A preface to yoga

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Amrit Sadhana [1]

Recently I came across a Hungarian TV channel documenting spiritual centres of India for the schoolchildren in Hungary. They said there is a big craze for yoga in the young generation. They were happy about it, but I felt concerned.

Fascination for yoga is flourishing in countries where “inner search” was prohibited by the long communist regime. While yoga exercises do enable people to develop physical flexibility, strength and balance, but this is only one-eighth of the total gamut of yoga, which has eight limbs or stages. And each stage is higher and more refined than the previous one. Yogic postures presuppose two stages, which are the prerequisites before you start twisting your body. It is important that the mind is disciplined and regulated so that the body can become flexible. It is to be remembered that yoga is a science so it has to be followed meticulously, like a scientific formula.
Heed the Osho insight: “It is very significant why asanas, the physical exercises, are placed third and not the first. That’s because these are not merely physical exercises, they follow the first two stages — self-restrain and a regulated life. Every step comes out of the first, the preceding one: when you have regularity in life, only then can you attain a posture. Try this asana sometimes — just sitting silently. You cannot sit, the body tries to revolt. You start feeling pain here and there. Suddenly you feel a restlessness you had never felt.”
The first two stages are called Yam and Niyam, self-control and discipline, but this does not work for today’s stressed and disturbed human beings. So one more limb has to be added to ancient yoga, and that is of catharsis.
It is a common experience that yoga practitioners become hot-tempered because they repress primal instincts like anger and sexuality. Their whole energy is spent in controlling the body rather than freeing the mind. The modern mind is stuffed with complex tensions which didn’t exist in ancient times. Unless these are released, indulging in physical exercises creates new problems.
I feel cathartic meditations can be the ninth limb of yoga. It cleanses the emotions thoroughly and unburdens the mind. Once the mind is unburdened the body becomes supple and agile. Yogic asanas are the by-products of the purified mind –– a graceful expression of a silent and serene energy. When it flows in the body, it takes different shapes, which look like beautiful sculptures. The true meaning of yoga is union — union with oneself. This union gives birth to joy and sweet contentment in the being, but for that the ninth limb has to be added.

Amrit Sadhana is in the management team of Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune. She facilitates meditation workshops around the country and abroad.