The Inner Bliss

A few days ago, I read a beautiful article on Yoga, which stayed with me for a quite some time now. I read it again and again, and understood, that the true purpose of yoga is to discover that aspect of your being that can never be lost. As per our ancient text - " The Bhagavad Gita'' - "YOGA is journey of the self, through the self, to the self". For a creative person like me - I feel Yoga is the artwork of awareness on the canvas of body, mind and soul. I hear many of my friends say I work out - I do Yoga. But, as I have understood - Yoga is not work-out, it is work-in. It is the only exercise on this planet from which you gain energy instead of burning energy. Yoga is not about self-improvement; it's about self-acceptance. As quoted by "Maharishi Patanajali" - "Yoga takes you into the present moment, the only place where life exists".

For all of us, when we first hear the word Yoga, what likely comes to mind is colorful yoga mat and a pose. Most of the people think of yoga as a physical practice. But in reality, yoga is so much more than that. Yoga does not start or end on your mat, but is present in every breath you take, every moment you choose not to react, every truth you speak. Yoga involves a process of deep self-discovery. Actually, true power unfolds when you take its wisdom off the mat and into your everyday life, thoughts and actions. Things that don't look like yoga, but actually are yoga. 

(1) Showing up when no one is watching. That's Tapas. It's called devotion without applause.

(2) Not chasing what isn't meant for you. That's Aparigraha. It means, what is yours will meet you. Don't grasp. Don't attach.

(3) Saying No, when your body says no. That's Ahimsa. This refers, choosing not to harm/abandon yourself.

(4) Not reacting immediately. Letting the wave pass. That's Pratyahara. Which means, pausing before responding. 

(5) Telling the truth even when it would be easier not to. That's Satya. Living in alignment with what is actually real.

(6) Trusting what is unfolding without gripping the outcome. That's Ishvara Pranidhana. It means - Surrender is strength.

(7) Letting yourself be enough without adding anything. That is what called as Santosha. Contentment is not complacency. It is peace.

(8) Watching yourself with curiosity instead of judgment. That's Svadhyaya. It is Self-enquiry because awareness transforms. 

Yoga is not just about the posture; the true purpose of yoga is to discover that aspect of your being that can never be lost. Yoga is a mirror to look at ourselves from within. Because Yoga was never the pose. It is actually how you breathe, when things don't go your way. How you speak when emotions rise. How you return to yourself again and again. This is the real practice. Yoga does not just change the way we see things; it transforms the person who sees. 

Yoga is just not a theory; it is a journey to find inner joy and reveals its magnificence. Yoga is essentially a practice for your soul, working through the medium of your body. One sees world around beautiful, only when the world within you is peaceful. As quoted by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar ji - "Yoga is far more than a physical exercise, it is a holistic science of well-being that unites body, breath and mind to reduce suffering and unlock human potential to find the Inner bliss which is the ultimate happiness"....