Enjoying yoga

Health is wealth. Peace of mind is happiness.
Yoga shows the way.

—Swami Vishnudevananda

Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning “yoking,” that is, yoking together mind and spirit. Many say the intention of yoga is to bring you closer to your Creator. It is a philosophical system with a matrix of different kinds of yoga and paths.

Hatha Yoga

I am going to focus on hatha yoga, which is the most popular here in the Western Hemisphere and relates more to the physical poses. Except when I am traveling, I do my yoga fairly regularly. I need it more then ever when I am traveling, but it is difficult to do on hotel room floors, particularly in Third World countries where the cleanliness standards leave much to be desired.

When I am at home, however, I have my morning yoga ritual. It’s not a big deal: four to eight sun salutations, where I keep some of the poses for up to one minute each time. I especially love the bow, cobra, downward-facing dog, and shoulder stand pose. The stretching and facing the earth is especially grounding and a delicious way to introduce yourself to a new day. Next, I do the plow and other poses, then 150 crunches, a headstand using a body lift so not to strain my neck, and then ten neck stretches. My ritual takes about an hour and really centers and calms me for the day.

I have been doing this for about five years. I know I need more if I ever find myself upset at someone in traffic. That is my barometer, my indicator that I need more yoga.

My mom and sister have been taking yoga classes for as long as I can remember. I like yoga because it is so calming, yet toning. I prefer to do my physical exercise alone. Men seem to enjoy sports and exercise that involve multi-participants, but I usually enjoy exercising in solitude.

Examples of serenity

One of the most impressive things to me about India, where Yoga originated, is the way many of the shopkeepers keep so calm, almost majestic, sitting in the lotus position in their three by three square feet of space. Amidst the terribly loud noises of horns blowing, people talking, bells ringing, the awful smells of cow dung, urine, diesel fuel, and the hundred and ten degree heat, there they sit, not moving, with completely celestial looks on their faces. Amazing.

Benefits of yoga

I personally have gained greatly from yoga. It really gets me calm and centered to start my day, but it was also the main force to get me to stop smoking. I knew it would be. I knew if I kept bringing these positive habits into my life, that my life would transform. Like most smokers, I had beaten myself up. I really wished I would stop, but cigarettes were like little friends I could always depend on to be there if I was hurt, angry, stressed, or bored. But when I started doing my yoga every day and began bringing so many other healthful things into my life, cigarettes just didn’t fit anymore.

As I stated in the Quitting Smoking section of this book, I decided to forgive myself for smoking, but continued to add more and more positive things to my life. I was already doing my fresh carrot juice daily, drinking “pond scum” (juice, wheat grass, alfalfa, etc.), eating only fruit for most lunches, working out, walking daily, steaming, meditating, and so on. And one day, I got up just like any other day. I did my yoga. As I was sitting there in the lotus position doing my neck stretches, it came to me: I don’t want to smoke anymore. Yes, that’s it, I’m done. Finished. And I never smoked another cigarette. I am not saying that it wasn’t difficult at times, but the choice had been made and I gave up immediate gratification for long-term health.

No matter who you are and what you want out of life, I highly recommend yoga. The benefits are too numerous to list here, but just to name a few: mental centering, physical toning and strengthening, stress relief, better posture, flatter stomach, tranquillity, and relaxation. It’s easy, free, you can do it at home in almost any space, and it’s simple.

Many of the poses enhance general health while nourishing all the vital organs, aiding them in their functions. Yoga is a great all-purpose energizer. It stretches muscles, stimulates circulation, strengthens the back, and supports the abdominal organs. It can eliminate constipation, refresh the mind, and it is a great weight regulator. No matter how perfect your skin is, no matter how many God-given gifts of good looks you were given, if your muscles are not toned and your vital organs aren’t getting fresh blood, you are going to feel sluggish and look like jelly.

Yoga classes

Most of the yoga classes I have attended were through the Shambhava School of Yoga in Eldorado Springs, Colorado. One was a meditation and yoga combination class offered through Colorado Free University in Denver. In addition, I attended some classes at the Shambhava School’s ashram. It has some spectacular teachers and rigorous classes, and I have to admit, after attending their classes I felt an extra bonus, in contrast to just doing my own little routine at home.

I highly suggest that you take a class to get you going and to make sure you are doing the poses correctly. Done improperly, the plow or shoulder stand can hurt your neck. There are many classes, retreats, videos, and books available on yoga. Look for them at your health food store. While there, check flyers and posters about nearby classes. You can also check out books and videos at your local library or locate them at your favorite bookstore.

Yoga camps and teachers’ training

Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize. Lead a simple life. Practice daily meditation and establish peace in your own heart. Then you will radiate peace to all who come in contact with you. Mysterious is this peace. If you enjoy this peace, you will be contributing peace to the whole world. Realize the peace that passeth all understanding and be free.

—Swami Sivananda

The Sivananda ashram has yoga teachers’ training courses and retreats all over the world. In New York is the Yoga Ranch; in California, the Yoga Farm; and there is one I have mentioned on Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas. They promote “A Yoga Vacation Experience: Proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, positive thinking and meditation.”