Why Practice Yoga?
Meditationtime Forum Post
Date: Posted 6 years before Feb 25, 2017
MiBeloved 6 years ago
The question as to why one should practice yoga may arise from time to time. Especially since one will not get transcendental experiences during each practice session, why should one practice? How should one go about pushing oneself to practice if one feels that one should practice but one is discouraged by the yoga itself.
Yoga may be a cause for discouragement because it does not always bring with it transcendental experiences or meaning full realizations.
So again why practice?
If one practices to please oneself or to live up to some ideal or aspiration one has, then how will one continue with the practice if the ideal or aspiration is hard to come by. In other words if one is not achieving from yoga what one set out to accomplish, why should one continue doing it, especially since other activities like social activities for instance, bring immediate benefit in real time in the real solid material world?
If one practices to please a teacher, then why should one continue practicing if the practice does not always yield results or if the results are hard to come by and are rarely experienced.
If out of a year of practice, one will only get about 7 or 8 meaningful realizations and transcendental experiences, then is it worth it?
Dean 6 years ago
Michael wrote: If out of a year of practice, one will only get about 7 or 8 meaningful realizations and transcendental experiences, then is it worth it?
Dean Response: Within the last year, I recalled less than 7 meaningful realizations and I feel that to be tremendous progress. Although, I have a very long way to go, I continue to be resilient in my yoga practice and patient with the results/outcome.
MiBeloved 6 years ago
It might be useful to others if you describe your motivation, regarding why you practice despite the sparse results.
In my own case for instance I might have about three motivations and any one of these is sufficient for me to continue with or without immediate results which would give a sort of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.
Those three reasons are:
1. Obligation to yoga gurus to comply with their request for practice.
2. Sense of purpose to myself, feeling that the practice reinforces myself.
3. Sense of duty to others who need the information which I offer and which is derived from practice.
Dean 6 years ago
Michael wrote: It might be useful to others if you describe your motivation, regarding why you practice despite the sparse results.
Dean's Response: Right now, I am keeping my motivations very simple and I am sure this will change as I mature spiritually.
1. To increase and regain the connection to my astral memory so I am conscious of my subtle activities in the astral domains.
So no matter how small or insignificant the realization is..... I note it in my meditation or dream log. And I consider it progress toward my goal, which gives me the necessary satisfaction and/or sense of accomplishment to continue on with my yoga practice.
neil 6 years ago
Why do I practice yoga? That's a good question. I didn't have to think too long and hard about it and here are my reasons:
1. To stay as limber as possible for sitting meditation.
2. To stay connected to the inner energy (shakti) within this body.
3. To release all thoughts and stay focused on body, breath, and spirit.
4. To cleanse this body and mind of toxins that have accumulated over the years.
5. To promote a greater feeling of well-being, peace and calmness.
6. To become one with the Divine.
