Yoga is the Unionof the individual and the Supreme Consciousness, or a connection between the atma and the Paramatma (Supersoul), which everyone is capable of establishing. Yoga offers effective methods and practices for achieving this union, purifying our channel of communication with the Spirit. Although Yoga initially had belonged to Tantric tradition, it was later adopted by Vedic scholars. According to Yoga Upanishad, Yoga is the balancing of the sun and the moon, the vital and mental energies, and thereby awakening the kundalini force, which most of the people have in a dormant, “mummified”, state. These days, Yoga is deprived of its real meaning and is usually seen as a form of fitness or valued for its relaxation techniques, rather than for its original purpose of liberating consciousness!

There are eight limbs of Yoga. Yama (ethical behavior, external code of conduct), Niyama (inner discipline, inner code of conduct), Asana (steady posture), Pranayama (breathing technics, control or “extension” of breathing) – these four limbs pertain to the Outer or External Branch of Yoga and known as Hatha Yoga. The other four such as Pratyahara (sensory withdrawal, withdrawal of feelings inward), Dharana (one pointed concentration), Dhyana (meditation, meditative flow) and Samadhi (pure awareness) pertain to the Inner Branch and are known as Raja Yoga. Conscious practice of Hatha Yoga always leads to Raja Yoga!

Moderated eating and light foods are believed to be the most important in practicing Yogic ethics (Yama), because if we eat heavily, and overindulge in inappropriate food, our body becomes gross, choked up, and quite “earthy”, or “material”. Among Niama, the principle of nonviolence (ahimsa) is the most important, because our mind is easily disturbed by angry thoughts, words, actions that increase tamasic and rajasic gunas (qualities of nature), which goes against Yoga’s intent to cultivate sattva – peace and inner balance.

Yoga is a deeply transformative practice that changes our perception and, consequently, our life itself. Do not expect immediate results from your practice, for Yoga is a journey and a process! However, you will definitely see changes after a few months or years, and you will realise that it is Yoga that is doing you, and not you doing Yoga 😇. The body becomes lighter and no longer feels achy, heavy, or stiff. The mind calms and forgets to race between thoughts. Since we are all influenced by different gunas (qualities of nature), we are all inclined to different styles of Yoga.

Many things in our world are free and available to all by default. For example, we did not make any efforts to see and to perceive this world, but we cannot retain anything in this world at the same time. Since our identification with the EGO, and the Body subsequently, we perceive this Layer of reality (Manifest World) with bias, and too seriously.

I was fortunate enough to read the Yoga Upanishads, an amazing treasure trove of ancient knowledge. While they were compelled after Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the techniques (especially the meditative ones, vidyas) described in them are unique and pre-Patanjali! I will invoke them from time to time. I express my deepest gratitude to the commentators and translators of these priceless texts and humbly recommend them for reading to all Yoga disciples.