Yoga and Drug Free Living
Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.
Caution
Since Yogasanas and Pranayamas deal with the subtle life force, it is very much important to practise them as taught by the experienced teacher.
Don't try to innovate anything in them.
Book Yoga, Television Yoga and Internet Yoga are NOT the best ways to learn Yoga. These media are here just to create an interest in Yoga. That's all.
Guru's (Master's) guidance and grace is very much required to learn and succeed in Yoga.
A Guru,
- can correct the postures whenever required
- can check the breathing coordination while doing Yogasanas
- can monitor the daily progress
- can give variations of Asanas carefully in some cases
- can make the student experience divinity
Golden middle path in Yoga
Great Sages like Swami Sivanandha emphasizes on following the golden middle path while practising Yoga. He asks us not to torture the body in the name of Yoga.
Swami Sivanandha
Founder, Divine Life Society
Siddhartha Gautama(Buddha) plunged into extreme austerities in the beginning of his spiritual practices. For six years he didn't eat or sleep properly in search of liberation / enlightenment.
He did all the Sadhanas(practices). But he couldn't achieve his goal. He became so weak and tired. Finally he realized that this kind of abusing the body and mind wouldn't give him Mukthi.
After crossing the Niranjana river he relaxed under the Bodhi tree, took some food offered by the little girl Sujatha and slept well. The next day early morning he became enlightened !
The
Middle Way or Middle Path is the term that Buddha used to describe the
character of the path he discovered that leads to liberation.
Moderation is the key !
Here is an excellent book namely 'Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha' by Swami Satyananda Saraswati who is the founder of the internationally acclaimed 'Bihar School of Yoga' and a disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh.
'Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha' is recognised internationally as one of the most systematic Yoga manuals today. Since its first publication by the Bihar School of Yoga in 1969 it has been reprinted seventeen times and translated into many languages.
Now this book is used in ashrams, centres and Yoga schools in many countries as a standard textbook for teachers and students alike.
In India, get this book here.
In USA, get this book here.
Regularity in Yoga
- Be regular in your yoga practice and have patience.
Yoga cannot create magic overnight. - Come what may, complete your Yoga routine in the morning. All the other virtues like clear thinking, positive energy, etc follow naturally and the day is yours !
- You will be able to experience its subtler and deeper benefits only by practicing yoga regularly over a period of time.
- Yoga encompasses yoga postures, timeless ancient philosophy, pranayamas (breathing techniques) and meditations,
which take you beyond the body level, offering a deeper spiritual experience.
Enlightened Yogis and useful links
There were many enlightened masters in the past. We are very fortunate to have such enlightened masters living with us now who transcend all the boundaries like caste, creed, religion, nationality, etc and work tirelessly for the human wellbeing.
Below are the details of such phenomenal yogis, mystics and spiritual masters:
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Founder, The Art of Living Foundation
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
Founder, Isha Foundation
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