Meditation & Mindfulness
Exploring Yoga Philosophy and Spirituality: The Path to Meditation and Mindfulness
By Dennis Bluthardt, Namaste Studios
Yoga is a lifestyle; it’s a part of life that calls practitioners back to the mat daily because it’s about the interconnectedness within the individual and collective consciousness.
Yogic philosophy calls for a lifestyle of self-awareness (realization) and ethical living. Works like Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras guide yogis on how to live in the world. The moksha lifestyle (liberation from suffering) is achieved by practicing physical postures (asana) and meditation.
Yoga is a moving meditation. Asanas are yoga poses meant to prepare the body for long periods of sitting. Even in “yoga cardio” (a faster yoga practice), yogis should try to meditate toward mastery of each pose.
Yoga aims to focus on one thing at a time so that individuals can develop inner peace and tranquility.
Work toward mindfulness so that you can move in your present space. Yoga is an art, so only when you’re present can you have the full effects of your yoga practice. Also, practice mindfulness off the mat so you get better at yoga. How you do anything is how you do everything. So, if you’re living a mindful yoga retreat experience, you could start an excellent habit for yourself right now.
You might already be used to this. Work to avoid judging what happens within yourself and in the present. Be careful; not running through your mind is different. They are things that pass! Yoga teachers sometimes call things that pass truths (subjective, even, or “no matter”). Truths of thoughts and feelings aren’t false, but the acceptance of them, if looked at correctly, all truths could be untrue.
Understanding Yoga Philosophy
The philosophy of yoga is an ancient Indian way of being and thinking. Its evolution has taken thousands of years. Two essential texts, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita give us a peek into this philosophy and its ideas on the self and the universe. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali sketches a spiritual path toward enlightenment with focused practice. The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation on one’s spiritual duty, which might be to learn what one can do to find inner peace.
There are two crucial concepts in yoga philosophy: Dharma and Karma. In the simplest terms, Dharma translates to one’s spiritual duty. Karma, meanwhile, is the idea of a cause-and-effect principle. Every action or belief put out in the world has an effect. Consequently, such behaviors lead to other experiences and tendencies (nature vs. nurture).
The Eight Limbs of Yoga is a crucial section of Patanjali’s sutras that deserves your attention. Each “limb” is a different step that brings a person closer to true enlightenment. You can take steps in whatever order ” feels” best. These eight steps cover how to live ethically, positively behave around others, maintain ideal physical health and strength, maintain quality breathing habits, respect and take care of external (and internal) belongings, focus on one idea or thought at a time, meditate and focus on the present moment, and be comfortable in one’s skin.
The Role of Spirituality in Yoga
Yoga is about more than the poses; the physical practice is just one component. It acts as a tool for creating a more profound connection in your life, leading to transformation, and inspiring a sense of connection to yourself, others, and the world around you.
Spirituality in your yoga practice, however you may define or interpret it, may be woven into your yoga through the context of the teachings of the tradition from which you learn (perhaps the scriptural or philosophical teachings), or it may be a theme or focus incorporated into your yoga (such as mindfulness, ahimsa, love, compassion, or fully experiencing and embracing the present moment).
Practicing asana (the physical postures) will help you become more flexible and develop more clarity. It is a chance to be more present in your space, creating a heightened awareness of your physical body externally and of the internal landscape.
Pranayama (breath control) is instrumental in helping to bring a state of relaxed alertness to the physical body, the body’s physical vehicles, and to develop your one-pointed focus and concentration in preparation for the more profound spiritual practices found in concentration, withdrawal of the senses from their objects, and meditation.
By practicing meditation, you’ll be better able to become more loving toward all beings (including yourself), fostering a sense of contentment and inspiring an attitude of letting go and detaching from your ego.
Meditation and Mindfulness: The Heart of Yoga Practice
Meditation is an integral part of yoga. It strengthens the mind-body connection that is (or isn’t in some cases) forged by the yoga practice. Alongside the physical asanas, which build strength and bring flexibility to the body, meditation is the first place many students work on the second two purposes of yoga, to quiet the mind and increase the clarity of the mind to the outside world. The mind-stuff (random thoughts about that Ben & Jerry’s pint in the freezer, will your performance review be evil, did you remember to put on make-up) slips away, and you move into a more direct relationship to your physical body and the energy body. Heightening awareness of why you are there in the class will likely transfer over to what you are doing in the physical asana part of the class, improving your asana performance.
Incorporating more mindfulness and meditation into your yoga class and your everyday activities may be the thing you need to make this your best year yet. Adding mindfulness to your yoga class may be as easy as breathing. Following the in and out breath and being more present in your current state of relaxation will help you decide when to venture forth with a more challenging yoga class decision. Are you old, tired, overweight, grumpy, hot/cold, or any of the other nine distractions that exist (Patanjali identifies ten; the first one is a disease, and the other nine are what “hide in the bushes and jump out at you just when you didn’t need something else to come along)? Use your voice sparingly. Hold onto whatever measure of peace and calmness you have obtained and transfer it to the people you live and work with.
Integrating Yoga Philosophy, Spirituality, and Mindfulness
Setting up holistic practices is about introducing elements of yoga philosophy and universal spirituality into your everyday routine.
Morning meditative practices, conscious breathwork, and setting your daily intention are simple rituals you can follow in your quest for holistic health. The more we consciously practice, the more time we spend cultivating an all-encompassing energy, a deeper connection with ourselves, our setting, and the universe.
Yoga and meditation can be practiced in group classes, interactive workshops, or community forums.
Sharing your experiences, challenges, and purpose following an intention-setting ritual is a powerful experience, making it easier to fine-tune your ability to establish personal growth objectives.
Listed can be powerful testimonials of the students who share their experiences from having spent time practicing holistically using the mindfulness-based practices of yoga and meditation.
From addiction or condition-based mental health issues to dealing with modern stress, the following is a list of some examples of these invaluable life skills-based learning resources.
Yoga philosophy is fundamental to teachings about spirituality, meditation, and mindfulness. In essence, yoga is a physical practice and a way of life! Traditional yoga philosophy encourages greater self-awareness and peace; movements scratch the surface.
Meditation is a conventionally shared mindfulness-based practice. Some people will also include a quick 5-minute meditation set before or after the physical practice. Meditation is a tool to increase the capacity to concentrate fully and build emotional and mental resilience. It is a practice that allows an environment to explore thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Does this sound familiar? It should be because yoga and mindfulness are fundamentally linked. The more each practice is paired, the better life’s physical, mental, and psychological conditions will be! Take your practice off the mat and deepen your relationship with every pose and every breath. Incorporate a mindfulness-based spirit into your practice and bring the flow of energy and the movements in and out of a posture to bring your practice into a living-meditative movement flow.
