Yoga – is/has been a very
personal and highly spiritual path of my life.
Sure, I was fortunate
enough be get an early exposure to this vibrant-magnificent cultural background
where Yoga is indeed an integral unit of life – Not limited to just physical
form (Hatha Yoga) –but with varied and expanding horizons of Devotion (Bhakti
Yoga), Knowledge (Gnana Yoga), Selfless Action (Karma Yoga), and Self
Discipline (Raja Yoga). There is 1hr Yoga practice between the four-corners of
my mat where I (my soul) come in alignment with the beautiful mind-body through
this incredible life force of Prana, and then rest of the day is my best effort
to flow in continuity of this sacred trilogy.
There was an inexplicable
awareness when I first dived deep into Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras amidst the
snow capped mountains during spring of 2015, am deeply moved ever since by the
very philosophy of yoga, where we follow 8 limbs to attain the ultimate
super-conscious state (Samadhi). It
comes as no great surprise as we heard these stories from great sages from time
immemorial. The challenges NOW with ever changing world, me being an Engineer
of this modern day, there is a constant push and pull between the logical mind
and esoteric aspects of the heart. Yoga has helped me immensely in dealing with
8-hr job high-tech job with stressful deadlines, yet open up to the
possibilities of what rest of the hours can offer in a day. It has been a heart
opening venture ensuring to sustain an open mind to all that what is and what
can be.
Coming to the physical
aspect of Yoga, sure - very famous “whys” are detoxification, rejuvenation,
flexibility. Well they are just for starters, furthermore, setting Intentions
(Sankalpa) before the practice has helped me through few hard phases and tough
situations off the mat. There has been a profound effect on my conscious and
subconscious mind, has helped me elevate in Love, compassion and Vulnerability.
I fondly remember a powerful class where a beautiful teacher guided us to set an intention to feel vulnerable. There was a
gentle Vinyasa flow with the movement of my body, and the flow of emotions I
encountered in my heart. Finally towards the surrendering series, as the Asanas
were designed to surrender so did everything else in me. Before I knew it,
tears were running down my cheeks, those breaths in pigeon pose made me realize
vulnerability isn’t a sign of weakness, but of strength, to allow your own self
to be vulnerable and completely accept and acknowledge it, was ahhh
exhilarating! I finished the class feeling much stronger yet feeling lighter.
This is just one instant of many such many little awakenings I have experienced
during yoga from the high Himalayan ranges to the beaches of sunny San Diego.
So, why do I do practice
Yoga?
It is bliss, it is passion. For someone like me who is “an all-in or none” kind of a person, Yoga is
balance, the very sanity required to witness and enjoy the abundant craziness
all around.
I practice yoga, to “Namaste” and feel it with the people within my sight and beyond.
I practice Yoga
to feel the calmness, reach stillness that the whole Universe (inside-outside) is made up of.
I practice Yoga to love, to connect, to unite my soul with the other soul
I practice Yoga to be,
just be.
--- Yogah Citta Vrtti
Nirodah, Yoga Sutra 1.2
~ykw
PS: I was asked to write this, I need to go forward, need to focus on anything but the thing I am focusing on NOW. So I wrote, so I write...
