Beginners Yoga video Virginia

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

How do we go about nurturing harmony in our Yoga classes? According to BKS Iyengar, who is one of the most well loved and highly respected Yoga teachers of our time, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit.” He goes on to state that, “ When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open up.” Ultimately, the goal of all Yoga practices is to know God intimately in the depths of one’s own being. Along the way, of course, you may experience a stronger, lighter, more flexible body and a trained mind.

These are very important benefits of a regular practice of Yoga postures, pranayama exercises and meditation techniques. In addition, the most profound state of good health also includes nurturing a state of harmony with oneself and one’s surroundings. In Sanskrit, this state of internal and external harmony and balance is known as: “niscintata.” Many of us often experience a sense of disharmony in our daily lives. This disharmony may be experienced when we do not spend our time wisely or feel that we are forced to work in an unsatisfying job or live in an unappealing atmosphere.

We may also feel that we do not have the time or energy to meditate regularly because of our school, work or family obligations. For instance, if you are a parent, you may feel that you are unable to meditate because your children are playing video games at such a high volume that you are unable to have a moment’s peace! Really, the list of reasons as to why we are not in balance internally and with our external environment can be endless. The trick to nurturing harmony is to be able to create and sustain a state that is free from mental distractions and promotes a sense of peaceful ease and balance with the world around us.

Of course, it may turn out to be the case that it would be better for your to begin the process of finding a more rewarding job or harmonious living situation, in order to truly nourish a state of health and well-being. If you are a certified Yoga teacher, you most likely pursued your certification in order to help others experience the same level of health and harmony that you experience from a regular, balanced practice of asanas, breathing exercises and meditation techniques. Teaching Yoga can be a wonderfully rewarding way of helping others to establish and nurture a state of niscintata, or harmonious balance, in their own lives.