Those who have never practised yoga before, have an image of yogis as mellow, extra-flexible hippies. While you don’t need to be flexible to practice yoga, most people benefit from a more “mellow” state of mind after practising yoga.
In my opinion, this is the best benefit of practising yoga – the positive effect on your mind. Everyone can learn to cultivate a more peaceful mind and stop sweating the small stuff.
What Classifies as Doing Yoga?
Doing yoga poses – asanas – is actually only one of 8 “limbs,” or components, of yoga. This was one of the most life-changing facts I learned during my yoga teacher training.
Interestingly, “asana” in Sanskrit literally means “seat.” So the first yoga pose ever was simply taking a seat, the posture used to meditate.
Meditation plays a heavy role in the 8 limbs of yoga, as well as personal and external ethics. “Asteya,” which means non-stealing, is one that resonates with me most since it literally means not stealing from others but also not taking what doesn’t belong to you – for example, striving to do a yoga pose your body isn’t ready for yet.
The 8 limbs of yoga are basically guiding principles for living your life that anyone can follow.
Browse Front PageShare Your IdeaComments
Read Elephant’s Best Articles of the Week here.
Readers voted with your hearts, comments, views, and shares:
Click here to see which Writers & Issues Won.
