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Many amongst us are able to see the futility of pursuing materialistic goals. Their experience says that there is no end to such a pursuit. The more they have, the more they want and they get trapped in a vicious cycle that is very difficult to break away from. Usually, people who have been successful in their lives, begin to look for meaning beyond the success they have achieved. They are interested in exploring the spiritual aspect of the universe and are hoping to receive enlightenment for their spiritual self. Yoga and meditation is the right course to take for individuals like these.

Yoga is an ancient philosophy which comes from the Indus Valley Civilization. It originated over 5000 years ago as a quest for spiritual enlightenment. The word ‘yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. Yoga essentially is a method of uniting the body, mind and spirit in the contemplation of the universal oneness. Yoga aims at achieving the body, mind, spirit equilibrium which is essential to allow contemplation of universal unity.

Given the various yoga styles in our day and age, and the number of different yoga poses in each style, you may be surprised to know that when Yoga originated there were no yoga poses at all. There was only the Padmasana, or the Lotus Pose, which the yogis held while they meditated for extended periods of time. But, as Yoga evolved, there came the need to address the issues of the body and the mind so as to ensure that they did not interfere with the spiritual aspect of yoga. Eventually, there came a belief that the body was but a vessel for the spirit and needs to be tended with equal care. It was the popularity of this belief along with the need to address the problems of the body and the mind that gave rise to yoga poses as we know them today. And, yoga is evolving as we speak, with new yoga poses being derived regularly from the ancient wisdom of the yogis.

If you are interested in using Yoga as a medium to embrace your spiritual side, you are on the right track. Yoga asanas ensure that the body remains fit and healthy and doesn’t become a source of distraction while meditating. Yoga asanas also ensure that the spine and the hip area as well as the legs are equipped to take the strain of extended periods of meditation, which become necessary as one explores the spiritual nature of the self.

One of the most important aspect of yoga that aids meditation is pranayama, or yoga breathing techniques. By focusing on one’s breath, one is able to rid the mind of unnecessary distractions like thoughts, emotions, worries, concerns, stress, anxiety, etc. When the body is still and the mind is blank, and the only awareness is that of one’s breath, true meditation becomes possible. When you meditate like this, it becomes possible for you to get in touch with the spirit of the universe.