5 Steps to a Deeper and Connected Yoga Practice

Posted by Manmohan Singh on January 2nd, 2018

When you embark upon a yoga journey, an entirely new world awaits you.  You are introduced to positive thinking, new perceptions, feelings, more moments of peace, and an invigorating body which you haven’t felt before. Moreover, you make long-lasting friendships with kindred souls and you become more aware of your actions and lifestyle off the mat. These shifts occur at different times for each practitioner, depending on their dedication, engagement, and receptivity. Yoga practices aim to transform our inner world through refinement of physical, psychical, and emotional bodies and creates an inner brilliance (more satisfaction, love, and peace) which radiates outwards as beauty. One of the most rewarding aspects of consistent practice is the personal transfiguration. However, maintaining a steady growth in your yogic journey demands perseverance.

Here are five steps that can help you deepen your yoga practice:

1. Obliging by the Yamas and Niyamas: Yamas and Niyamas are considered as the moral backbones of the yoga. They define the ethical disciplines to be followed by the yoga practitioners. ‘Yamas’ is the first limb of Patanjali Yoga Sutras and ‘Niyamas’,  the second. Yamas focus on our behavior and how we conduct ourselves in life. Following these five principles help the practitioner to stick to the ideals in life. These positive traits transform a human nature into a divine nature and annihilate the negative cravings. Whereas ‘Niyama’ refers to self-discipline and observances in life. Niyamas help us achieve a balanced personality that prepares us for subsequent higher yogic practices. These yamas-niyamas make the mind still and create inner strength allowing practitioners to advance in their practices and to attain a state of samadhi.

The five Yamas and Niyamas are as follows:

1. ahimsa(non-violence),

2. Satya(truthfulness),

3. asteya(non-stealing),

4. brahmacharya (continence)

5. aparigraha (non-covetousness).

6. saucha(cleanliness),

7. santosha (contentment),

8. tapas (spiritual austerities),

9. svadhyaya (a study of sacred scriptures)

10. Isvara pranbidhara (surrender to god).

2. Consumption of Yogic Diet: To reap the most out of the yoga practice, it is imperative that practitioners pay attention to the food they consume. A yogic diet is a purely sattvic diet that largely influences our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The sattvic diet includes a mix of fresh fruits, green vegetables, milk, whole grains, and nuts. Vegetarianism forms the basis of sattvic diet and also by consuming vegetarian diet you follow the principle of ahimsa (non-killing of animals). The consumption of this food increases saliva in the body and nourishes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of a person. Eating vegetarian food has been linked with the promotion of inner calmness and harmony of the body and mind.

3. Meditate more often: Meditation is not only practiced with crossed legs, eyes closed and stillness on a yoga mat. The practice of meditation aims to cultivate a state of mindfulness through our words, actions, and thoughts. Regular practice of meditation rewards you with a clear and peaceful mind, fills your cells with more prana that results in joy and exuberance. On a spiritual level, in a meditative state, you are in space of serenity and this is what you emit in the environment, bringing more harmony to others. Meditation helps you discover more about yourself and it brings about a true personal transformation.

4. Following a Yoga Schedule: If you aspire to deep and connected yoga practice, make sure you follow your yoga routine. Yoga Sutras teach us that to become firmly established in our practice, we should practice daily, without interruptions with dedication and a full heart. The daily yoga practice helps us surpass our physical, mental, and emotional obstacles. It instills us with spiritual confidence and allows us to delve deeper into our practice.

5. Practice with Experienced yoga teachers: Highly attuned yoga teachers assist us in deepening our yoga practice. A yoga teacher with considerable experience has the power to refine the skills of the practitioner. They guide the students into subtle depths of pranayama, meditation, and yoga philosophy.

Learn and understand these five steps that shall guide your way to a deeper and connected yoga practice assisting you to lead a more compassionate, cognizant, and devoted life.