The close relationship between yoga and spirituality is impossible to overlook. Yet, not so many people understand how or why this relationship is so. The following insights will help ensure that you know why there is an intimate association between these two.
The Spiritual Foundation of Yoga
According to Gale Tobin on yoga’s history, yoga finds its roots in spirituality. This practice draws most of its elements from Indian spiritual tradition. In addition, there are various features borrowed from the Hindu religion. Most people associate some yogic practices with Buddhism and Jainism, which are spiritual religions. Generally, its goal is to improve your spiritual well-being.
The Intention of Yoga
Yoga is a practice whose roots date back to over 5000 years ago. It allows you to attain peace and balance, often with yourself and your surroundings. The attainment of peace and clarity of mind is a spiritual element of yoga. That means that unless there is a spiritual connection in practice, attaining the peace, mental clarity, and balance you envision will be impossible. Besides, the spiritual element of yoga emphasizes specific postures during the training.
Yoga and Religions
Besides having its roots in Hinduism and Indian spiritual practices, yoga borrows various elements from different religions. Here is a breakdown of what each of these religions brings to the table.
- Yoga and Hinduism: Hindu and yoga share a relatively close relationship. The Hindu scripture points out meditation as a way to understand ourselves better. It also says that this meditation helps us get closer to our true selves. In addition, Hindus rely on meditation to attain stillness and mental clarity. Both Hindus and yogists chant the mantra Om during meditation.
- Yoga and Buddhism: Both Buddhism and yoga focus on mindfulness. These two also share the belief in giving, loving, and karma. Remember, Buddhism significantly influenced the start of yoga.
- Yoga and Christianity: Most of yoga’s principles are from the Hindu religion. Yet, this practice is not denominational. That means Christians, too, can participate in this practice.
Yoga borrows various elements from multiple denominations. However, that does not mean that it is meant for people from a specific religion.
Yoga Poses and Their Spiritual Connotations
Various yoga poses have a spiritual meaning behind them. Here is a breakdown of what each pose implies.
- The Warrior Pose: The Warrior pose is a posture that allows you to gain the courage, strength, and bravery to face your inner demons. Ideally, it means that this posture gets you spiritually ready to face your inner self.
- The Tree Pose: You’ll take this pose whenever you want to improve your balance. It is characterized by a firm foot and a gently swaying body. This aspect shows that you must accept the spiritual element of your body’s firm yet transient position in this world.
- Corpse Pose: The Corpse pose highlights a relaxation posture. It requires that your body remains still so that your mind gets drawn inward, allowing you to focus on your inner self. Yet, it has a spiritual aspect too. It shows that you are willing to trade your goals and worldly pursuits for stillness and peace.
- Lotus Pose: This pose borrows a lot from the Lotus flower. The lotus flower represents spiritual development, divine birth, and creation. That means this pose has a spiritual meaning: complete detachment from obstacles to recreate yourself.
Each of these poses boasts a spiritual attachment. As such, you cannot dissociate yoga from spirituality. In conclusion, spirituality and yoga go hand in hand. However, that should not mean that yoga is denominational. Instead, it is a personalized approach to attaining maximum balance and tranquility.