Yoga is not about health.
Health is just a byproduct of yoga.
Many classics have mentioned that ‘yoga is just about transforming binary consciousness into pure consciousness’, which means integrating the body, consciousness, and true self into one.
Physical and mental balance, unity of knowledge and action.
So how can we achieve this balance and unity? So in the Eight Branches of Yoga, there are tools such as postures, breathing, meditation, and studying classics.
Based on individual characteristics and current situations, appropriate practice can be used to achieve goals.
But remember that these tools are not our destination.
Never forget why you started, and your mission can be accomplished.
We don’t need to constantly practice difficult movements like acrobats and gymnasts, nor do we need to sculpt our muscles like bodybuilders, nor do we need to train beyond our physical capacity like dancers to present a high level of stage visual beauty.
The so-called “difficult poses” that have been popular in recent years are only superficial phenomena that appear due to individual differences in the process of reaching our destination.
Practicing yoga doesn’t require competing with anyone, just staying with oneself.
Connect the body with breathing through mindfulness, and use postures to find connections with the heart.
Continuously adjust in awareness, allowing the tense muscles to relax and the weak muscles to activate and strengthen.
The purpose is to make the body and mind feel comfortable and stable, from calm to stillness, and from stillness to wisdom.
Many people nowadays practice yoga with excessive effort, which has the opposite effect.
I just never delve into the deep motivation behind my actions, the true intention behind my motivation.
Yoga certainly has effects such as weight loss, shaping, stretching muscles, and improving health, but we should also understand the essence of yoga.
That day, I communicated with my own teacher and said, “As we grow older, it is impossible for us to live by appearances.
A few years ago, when we were young, we were indeed lively and jumped over the pit.
You have also experienced it, and we know each other.” As a teacher, we should know more about self reflection.
Yoga practice is a philosophy of action and experiential wisdom.
Therefore, we need a teacher’s guidance and inheritance.
Injuries in asana practice are external, directly visible, and perceived as soon as possible, but they can affect the “mental consciousness” level, which is more difficult to detect and subtle.
Mindfulness is the guiding principle of yoga.
Perhaps we practice yoga every day, but if we never reach the level of mindfulness, there is a great sense of overuse.
Why not fully experience the beauty of yoga? Spring Booklist Companion.
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