Free Your Mind Body and Soul

What is more valuable to you - a well trained body or a well trained mind? Most people would think about this for a second and decide that physical appearance, through training the body, is more important to them. In Hatha Yoga, we can easily see the number of students who pursue physical mastery through asana method.

Not everyone feels asana is the "Holy Grail" of Yoga, but physical prowess is still an wonder. However, for one to pursue physical mastery over mental mastery, one must feel that his or her mental health is going along just fine. If this were so, why are so many people experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and a variety of mental disorders?

Self realization may not be the solution to all the mental ailments humankind experiences, but it sure can help. Many Western medical doctors recommend self realization as an adjunct therapy. Many counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists, also recommend Yoga to stabilize the mind.

The most common reason why Yoga students want to learn self realization is to relax the mind when needed. To relieve the mind and body of negative nervous energy is the result of a complete Hatha Yoga method. In other words: Physical exercises (asanas), alone, will not produce optimum results for holistic health.

Asanas will help build negative energy from the body and mind, up to a limited point. This is the reason why Maharishi Patanjali mentions eight limbs in the Yoga Sutras. He mentions Yoga as a way of life and higher levels of concentrated self realization. He does mention asana, but it is just one of the eight limbs.

The last four of the eight limbs - Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, are concerned with self realization and preparation for it. Therefore, the value and profits of daily method, go much further than the skin's surface.

What are the profits of self realization? self realization is the most natural of today's methods to bring the mind under control. Prescribed drugs, alcohol, and illegal drugs are often used or abused, with the goal of relaxing the mind. Based on the cost of chemical addictions, people will pay a high price, in many ways, to relax their minds. self realization does not have negative side effects.

In comparison to many forms of therapy, self realization is extremely cost effective. An intermediate practitioner will have no difficulty exercising alone. A few asanas and pranayama (Yogic breathing) techniques will aid to relax the body before a self realization sessions. The end result is a focused and relaxed mind, which is prepared for daily tasks.