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The Purpose of Yoga is to Realize Complete Inner Freedom

Readers and Future Students, 8pm Monday 11 February 2008


Let's go over some yoga history basics.

Yoga or "Union" comes from the Indus Valley Civilization 2500 BC and it is a process of method of instilling or realizing complete inner freedom.

Yoga is associated orginally with Indo-European peoples who settled in the Indian Valley.

In the West, it seems we have become obsessed with the physical and mental exercises that we often associate with body perfectionism. (Let us know if you practice yoga for spiritual reasons or others)

Yoga spans every conceivable subject.

Swami is a word that entitles an individual practicing a tradition or lineage of Yoga that was handed down from Master to student very selectively. The Swami order is considered to be an ascetic order (monks).

"Do you want to be master of your destiny? Do not be discouraged in sorrows, difficulties, and tribulations that manifest in the daily battle of life. Draw courage and spiritual strength from within. There is a vast inexhaustable magazine of knowledge and power within. Learn the ways to tap the source, dive deep within. " ---Swami Sivananda

As the author of this blog, I have been practicing for 4.5 years since the age of eighteen, and I have personally observed all of these benefits of yoga:
Changes Hormone Levels,
Slower Breathe Rate,
Balance,
Strength,
Flexibility,
Regulates Blood Sugar,
Regulates Cholesterol,
Deepen Breathing,
Allows the parasympathetic nervous system to balance out an overactive sympathetic nervous system.

I, too, learned that sustained benefits of yoga practiced continuously arise as year of daily practice is proceeds along with life.

Sustained Benefits:
Friendliness,
Better Spousal Relations
Less Drug/Alcohol Abuse

I have a few friends who practice yoga and smoke. This is ok as you see below.
"Smoking will never get in the way of yoga. Although yoga might get in the way of smoking."

The point of such a quote is to remind us that the stronger, liberation based habits (such as Yoga) will always evolve to dominate lesser habits.

Practice Lightly upon the Earth,

Waking Within.org

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