After five thousand years of written documentation, Yoga may
well be the oldest self-improvement system that ever existed. We
don't know what Yoga knowledge may have been lost before man
started to record it. In the time period beyond 5,000 years a
fair amount of knowledge would have been passed on by word of
mouth, and as a result, some of it would be missing.
There are many different types of Yoga, but all of them
contribute to mankind's self-improvement. So, mankind has been a
work in progress for thousands of years and has organized
systems to constantly improve. Let's look at some Yogic
principles that are often recognized as "modern"
self-improvements.
Activate your mind and body together through daily Yoga
practice. The mind is more powerful than the sum of its thoughts
and it must be controlled. The mind that is allowed to wander
usually produces random and unproductive thought.
In varying degrees, most styles of Yoga tie the physical
postures, proper breathing, and focused concentration, together,
in one single session. This constant bonding of mind and body
creates inner harmony. This in turn, results in a productive
mind-set. This gives the average Yoga student an advantage in
productivity, organizational skills, creativity, and
self-preservation.
You can enhance positive energy with daily Yoga practice. After
each Yoga session, many students commonly mention how good they
feel. Yoga classes, or Yoga sessions, give the practitioner a
chance to discard negative feelings, worries, tension, and
stress. This gives the average Yoga student a simple way to
prioritize life's daily problems.
As a result of this, the Yoga student is able to set and
prioritize goals. Whether it is a serious goal or a whim, ideas
that produce seeds of thought become reality, especially when
followed by action. This formula will produce even more bursts
of positive energy within the mind, resulting in a productive
and positively charged mind-set.
Yoga students should be taught to identify, and when possible,
remove negative energy from within the mind. Negative thinking
is contagious and should be purged or quarantined, just like a
disease. Identify those people who have it. If possible help
them, but if not, avoid or isolate them. Negative thinking
produces nothing of value and contributes to self-destruction.
Therefore, you should learn to identify or leave negative
surroundings that will stifle your self-improvement efforts.
Finally, listen to your heart and this will tell you if a
decision is right or wrong. Some people call it a "gut feeling,"
but you can feel it, "in your heart," if a decision is morally
correct, and know, if you can live with your actions.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the author:
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in
RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He
teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a
Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a
Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
