Namaste !
In 2014, United Nations approved this day to be observed as International Day of Yoga world wide. Here is a detailed post about Yog.
I've been fond of Yog and Meditation right from my childhood. I, humbly consider myself as a practitioner. Here's a gist of my understanding from the years' practice.
Yog which means connection, the basis of the word(धातु) is युज्. Connection can only be made when there are two entities. Here, body(साधन) and mind (मन) are two entities and Yog is what unites them. According to Patanjal Yog Sutra by the sage Patanjali, Yog is a way of meeting the supreme light and that is परमात्मा. Many practitioners claim the divine and celestial experiences from Yog and meditation.
Well, Yog has eight limbs which is known as अष्टाङ्ग. These are as further. यम, नियम, आसन, प्राणायाम, प्रत्याहार, धारणा, ध्यान, and समाधि. A diligent Yogi practices these extremely difficult limbs and strives for the ultimate salvation which is मोक्ष.
Too heavy to read and difficult to understand, isn't it? We, the human beings are bound to live a life which is followed by society at large. Or let's say it's tough to get liberty to perform this practice. What other miseries one can afford? Okay, let me try to simplify.
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Yog, just like mathematics, is a matter of practice,(अभ्यास). Our body needs cleansing, not only outwardly, but also inwardly. We take bath, brush teeth, clear throat, cut nails . . . These are outward cleansing. But body also needs internal cleansing. Ayurved suggests numerous methods of cleansing. रक्तशुद्धि (blood cleansing) and नाड़ी शुद्धि (vein cleansing), पंचकर्म (five steps for cleansing) are some of them. Of course, they do carry various benefits.
These steps are beneficial if performed before doing Yog, in the early morning. These processes are being conducted at various health centers and ayurvedic hospitals.
Our body is made up of seven dhaatu, धातु, the key elements that form a human body. They are as further. रस, (rasa) रक्त, (blood) मांस, (muscles) अस्थि (bones), मज्जा (neuron system), मेद (fats, proteins...), and वीर्य (adrenaline glands). All the seven elements should be in a fine balance in order to live a healthy life. Yog helps us doing so.
By performing asanas with perfect in breathing we can cultivate flexibility in actions and in thoughts. Relaxing asanas like शवासन, सुखासन, मकरासन, are for giving rest not only to body but to mind as well.
पद्मासन and ध्यान (meditation), is for stability in action and purification in thoughts. Our daily life is affected by many positive and negative thoughts of ours and of others. We perform our duties, responsibilities by our conscience. But this conscience needs to be focused at any cost. Meditation makes us vigilant about our own thoughts, language and action. If we meditate in the early morning, we become master of our own actions and decisions we make during the entire day. If we meditate at night, we come to know about our dealings with people, thoughts we have spread, feedbacks we have received. This helps us to improve ourselves from the flaws and helps us next day. The moment we start meditating, our ego deflates. We get the best chance to reflect upon our behavior. Whenever done, meditation purifies thoughts and actions.
Human relations are based on giving and taking. People we meet in our life are either givers or takers. According to given time and circumstances, we as an individual keep on shifting our positions from givers to takers and vice versa. This shifting is a never ending bond which is called as ऋणानुबंध. Human being is never free from this chain.
Here are some photos of me performing some Asanas while attending an online/virtual Yog day celebration 2021. It was organized by Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of English, MK Bhavnagar University.
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| The Banners at the English Department |
Here's a glimpse from an online session of Yog Day 2021. Thanks to Daya Vaghani for sharing the screenshots on Facebook.
Me performing Yog at home.
As described in Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, these are the virtues an individual can cultivate.
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ।।16.1।।
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् ।
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ।।16.2।।
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता ।
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ।।16.3।।
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सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामया,
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुख भागभवेत।
ऊँ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
Yes, this ocean of Yog is very vast and deep to dip but we can apply at least some portion and witness the most positive changes. After all, Yoga is the most ancient practice of well-being you know...!
Thanks a lot for staying tuned !
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