What is your purpose or reason for doing yoga? ?

・As an exercise
・As a diet
・Improves mental and physical conditions
・Expects detox effects (hot yoga, etc.)
・Improve flexibility
・Resolve lack of exercise
・Improve stiff shoulders and lower back pain

I think each person has their own reasons and goals.

When I first started doing yoga, my goal was to improve my flexibility.
(Instead of “improvement,” it was “no improvement.”)

In my life where I have lived with a stiff body,
I want to experience a time when my body is soft, even if it's just once! That's what I thought.
In addition, even though I don't feel sick yet, I started doing yoga to relieve my lack of exercise in preparation for future physical problems.

At that time, I didn't know what yoga was.
I thought it was just a stretching exercise that moves the body.

Today's yoga in Japan is mainly introduced through Europe and America.
It goes without saying that the main impression is that of exercise.
Of course, yoga can have exercise and beauty effects, but
That's just part of it.

Shortly after I started yoga,
In addition to asanas (poses), you will also learn about philosophy, and will come to know the ``original purpose of yoga.''

“What is yoga?”
“What is the purpose of yoga?”
It can be explained in various words.

・Feeling the connection between body and mind
・Balancing your body and mind
・Knowing yourself
・Accepting yourself
・Controlling yourself
・Guiding people in a good direction

What is all this about yoga? is talking about.

This time, I would like to introduce the original purpose of yoga, which is talked about in the scriptures.

It's like this...
Practicing yoga after knowing this may lead to new discoveries.

■Deepening your understanding of the mind

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥२॥
yogaś-citta-vr̥tti-nirodhaḥ ॥2॥

"Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodhaha"

The Yoga Sutras are considered to be an important scripture in modern yoga.
This is a famous passage written in chapter 1, section 2.

He preaches that ``Yoga is the cessation of the reactions and turbulence of the mind.''
This is the original purpose of yoga.

When the mind reacts or becomes turbulent, it is a state in which one's consciousness is directed to external events, the mind is distracted, and idle thoughts arise.
When you have idle thoughts, jealousy and envy create greed, which becomes attachment and disturbs your mind.

Be able to maintain an unbiased and calm mind so that your mind does not run into greed or attachment.
Yoga aims to maintain this state of mind at all times.

However, it is natural for our hearts to be shaken by external events.
Rather than trying to force this down,
We will control this reaction so that it does not cause further disturbance.
This is what you should do.

It is important to be aware of your current state of mind and take control of it.

"Turn your outward consciousness inward and deepen your understanding of the mind."

To do this, we need to carefully observe our own hearts,
In order to capture the reactions of the mind at this moment, it is necessary to practice keeping your awareness in the ``now''.

"BE HERE NOW"

This phrase, often heard in yoga, means "to be conscious of the now."

MEMO : Isn't asana about movement?

स्थिरसुखमासनम् ॥४६॥
sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥

"Sthira Sukkan Asanan"

It is explained in the second chapter of the yoga sutra.

"Asanas (sitting postures) should be comfortable and stable."

In modern yoga, asanas (poses) refer to movements in various postures.
However, originally asana was called "zaho",
Originally, it referred to sitting and meditating.

Enter meditation in a comfortable, relaxed, and stable state.

Just sitting quietly is something that looks easy but is very difficult.
My back is starting to hurt,
My hip is starting to hurt,
My neck and shoulders...

In this case, the body becomes disordered due to pain, the consciousness turns outward, and the mind becomes disordered.
Comfortable and relaxed asanas (sitting postures) are not possible.

To sit comfortably for long periods of time, you need core strength and mental stability.
Aiming for the necessary core strength and mental stability,
I was doing physical training.

This “training” movement is
These are called asanas (poses) in modern times.