of yoga as a spiritual practice is the connection of the jivatma , the individual human soul, with Paramatma , with the Universal Soul, with God. And yoga means both the process of attainment itself and the final state of union.

Exercise is a small part of yoga. Often they are called hatha yoga. But a more precise meaning of the concept of hatha yoga is not necessarily physical exercises, it is any practice performed with effort, tension.

In the process of evolution of yoga as a science, many of its directions were born, but there are several most suitable for our era, the era of Kali Yuga: karma yoga , jnana yoga and bhakti yoga .

Karma yoga is the yoga of action. This is the path leading to union with God through karma, that is, activity, work. To reach God, it is not necessary to leave the world and retire to a cave. Living and working in the world, performing all his daily duties, a person can realize himself, his true nature. A practitioner of karma yoga does any of his actions for God, dedicates to Him and leaves the result to His will. The main thing in this yoga is inner concentration and action without attachment to the result.

Gyana yoga – the yoga of knowledge. Directing all his thoughts to the knowledge of God, through knowledge and reflection, a person can gradually come to the realization of his unity with Him.

Bhakti yoga is the yoga of pure unconditional love. The practitioner of bhakti yoga focuses on God through his love for Him. Being in a state of love, he constantly thinks about the one whom he loves and gradually becomes closer and closer to God.