Spiritual Aspect of Yoga

So, you've got your mind in the right place, and you've been regularly practicing the physical side of Yoga; it's time to move forward and increase your spiritually. This part of Yoga is a little different though, there isn't anything specifically more to do other than what I've already discussed in my earlier posts. Your spiritually will come to you, and it will continue to grow the more effort you put into your practices.

Before I get too ahead of myself, what even is spirituality? A lot of people don't see the difference between spirituality and being religious or use the words interchangeably, but really these words have very different meanings."Spirituality is a broad concept with room for many perspectives. In general, it includes a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. As such, it is a universal human experience—something that touches us all. People may describe a spiritual experience as sacred or transcendent or simply a deep sense of aliveness and interconnectedness."(University of Minnesota)

Yoga is more than a simple stress reliever, or a way to get skinny. If you are truly looking for the whole Yoga experience it must become a lifestyle, whether you're on the mat or not Yoga will be a part of your everyday life. It is a way of thinking and being aware, knowing yourself and being in control of your own body. It's about seeing yourself in the universe, as well as the whole universe inside of you.

"Yoga is not about controlling your environment. Yoga is about keeping your peace of mind regardless of whether you experience ease and flow or stuckness and difficulty. Changing external situations is a losing battle, but gaining control of your own nervous system is something that you can truly master."(Mindbodygreen.com)

Works Cited:

Macgregor, Kino. "Why Yoga Is A Spiritual Practice." Mindbodygreen.com. November 11, 2013.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11386/why-yoga-is-a-spiritual-practice.html. Date accessed: October 12, 2016.

Center for Spirituality & Healing. "What is Spirituality?" Takingcharge.edu. http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/purpose/spirituality/what-spirituality. Date accessed: October 12, 2016.