One of the biggest misconceptions about yoga is that it is just an exercise to tone and
shape the body. While this is partly true, yoga is way more than that. Yoga is a union of
the mind, body and spirit and a willful way to conduct the fluctuations of the mind. Sounds
complicated, right? Not really. You just need to understand the gist of the practice. It
combines stretching exercises, controlled breathing and relaxation. Yoga is a way to
essentially peel away the layers of the self to get to the core. What you may find at this core
may surprise you: it could be the uncovery of pure bliss and happiness or even switch to the
other extreme and lead to emptiness you did not even know was there. If you do in fact find
emptiness, you will be able to change things which will lead you to a happier life.
There are many branches of yoga, some more popular than others. The five main branches
of yoga are Hatha, Jnana, Karma, Raja and Bhakti yoga. If you have ever heard of yoga, it
was most likely Hatha yoga. This branch of yoga is a physical practice that relieves stress,
which is definitely helpful in the society we live in! This is in comparison to Jnana yoga
which focuses on philosophy, knowledge and intellectual needs and Karma yoga which is a
practice that is done with no expectation, such as voluntary work. We could surely use more
people who practice Jnana yoga! Raja yoga is more for meditation, the mind and mental
needs. Last, Bhakti yoga is the yoga of love and devotion and mantras or affirmations.
These mantras or affirmations work by attacking at our core beliefs. I once read a quote in
yoga literature that said “the effectiveness of an affirmation is based on the simple principle
that we create our own reality.” This really spoke to me; we can choose to be happy or sad,
positive or negative. It all depends on how we perceive the world. Just remember, action
leads to reaction. Only you can change yourself.
I am relatively new at the practice. I started practicing this semester because of a yoga
class I took this semester and I love every minute of it. Yoga teaches me how to lead a
more positive life which in turn helps me with the stress of school and exams. Whether it is
reciting positive affirmations or practicing ojai breath, yoga always has a way of making me
feel more positive. My class started studying mantras, which I considered to be extremely
helpful in my confidence and healing energy. My instructor had the class each create a
personal affirmation of which we were supposed to “scream at the top of the mountain top”
to release some of our tensions while channeling positive energy. Yelling “I am successful”
at the top of my lungs certainly felt great; I could instantly feel my energy levels rising. When
I am practicing, I am not comparing myself to anyone else. I realize that it is only based on
my limitations; no one is there to judge me. Yoga is for everyone: it does not matter if you
are overweight or not flexible. There are many modifications that can be made to make the
practice appropriate for any age class, gender, or body type.
After experiencing all of these positive effects, many people say that the reason they
practice yoga has changed since they initially started. In addition to the mood-enhancing
effects, yoga also leads to an array of health benefits. It can help to lower blood pressure
and cholesterol levels, increase circulation, and even help to improve diet. The mastery
of the mind can regulate body weight and metabolism. Yoga is even believed to cleanse
the fluid in joints and cleanse the organs. In addition to a more positive mood, the spiritual
effects of the practice include the practice of “untwisting the knots of the heart” by twisting
and turning the muscles around the ribcage which construct and give the feeling of an
expansive heart. No matter your limitations or your reason for practicing yoga, no matter
if it’s an activity or a lifestyle, the limits of the practice itself and its positive effects are limitless.
