Why Yoga is a Core Part of My Way of Living
By: Jim Buchanan
You may have seen a recent blog post where I tell the story of my journey from a life of being overweight, limited in my health and not very happy with my life. One of the key points of my story is that Yoga led me to meditation, vegetarianism and minimalism and to the healthiest, happiest and most energetic period of my life. All at over 60 years of age! Here is why yoga can be the catalyst for these dramatic improvements for anyone:
Yoga, which is basically a collection of body postures and movements coordinated with active breathing, brings one into the present moment. The peace associated with not thinking about the past and future, often with emotions like regret, anger and fear, is profound.
Yoga's strenuous exercise provides the health benefits of weight loss, improved vital signs, better digestion, more restful sleep and awesome muscle tone.
The spirituality associated with Yoga opens one up to their own spiritual nature and relationship with their Higher Power. This is not a religious experience, but a deep spiritual experience for sure. Below is a book by Deepak Chopra on the spiritual nature of Yoga.
Yogis are some of the kindest and most thoughtful people I have ever met. The peace and love that is often felt in a yoga class provides a level of energy that I take with me for at least the rest of the day. It is very invigorating!
Yoga is philosophically based upon the Yoga Sutras (see more in the book below) and creates a culture that tends to include a plant based diet and lifestyles that preserve the earth's resources and that find happiness in relationships and experiences rather than stuff. This influenced me to become a Vegetarian and a Minimalist.