The Study of Yoga Philosophy

BEYOND THE ASANA

The practice of yoga is a method of self-study with the end goal of  self-realization.   It must, therefore, be experienced.    Experiencing the study of yoga philosophy has brought me emotional healing, comfort, inspiration and has expanded my consciousness in ways I never would have imagined just by moving inwards and learning who I am.

The external world is always at work keeping our awareness out of ourselves, exciting our senses, a longing that no external experience can satisfy long term.   The study and practice of yoga beyond the asanas is the opposite of what is experienced in the external world, instant gratification to feed the empty hunger within becomes less important.     To feed the empty hunger within that reaches out into the external world, we need to become familiar with a different aspect of individual being, that has been waiting for nourishment and effort to be revealed.

THE STUDY OF YOGA PHILOSOPHY - WHAT TRULY MATTERS

Yoga philosophy helps us to invest and connect to what is truer inside of us.  I am not a scholar by any means, just a practitioner of yoga who has been transformed by philosophy of the ancient yogis who left us maps to go within and by the incredible teachers who shared their teachings.   There is nothing “we have to believe,” just an open mind without prejudice, beyond the intellect and listening to the resonance in the heart.

We can take the philosophy back into our practice, and go back to philosophy when needed. Slowly, both aspects feed each other and bring out the best in us. You don’t need to ‘believe’ anything, or to come to any concrete conclusions; just see if you can find the space within you for these ideas as possibilities.