What Is The Basis Of Yoga?

As I discussed on the main page of this site, the basis of yoga in traditional teachings is not simply the asanas, or yoga postures. But given that this is the understanding of yoga to most people in Western societies, this article series will describe what you need to do to begin a practice of yoga postures. Other articles will discuss the other, more spiritual aspects of yoga.

Yoga postures are very useful to most people as they help improve physical health. Illness is listed as one of the factors that will reduce mental clarity in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Sutra 1.30) (Desikachar). The others are:

• mental stagnation
• doubts
• lack of foresight
• fatigue (which can also be addressed through practicing yoga postures)
• overindulgence
• illusions
• lack of perseverance
• regression

Whilst the idea of mental clarity may seem a little esoteric to someone looking to improve their physical health, the two are in fact related. There is a lot of information these days about the link between mind and body. And a simple idea that most can relate to is that when we are sick, or tired, we are less able to enjoy our lives, think clearly, and do the things we would otherwise set out to do.

In learning to practise the basis of yoga, we are developing a way of anchoring our perceptions. And not simply in the "the accumulated results of our many unconscious actions" (Desikachar), but instead in a deep level of perception that derives from our whole being.

The Attitude and Responsibilities of Mastery, on the Azurite Press website, offer a guide that, when embodied, helps us to change the circumstances of our lives by 'reprogramming' our thoughts.

Its an excellent (and free :-)) way of developing an awareness of our reaction patterns to the circumstances that life presents us, on a daily basis. And more than that, by reflection, and choosing to embody a different thought or reaction pattern in that moment, we can begin to set ourselves free.

From those moments of taking our power back, instead of reacting to 'life', we begin to change the dynamics of our life. These can be used as an affirmation, or simply read aloud, and felt, on a regular basis.

It helps to have a slight understanding of the true basis of yoga even when only interested in doing yoga postures because it gives us a guide on how to approach the practice of asanas in a way that brings true benefit not only to our body, but also to our mind and spirit.

For example, if we are only focused on doing asanas without some understanding of the journey of awareness that is behind the practice, we may be put off by things that otherwise we would overcome.

We may get caught up in feelings of inadequacy -

"I can't get into this posture, its too hard, therefore I must not be any good at this"

- which can lead to one giving up too early. Or a feeling of frustration that we're not "getting it right", which hampers our ability to concentrate and feel a posture.

Central to this is an acceptance of where we are in a given moment. Our experience of yoga asanas may be different from day to day. One day, they may come easily, another day, we may feel stiff and sore, or easily distracted mentally.

By letting go of expectations, and "achievement markers" such as "attaining" a posture "perfectly", we can begin to shift the energies that are presenting themselves in our minds and bodies more quickly.

The asanas and breath will help us clear impurities in our bodies, which will lead to:

• better health
• a greater quality of life
• a clearer mind

Following on from this, through application of things like the Attitudes and Responsibilities of Mastery, we can apply our clearer mind and improved health to learning about ourselves more deeply, including our relationship with others and the world. From here, we can take actions in our life and our world that are more in alignment with our inner self, our deep self, which some call soul, or God, and which psychology calls many things.

Other Articles: