Be As The Yogi

In modern Western circles, the word "yoga" conjures up images of lithe, young babes stretching and bending in torturous positions.  And that type of yoga is the method by which training and strengthening of the body is accomplished.  That process is called Hatha Yoga.  But there are other yoga methods, and one in particular, seeks to strengthen the mind and enlighten the spirit, and that's Raja Yoga.  One who practices yoga may be called a yogi, 

Defining Yoga is tricky, as defining any spiritual discipline can be, but in short we can say it's a total discipline for seeking enlightenment. To reach a level of enlightenment, one must train body, mind and spirit.  There are no shortcuts to enlightenment; it's a lifelong commitment.  According to the Yoga Alliance website:

Yoga was developed up to 5,000 years ago in India as a comprehensive system for well being on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. While Yoga is often equated with Hatha Yoga, the well-known system of postures and breathing techniques, Hatha Yoga is only a part of the overall discipline of Yoga. Today, many millions of people use various aspects of Yoga to help raise their quality of life in such diverse areas as fitness, stress relief, wellness, vitality, mental clarity, healing, peace of mind and spiritual growth.

Yoga is a system, not of beliefs, but of techniques and guidance for enriched living. Among Yoga’s many source texts, the two best known are the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. Both explain the nature of—and obstacles to—higher awareness and fulfillment, as well as a variety of methods for attaining those goals. 

Because of this, you could say that yogis don’t really belong to a certain “religion."  Rather, they are beyond it. Many people of various religions, or even those that have their own private nonsectarian spiritual practices, could be considered a yogi.

The takeaway here is that there exists an ancient and proven system that anyone may employ to help rise above the petty, nasty and destructive influences that are perpetually injected into our lives.  You don't have to become Hindu to take advantage of this system.  It's personal system that doesn't intrude on or contradict any other belief system; in fact it can, and probably will, enhance one's existing spirituality.

So when trying to deal with - and comprehend - the insanity that passes for current events in today's world, engage in a little spirit lifting.  As the great philosopher and sage Wei Li once said, "You can't change the world, but you can change your reaction to it."  Happiness begins there.  If for you that's the physical Hatha, fine, do that.  If it's the more meditative and spiritual Raja, do that.  Or do both. 

But do take some time to cleanse yourself of the negativity that you'll find in daily life.  You might find that things become easier for you.  Or that people are not as cumbersome for you. Or that you're somehow a little happier.  The concept of controlling oneself is not new, and many, if not most, religious teach some of these concepts.

So save your sanity; be as the yogi.  It works.

Namaste!