Introduction to Yoga: The Ancient Holistic Philosophy

The different methods of yoga are united by their common purpose and similar effects. The purpose of yoga is to free the individual from unnecessary confusion and redundant pain.
The effects are a calmer and more mindful spirit that accompanies a healthy body through a peaceful, joyful and grateful life.

Nevertheless, yoga is also a science, a science of life. It is important to note that yoga is not a hypothetical science. Every philosophical concept derives from direct yogic experience. Yoga has been practised for over 5,000 years, and it has recently found a place in our fast-paced, digitalized Western society. It helped me to stay sane during the COVID winters with the lockdowns that kept us in solitude and made us automatically shift more inward. I used this time to dive deep into my yoga practice and completely changed my outlook on life during this period of my life. This laid the foundation for my healing journey and this is one of the reasons why I am writing this introduction to yoga here for you today.

Every city has several yoga studios, and almost every fitness studio seems to have a yoga class. Be present, take deep breaths, observe your body, and simply be. Yes, beginning with yoga is simple; all you need is some time and space. A yoga or fitness mat is beneficial, but you can begin at any moment.
I don’t want to convince you to try yoga because you are undoubtedly already a little yogi by the time you start reflecting on yourself. In this post, I’d like to explore a little deeper into the yoga philosophy.

Yoga is much more to me than physical exercise. Yoga is like a warm hug for your soul, it’s about connecting with yourself, finding inner peace, and cultivating mindfulness and awareness that you can take with you off the mat into your everyday life. It’s all about broadening your horizons, pushing your limits, and discovering a sense of balance and harmony within yourself and the world around you.

It’s difficult to put into words, but when I think of yoga, words like wholeness, gratitude, compassion and most importantly, self-discovery come to my mind.

I’d like to utilize this chance to provide you with some additional information on the subject. This will be a brief introduction, followed by posts that will expose you to the most important fundamentals of the yoga philosophy and practical tips to get you started with your practice.

Every one of us can experience the positive effects of yoga in mind and body if we keep this in mind.

Everyone who has experienced the full potential of yoga understands that the journey is worthwhile. At the same time, our view on life (our path) shifts as we realize we don’t have to achieve any goals if we pay more loving attention to the present moment.

We are trapped if all we have in our minds is the desire to achieve a state that is not yet attainable in the present. This allows me to inquire about my area of influence. What can I change in the current moment?
I try not to be affected by things outside of my realm of influence. I prefer to concentrate on the opportunities available to me right now.

If we consider our lives to be a journey in which we learn about our mind and body, whether in daily life or through the practice of asanas, we must practice mindful, kindhearted and loving self-observation of our thoughts, feelings and body.

Anyone who begins yoga and practices consistently will soon notice the benefits. To name a few of the many beneficial effects on the mind and body, there is flexibility, strength, energy, improved posture, better respiration, and clarity of perception and expression.

I would like to end this introduction to yoga with a quote from the book “Yoga” by Godfrey Devereux, one of my first books on yoga, which inspired me a lot. The author has a deep understanding of yoga and its impact on our lives.

I hope I was able to provide you with some useful information to implement into your life.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about specific yoga subjects.
In the future, I intend to go into greater depth and share my understanding of this ancient philosophy. At the same time, I’d like to offer some helpful hints and instructions for establishing a regular practice. Join me on this journey I offer FREE online Yoga sessions every week. Sign up here!