Whenever we hear the word Yoga, we generally think of a set of people practicing complex poses. This is because we consider Yoga highly related to the physical aspects of practice. However, Yoga is not just related to asana; it is the state of the union of the individual consciousness with the Universal Consciousness. Therefore, when you start yoga practice from scratch, you start with a self-improvement and self-control plan.
What will the Practice Of Yoga include?
Traditionally, there are eight limbs of Yoga.
- Yama: These are the five basic tenets one should practice to be in sync with our environment. Following yamas means developing the right attitude to build and foster a healthy environment. They include non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy to preserve vigor, and non-coveting.
- Niyama: They are personal disciplinary practices. These cover keeping cleanliness and having complete faith in one’s deity or Master.
- Asana: The practice of certain poses.
- Pranayama: Balancing and managing one’s Prana or life force.
- Pratyahara: This is the practice of internalizing one’s Consciousness.
- Dharana: The practice of holding The mind practice of specific guidelines for visualization or focus on the body, within or outside body dimension.
- Dhyana: This is a state of mind’s high level of calmness and fruit of the regular practice of the six limbs that lead to the mind’s purification.
- Samadhi: This is the highest state of the human consciousness whereby the mind dissolves, and the union of the individual self with the Universal Self is observed.
About Yamas
These are special duties and tell us what our attitude towards others should be like. Non-violence is the first Yama. The amount of hurt we cause physically, mentally, and emotionally to other creatures will come back to us in one form or another. This is the principle of Karma. When we start with the practice of non-violence, this means that we foster happiness and peace in other beings. Killing other animals just for taste would do more harm than good. This is how the ecosystem is now getting dysfunctional day by day. When we cut a tree unmindfully, we are cutting off the Earth’s lungs. We destroyed the homes of the birds and the trees. It just spelled doom to these creatures. In many ways, we are harming Nature around us. We must not forget that biodiversity is significant for human survival and health.
Non-violence- An Important Yama To Practice For A Healthy Environment
This is the practice of non-violence or not hurting those around us is core to human survival. Similarly, non-stealing is not just related to stealing someone’s money; it’s also stealing someone’s right to live and the sanctity of Nature’s balance. When we are in union with Nature, we can live a healthy life realized to its fullest potential.
Environment and Our Spiritual And Worldly Practices
When we are in a healthy environment, our system gets wired to take us towards self-realization and keep our minds and body functioning at their best. This also means more energy levels and the ability to transform your energy toward realizing your aspirations and dreams, achieving success in the world and the spiritual realm as long as we do not go against the tenet of Nature and have aspirations and ambitions that help us. In the tradition of Bharat, worshiping trees, rivers, animals, and mountains is practiced. The sages and seers in India considered each aspect of Nature revered.
Whoever lives in India knows how revered a peepal tree (Ficus religiosa). It is regarded as a symbol of the Hindu Trinity. Scientifically, peepal trees are believed to produce oxygen round the clock. It can boost oxygen levels and soak carbon dioxide from the atmosphere incredibly.
There are many more trees having a unique place in Ayurveda texts. Here are a few examples.
- Amla Tree: This tree of Amla or Indian Gooseberry is considered one of the most precious trees in the Hindu belief system and Ayurveda. It is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu (who is considered the sustainer of living beings). Amla fruit is highly rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, tannins, phytonutrients, minerals, and more. This fruit is believed to pacify the ‘pitta’ element in Ayurveda. Amla is used in various Ayurveda formulations promoting eye health, wellness for the brain, and hair tonics. Moreover, eating amla can significantly boost immunity.
- Banyan Tree: The banyan tree is the same tree under which Gautam, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. On a full moon night day. This tree is considered highly sacred. Ayurveda acclaims it for its high therapeutic properties. Banyan tree bark and leaves both have phytonutrients and phytochemicals that can help relieve pain and inflammation. Also, fruit is helpful for stress reduction.
This is not all. Many trees, such as Arjuna, Amaltas, Babul, and so many more are so helpful in creating Ayurveda formulations.
All Life is Sacred and Precious
Ayurveda and Indian traditions always revered plants and trees as revered parts of Nature.
The practice of non-violence teaches us to respect all life and never cause physical, mental, or emotional pain or hurt to others unnecessarily.
Yoga and Our Oneness With Nature
In the Tradition of Yoga, innate oneness with Nature is reiterated. As our bodies are made from five elements (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, Earth), all parts of the visible physical world are made from the five elements.
Following sustainability practices considering Nature as sacred will help us to count more years in our lifespan and allow us to live healthy lives. In every way, Yoga promotes Sustainability and more self-dependence. Even if you want to enjoy the world’s pleasures, you do it aware-fully and make conscious choices that bring wellness and happiness to your and others’ body, mind, and soul.
Conscious living, Yoga, and Ayurveda are highly interconnected.
Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of the Sikhs has in Japji Sahib says,
“Pavan Guru, Paani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat||”
This means:
The Air is the Guru; Water is the Father; the Earth is the Mother.
- This needs to be realized in the truest sense. A seer explained that the one with true knowledge is as independent and free as the Air. No one can control or divide the Air. So, the Guru is sovereign and non-bound like Air.
- Water is the sustainer of life.
- The Earth forbears and gives us food for our nourishment.
Therefore, we need to revere them as they hold the most sacred places in our lives. Air needs to be kept pure, the soil needs to be well-nourished with organic content (4-5%), and water bodies must be free from seepage from industrial pollutants.
The Truly Bitter Reality
How far we are from these goals of balance in Nature is a matter of great concern today. The Earth’s average temperature is rising by 2°C, which is alarming. Will we give an imbalanced Earth and atmosphere to the next generation? Or are we going to awaken and realize the need to take responsibility to bring things into the right shape?
Working for the Right Solutions for A Balanced Ecosystem
It’s most important to start from the base of soil or Earth. If we correct our source of nourishment first, it will solve many ecological problems, scientists and experts connected to ground level realities say. That’s why taking to organic methods of agriculture needs to be promoted.
Farmers need to be taught and given incentives for following organic or natural farming methods. If we start by non-stealing from the Earth and the Waters, and stop robbing them of their natural purity and richness, then we will be, in reality, following the tenets of Yoga. Being kind and benevolent to all life and non-living Nature around us is a part of ahimsa that brings peace to each heart.
Yogic Lifestyle-How It Impacts Our Lives And Nature?
We need to realize our own with Nature and how we are connected to the Universal consciousness. We cannot forget Pranayama, the fourth limb of Yoga. Only in the fresh air can we practice Pranayama. That’s why there’s a deep interconnection between a yogic lifestyle and our environmental health.
Praying for the welfare of all is another way to prevent the subtle pollutants of hatred and indifference. We are all interconnected, and Yoga teaches us to pray and work for everyone’s welfare, and you will take care of it! This means we have a world full of peace, care, and love. That’s why we need to invest our time and energy in practicing Yoga and to spread awareness.
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Last Words-The Bottomline
The closing mantra of Ashtanga Yoga further emphasizes our innate longing to enjoy health, peace, and joy for all in the Universe. Thus, it goes.
“May the decision-makers on the earth practice the path of virtue
And protect the welfare of their generations.
May everyone be blessed,
May all beings at all places be happy and free
Om peace, peace, perfect peace.”
— Mangala Mantra
With this beautiful note, let’s resolve to bring practices of Conscious Living and Yoga into our lives scientifically to give the gift of a happy, healthy planet to the next generations.