Introduction:
Practice of Yoga helps in improving physical and mental health conditions. Yoga is deeply rooted in spirituality, as many yoga postures are associated with spirituality rather than muscle strengthening. Yoga helps in connecting the body, mind, and spirit. Spirituality means the development of “integration of inner being and with the supreme consciousness”. A good and regular yoga practice helps the person to achieve peace with inner self and the external environment.
What Are the Benefits of Spiritual Yoga?
Yoga helps in the development of a better physical, mental, and spiritual state of mind. The benefits of yoga are:
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Regular yoga practice helps in eliminating negativity and developing positive thoughts in life.
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Flexibility, strength, and muscle tone are enhanced.
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Yoga improves the immune system.
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It helps in healing chronic diseases and pain, reduces blood pressure, stress, and anxiety.
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Spiritual yoga is extremely effective in developing better mental health.
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Spiritual yoga improves physical and mental discipline which is very important for the regular practice of yoga.
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It helps with any emotional blockage.
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It fosters creativity.
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Yoga helps in calming down and inculcates compassion towards fellow beings.
What Are the Laws of Spiritual Yoga?
There are seven spiritual laws of yoga that help to combine body, mind, and spirit.
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The Law of Pure Potentiality: It helps to lead a constructive life. According to yoga, meditation provides a better way to understand one's potential and power. It also teaches self-acceptance.
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The Law of Offering and Accepting: It is a simple fact that we get what we give to others. It is our responsibility to maintain harmony by transferring the good that one receives to others. Love and gratitude should be shown to every living being on the earth.
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Law of Cause and Effect: Also known as the law of karma, this law says that a person’s karma is decided by what a person gets in life. Every reaction generated depends on the action.
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Law of Least Effort: When your actions are driven by love, the desires are most easily fulfilled with the least effort with no resistance. By this, a person can accomplish more by taking less effort.
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Law of Intention and Desire: Aspiration and intention become most important to human nature. A person should aspire while practicing social prosperity, which makes life much more meaningful.
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Law of Detachment: This law talks about the perils of getting attached to a moment. By detaching ourselves from such moments and embracing uncertainty, a person can achieve many new possibilities.
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Law of Dharma: Nothing in the world engages without any motive. One should find a purpose and utilize the talent to serve others to find happiness and self-satisfaction.
Is Yoga Connected to Religion?
Yoga on the whole is not a religion but is connected historically to Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Both Hindus and Jains chant the word “om” during meditation, which is the universal sound of harmony. It is not necessary to be religious to chat “om,” as the word has no religious connotation, and it just helps people to connect.
Yoga has a strong philosophy and regular practice of yoga unifies the body, the mind, and the spirit. Yoga is based on a philosophy of oneness of the inner spirit and the body and which helps in attaining peace. In present-day science, yoga has proven to heal various health issues from ranging from cancer, arthritis, to stress.
What Are the Best Styles of Yoga for Spiritual Awareness?
Five yoga practices are related to spiritual awareness.
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Hatha Yoga: Interpreted to mean “ha” or “sun,” and “ta” the “moon.” This yoga helps to connect the sun and moon in a person. It involves basic postures that relax the body and mind.
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Kundalini Yoga: It is one of the revisiting forms of yoga, which brings together the spiritual and the physical form to make a person feel one with the body. This involves breathing and chanting mantra similar to meditation and helps one to increase consciousness. It aims at releasing the power that is present at the base of the spine.
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Yin Yoga: It is known as Taoist yoga. It involves a few simple postures which are supposed to be held for some time. This yoga helps relax and find inner peace.
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Jivamukti Yoga: It is a form of yoga inspired by modern life and infused with vinyasa practice. This yoga involves meditation, chanting mantras, pranayama, music, and philosophy.
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Viniyoga: It was created by renowned guru Krishnamacharya. It is a holistic approach that addresses a person's body, mind, breath, behavior, emotions, and spirit.
Does Spirituality Give Inner Strength?
Spirituality is all about being happy and content with one’s situation, able to respond to a situation rather than react. The combination of yoga and meditation is a powerful tool that makes a weak body steady, calms a disturbed mind, and meditation can help mind relax. To manage a difficult situation spirituality provides with inner strength and helps to establish the self. This inner peace helps one evolve to be a better human and full of love, caring, and sharing.
What Awareness Is Being Cultivated?
The regular practice of yoga helps individuals experience and connect with one’s true self or energy. This awareness helps achieve higher consciousness approaching divinity. It is a driving force or motivation powering every thought and action. Yoga deepens one’s awareness of these powerful energy bringing about a spiritual enlightenment.
Conclusion:
Yoga practice regularly allows the person to achieve peace with themselves and the external world as well. In spiritual yoga attaining mental peace is the priority, and physical posture is given secondary importance. When we practice spiritual yoga the ultimate goal is to acknowledge the transformation and awakening of the true inner self, which means realizing our highest and hidden potential and expressing the fullness of our divine essence. Practicing yoga with this objective leads to the achievement of mental peace which eventually leads to a state of spiritual fulfillment.
