Yoga – An Ancient Philosophy In The Modern World
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 13, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 13
Written by: Rimi Sodhi, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
If you’re reading this, you probably just got off a deadline, or finished your task list for tomorrow, or got done with chores, or are just simply retiring from a hectic day. The modern lifestyle has made it difficult for us to even get a satisfactory breather, let alone connect with our inner selves. Our moods have become Instagram stories and vacations have become a photo dump.
All of this stress, if not put in check will cause us to crash, and will manifest in the form of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, migraines, eating disorders, backaches. The list is endless. If we are to remain sane, it is very important to disengage ourselves from this rat race and keep it from taking over our mind, body & most importantly the spirit.
Yoga is, by and large, a school of philosophy based on an extremely subtle science, the purpose of which is to bring harmony between mind and body. The word ‘Yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, which means ‘to join’ or ‘to unite. According to ancient Yogic scriptures, practicing Yoga unites individual consciousness with universal consciousness, thus striking a balance between the mind and the body. Anyone who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be in yoga and is termed as a yogi. While the modern-day commercial practice has portrayed it as something that is trending and recent; Yoga, actually is a cultural outcome of a profound philosophy dated back to 2700 B.C. In recent times, it has spread all over the world by the teachings of great personalities like Swami Shivananda, Shri Yogendra, Shri T.Krishnamacharya, Sri Aurobindo, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, Swami Rama, BKS. Iyengar to name a few.
The universality of Yoga comes from the fact that it does not attribute itself to any particular religion, belief system, or community. It has always been practiced as philosophy & lifestyle involving inner wellbeing. In fact, in the West, Yoga is popular more because of its spiritual benefits than physical benefits. Certain postures such as Padmasana, Balasana, Vrkshasna, etc. have a purpose that goes deeper than flexibility & muscle strength. These postures deepen the connection between mind, body and more importantly – the spirit. When we practice Yoga for spiritual awakening, we attain our highest potential, which allows us to enlighten & uplift others around us. This creates physical, mental, and spiritual harmony. Yoga, thus, is a philosophy that gives us a roadmap to follow, which guides us to a fulfilling, healthy, and peaceful life. It gives us not superficial, momentary happiness, but one that eventually takes the form of deep and long-lasting contentment.
It is indeed astonishing how one can easily draw parallels between the nature of modern-day challenges and the many types of Yoga. Different kinds of asanas serve different purposes. For instance, while Pranayama helps in developing awareness of one’s mind; Pratyahara is the conscious withdrawal of energy from the senses. Dharana aims at binding your consciousness to one particular object, place, or idea. Dhyana (Meditation) is reflecting within your mind and body. Yuktahara advocates appropriate food and other consumption habits for healthy living. The ultimate aim of all these practices is to enhance the overall quality of life, which is the need of the hour taken the pace and nature of today’s lifestyle.
Yoga, even as it began as a practice in ancient times; will in its simplest form help you confront your deepest dilemmas and personal issues that you had been subconsciously avoiding. At the speed we’re going in our current lifestyle, it is all too easy to push away not one or two but multiple issues that need to be addressed and put to rest, and Yoga helps you achieve just that. The best part about Yoga is all it requires is a mat and you – just sit on a mat, start breathing and take the journey within. Namaste!
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Rimi Sodhi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Born in 1988 a practitioner and teacher of Yoga, Rimi's initiation into the discipline of Yoga happened at the age of 25. An intense self-practice led her to further study the spiritual philosophy and deepen her Yoga practice. She is the founder of Shivoham Yoga School and people from all over the world enroll for her Yoga programs to learn the powerful techniques of this ancient philosophy to face the modern world problems.
