My Quirky Interest

Jul 28, 2023

Who knows why, but as soon as I first came across Yoga in books that I found in my local library, I was hooked. It was so fun to think about human consciousness in this way. It’s completely different than what had been described to me in my high school psychology class which focused only on the Western approach.
 
What I love most is that it remains true. Many theories are put forth and later refuted, both in medicine and psychology. But not Yoga. The more sophisticated the measurement tools, the more able they are to “prove” the benefits of Yoga.
 
More and more people are discovering from direct experience that when the mind is quiet, a deeper connection is felt. This has profound ramifications for living well.
 
What truly fascinates me is how simple it is! You can do it right now. Set a timer for two minutes and watch your breath. When the mind wanders (and it will many, many times) notice and choose to bring it back to focus on the breath. That’s it! 
 
Anyone who commits to this on a daily or near daily basis will benefit. There’s a lot of research now showing it. With the combination of the mental health challenges people face and the ease and accessibility of this practice, there is a potential to revolutionize the human experience.
 
Human consciousness is incredibly complex and in some ways unknowable. Who were these people who sat and watched their breath and came to know the truth of existence firsthand thousands of years ago?
 
Well, I’ve been studying and teaching this for decades. The history of Yoga has always been one of the favorite topics in our teacher training programs. We have such interesting and enlightening conversations!
 
The roots of Yoga reach deep into ancient Indian history, dating back over 5,000 years. Yogis of long, long ago began experimenting with meditation, chanting, and postures as a path to spiritual enlightenment.

Yoga encompasses a rich philosophical tradition. Learning about the historical evolution of Yoga's concepts, such as the eight limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) or the Bhagavad Gita's teachings, allows us to experience a deeper understanding of yoga's purpose beyond exercise.
 
That’s what I love so much about exploring the history of Yoga.