YOGA IN A NUTSHELL – BEND THE BODY, MEND THE SENSES, END THE MIND

Many people around the world have taken up yoga practices  for various reasons. Stress management, anxiety, depression, hypertension, achieve flexibility, achieve calmness, gain strength, deal with thyroid issues is some of the many reasons people have taken up yoga practice. 

There is a common notion that yoga is a physical activity only. The eight limbs of yoga expounded by Sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras (Yoga aphorisms) are far more expansive than just being a physical culture. The Eight Limbs of Yoga compiled by Sage Patanjali can be summarised thus, as my teacher Sathya Sai Baba always says.  

“Bend the body, Mend the senses, and End the mind “ 

Bend the body to achieve physical health – by Asanas (or postures)

Mend the senses – by Yama(practice values and relaise that you are not the body), Niyama( practice purity and love of the Godhead), Prathyahara( sense control), Dharana(one-pointed concentration), Dhyana ( meditation) and then; 

End the mind (quelling the agitations of the Mind) – by Samadhi (equanimity)Why start with the body first? it is the vessel that contains our mind, breath, senses, and the Soul. This “boat” is the vessel that carries us across the raging ocean of life, if the boat springs a leak, we will not be able to journey to our destination safely. The “leak” may be chronic stress, hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, or other disorders. We will be constantly occupied with bailing the water from the boat rather than steering the boat towards our destination. Therefore, keep your boat in shipshape with proper thoughts, proper food, and proper deeds, and follow the 8 limbs of Yoga in your life irrespective of whether you are an atheist, or believer of any faith. This will lead to the quelling of the agitations of the mind or Samadhi in Yoga terminology.