Let me ask you a simple question, How are you doing, really? Just pause for a few seconds, close your eyes, and bring your complete attention to yourself. And now, answer the question, how do you really feel? Are you calm, energized, and capable of taking on the challenges in life? Or are you feeling tired, dull, frustrated? If you often feel that way, yoga, a tried and true practice, might be the answer you seek. If you answered yes to feeling calm, energized, and able to handle life’s challenges, you probably already practice yoga!
A Way to Peace & Well-Being
We live in a rapidly changing world, which has become highly unpredictable. Post the pandemic, our planet is grappling with challenges like climate change, natural disasters, economic and political instability, water and food insecurity, wars, and military conflict. These and other challenges that we face have an adverse impact on our health. And as a result of all this turmoil, today, the world is also dealing with a sharp rise in aggression and depression.
These times bring to mind what the ancient Indian scriptures have cautioned mankind about the very nature of the world around us is change, so do not look for stability in this constantly fluctuating world. Instead, look within. Now more than ever, in these unprecedented times, we need to find peace and strength within ourselves. For many people, looking for an effective way to deal with life, yoga has become a powerful tool. Yoga is an ancient, proven, and very effective way of managing our minds and boosting our health.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, world-renowned yogi, chairman of the Indian Yoga Association, spiritual teacher, and meditation master, says, “Yoga is not just a weight-loss program; it is a science to make you feel lighter. You lose mental stuff of anger, jealousy, hatred, greed, etc.”
The yoga community has gone through an enormous change over time, especially in the last couple of decades. Yoga has gone from being an esoteric knowledge to a mainstream practice for fitness and wellbeing. Today it is regularly practiced by more than 36 million people in the US, and over 300 million people worldwide. Even the medical community has accepted yoga as a valid therapeutic practice for well-being.
Integrating yoga into our daily lives has numerous benefits, like reduced stress, feeling happier, increased focus, and elevated energy levels. At the same time, it is also a natural wind-down that helps to improve the quality of sleep, boosts our natural immunity, and the list goes on.
Gurudev often says this about yoga, “Like a flower bud, human life has the potential to blossom fully. Blossoming of human potential to fullness is yoga.”
Let’s take the example of gadgets – mobiles, laptops, tablets that we use on a daily basis. They connect us with the world and perform some truly amazing tasks, but if not charged and maintained properly, they simply stop working. Similarly, to be efficient and effective, we also need to have a daily maintenance routine that charges our batteries. Yoga is that essential path that not only helps us recharge but also fully blossom to realize our maximum potential.
The Essence of Yoga
Yoga is not merely about striking a pose, it is far more profound. Its benefits go beyond physical health and vitality. There is a higher spiritual dimension to yoga. A growing number of people are eager to experience this facet that lies beyond the physical aspects of yoga. The body, mind, and breath are interlinked, and harmony between them brings balance, and overall wellness in life and opens you to another dimension altogether. Yoga and meditation can help you achieve this harmony.
“Yoga is a study of life, study of your body, breath, mind,
intellect, memory, and ego; study of your inner faculties.”
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
From Stress to Bliss
The meaning of a blissful life may be different for everyone. But we can all agree that peace at all the levels of our being – mental, emotional, and physical is required for us to lead a blissful life, and yoga impacts all these levels.
Ultimately, everyone is looking for happiness. Our ancient seers have said that happiness is a journey rather than a destination. So instead of pursuing happiness, live your life as an expression of it. This is the wise way of attaining happiness. Yoga is an effective tool that enables us to have a healthier lifestyle and a happier approach to life.
A consistent yoga routine can become a blissful journey from effort to effortlessness, instability to stillness, and from worry and frustration to peace and serenity. Yoga is life-enhancing; make it a habit!
A Chance to be Part of the Historic Yoga for Blissful Life Event at the World Cultural Festival with Gurudev
The upcoming World Culture Festival is the fourth in a global series of epic artistic events. Over six million people have attended World Culture Festivals globally – but this will be the first time in the US! The Yoga for Blissful Life event is an awesome opportunity, an excellent starting point for people new to yoga, to experience it, and a great way for existing practitioners to elevate the experience with collective consciousness.
You’ll experience all aspects of an authentic practice in celebration of yoga. Whether you’re a yoga expert or just getting started, we invite you to roll out your mat and join the flow with thousands of others. Simply bring your mat and water bottle for this once-in-a-lifetime yoga event!
I’m going to be there, and I invite you to come and be a part of this iconic yoga event on the National Mall in DC!
When: Saturday, Sept 30, 2023, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Where: Lincoln Memorial
Includes:
- Breathwork
- Yoga practice
- Guided meditation with Gurudev
- Inspiration
This event is open to all, newbies and yogis alike. You can register for free here. Your registration gives you access to both the yoga event and the World Culture Festival.
Save your spot today for this once-in-a-lifetime yoga event! Remember to bring your yoga mat!
Want to be an on-stage yoga teacher? Yoga teachers and studios interested in partnering for the Yoga event, contact us here.
