The origin of yoga; sun salutations; yoga in the Bhagavad Gita

The Adiveda Weekly #5

Jun 19, 2022

Hari Aum Sadhakas!

It’s International Yoga Day this week! The word yoga, as commonly bandied about in the modern world, does not have the right connotation. What most people call ‘yoga’ refers only to the postures which are known as ‘asanas.’ However, ‘yoga’ is a many-flavoured word with infinite connotations. Let’s uncover what it really means.

The Hindu way of life

Bharat has given the amazing science of yoga to the world. The word ‘yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’ which means to unite. The universe runs on oiled wheels only because there is a great unity between all its diverse aspects. It’s only the human being who has broken away from the whole and thus we have a great capacity for suffering which is not found in any other creature. A ‘part’ always yearns for union with the whole and unless we find a method for this we will continue to struggle. The super science called ‘yoga’ is the solution given to us by our rishis as a method by which we can connect ourselves with that universal whole to which everything else in the cosmos is connected. When we break this connection, we lay ourselves open to all types of diseases and unhappiness. The Sanatana Dharma gives us many types of yogas which enables us to connect with that Supreme through various methods.

Reflection of the week

“Yoga is not a commodity for sale. Yoga is something for life.”

For your everyday practice

Practise 12 sets of sun salutations every morning.

If you really want your body to remain healthy till you die it is imperative that you keep to a strict regime of asanas that are done on a daily basis. One of the greatest of the yoga asanas is the twelve postures collectively known as “surya namaskara” or sun salutations.

For your health and well-being

Keep to a daily routine.

Our bodies tend to love routine - in and of itself, living with a routine that is grounding can be a way to self-regulate. Healthy routines provide an anchor for our bodies - a means by which to feel centred. To think back on how we evolved as humans, for thousands of years before the advent of electricity, we rose with the sun and retired for the day after sunset. We ate seasonally and lived in tune with nature's own rhythm. For the last few centuries, we have started moving away from such rhythmic and routine living, changing our circadian rhythms, eating whenever we feel like it, and paying less heed to nature's own cycles.

This is why our ancient Hindu traditions talk about doing certain practices at a certain time of day, in a certain ritual way. Starting the day with an Ayurvedic daily routine, following it up with a Surya Namaskar at sunrise, eating in accordance with the seasons, and winding down the day at dusk in sync with nature's own rhythm will, over time, start bringing calm and health to your nervous system. Routines take away uncertainty - and a routine that is punctuated with uplifting practices like yoga - provide your body with confidence and healing through an energising and centring activity. A daily routine, involving yoga, is a chance to improve your health through your lifestyle itself.

By Dr. Poorna Menon, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

From Vanamali Mataji’s desk

The Gita has eighteen chapters and each one of them is called a yoga which shows us that there are many ways by which we can unite with the Supreme. However, there are three great yogas which are most important in Hinduism and all of them are found in the Bhagavad Gita – Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. In today’s yoga special, Mataji explains the true essence of yoga.