The spiritual aspect of Yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

For the past 2 months I have done yoga atleast 6 times a week whether it be once a day or some days twice, and I am absolutely loving the physical aspect of it. However, I don’t think that I am getting that whole mind body connection. Well, I cannot say that is entirely true. Sleep has gotten better, digestion has gotten a bit better, and so has my anxiety, but I feel like there is something missing.

For the past Two years I have changed my life drastically, I have adapted to two entirely new lifestyles. I have become a minimalist, most of all of my belongings except for kitchen appliances fit into 1 duffle bag, and I am a raw foodist. I began yoga because I wanted to learn to listen to my body better, and learn more about my spiritual side.

I have read a lot that many begin with just the physical aspect of yoga and then move on. Is there any specific reading anyone can recommend?

I am not currently working with a teacher. I hope to as soon as my financial situation is a little better, I have been basically doing videos from yoga today and I also read:

Light on Yoga
Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness

-Sarah

#2

Hello Sarah,
I want to add more to your post later, but for now, I will share a link to an early post by Mukunda Stiles, who is also my teacher. He writes in detail about the aspects and paths of the spiritual practice of Yoga. He also recommends texts and books to support you in this path. Mukunda Stiles: Spirit’s Path

Hands together,
Nichole

#3

Hello Sarah,

It is wonderful, as a teacher, to hear that a student sees a bigger picture and can let go of the myriad of small stories we tote in order to be on and in the path of mindful, purposeful growth.

Of course a path of balance also mandates that we examine the transformation so that it remains in alignment or harmony with our reason for being here - our life’s mission or soul’s purpose. Growth will abound on the path of yoga but it can become a crafty trap of the ego. I share this not so much for you but for those who will read this sort of thing in perpetuity for the coming decades.

I would also like to again mention the concept that asana is not Yoga. Rather, asana is contained within Yoga. In some cases this is merely semantics. In other cases it is much more. While some will insist that all of yoga can be found in asana I do believe we can look around and see that simply is not so. There is so much more to Yoga than asana and it remains my hope that we’ll stop allowing ourselves to be programmed to believe that yoga is a set of exercises or a fitness regimen.

There are two readings I’d advocate. The first is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. There are many discourses or translations. The one I find most robust is The Science of Yoga by I.K. Taimni and Gems from Sri Aurobindo. There are other books, of course, but I find these to speak directly to your question.

gordon

#4

Namaste sarrvah!

I hope that the following book will be insightful and useful to you:

http://www.atmajyoti.org/pdfs/om_yoga_book.pdf

Hari OM!

Adityananda

#5

Hi Sarah,

That is so funny. I was exactly the same when i first tried Yoga in LA many years ago. I loved the physical side but that was it. In fact when i was practicing in LA it was so spiritually orientated that i gave up and stopped practicing.

Then i moved to the east coast, and had two kids. The east coast Yoga was definitely less spiritual that LA, but still had some good spiritual time. This time i loved the whole thing, the spirituality, the physical, everything. Now i really enjoy the spiritual side as well.

Bottom line is, it really depends on you and where you are at the moment. Just because you don’t like it now, does not mean you won’t like it in the future. Everything at the right time.

Namaste.

#6

For me, Eckhart Tolle; power of now, and a new earth, are very important in my life. He actually give’s you practices to live in spirit right now and always. For example, always keeping part of your sensation and awareness inside of your body. It’s like keeping the portal open to other realms of consciousness.