Yoga through quotes

I’ll write about it another day but I’m currently on remote working, co-living trip, and every day starts or finishes with an hour yoga class. Yep, it sounds quite hippy, and it is, but in a good way. Our teacher talks about yoga in such a way that I was inspired to read up on the history a little. There’s a lot more to it than this article contains, but it’s a start.

Yoga, as a practice that has been around for many centuries and has spread through many cultures. It's more than just a physical exercise, regular or leading practitioners describe it as a way of life that encompasses the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some particularly well referenced quotes I found reading around the history:

1. "Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." – The Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad Gita is an ooold Indian text that contains a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and the god Krishna. It is said to be a trove of wisdom on yoga. It emphasises the self-realization and inner journey that yoga can facilitate. Yoga, in its essence, is a path to understanding one's true self.
2. "Yoga is the cessation of the movements of the mind. Then there is abiding in the Seer's own form." – PatanjaliPatanjali, also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, was a Hindu author, mystic and philosopher often cited as the father of modern yoga. He is said to have compiled the Yoga Sutras around 200 BCE. His teachings laid the foundation for the practice of meditation in yoga.
3. "Yoga is not just repetition of few postures – it is more about the exploration and discovery of the subtle energies of life." – Amit RayYoga is not limited to physical postures, or ‘asanas’. Amit Ray said that yoga is a profound exploration of inner energies. A holistic journey that encompasses breath, meditation, and a deeper understanding of life's subtleties.
4. "Yoga is the dance of every cell with the music of every breath that creates inner serenity and harmony." – Debasish MridhaYoga's effects are supposed to go far beyond the physical. It's a ‘dance of breath and body’ to bring inner peace and balance. This quote is a reminder that yoga is not just about flexibility but about finding serenity within.
5. "The attitude of gratitude is the highest yoga." – Yogi BhajanGratitude is a fundamental aspect of yoga philosophy. It strives to teach people to appreciate the present and cultivate a positive outlook. This attitude of gratitude is, in itself, a form of yoga.
6. "Yoga is the golden key that unlocks the door to peace, tranquility, and joy." – B.K.S. IyengarB.K.S. Iyengar, a renowned yoga teacher, emphasised the transformative power of yoga. It's a key that opens doors to inner peace, tranquility, and a joyful life. They would say that yoga, in its true essence, is a path to a fulfilling and contented existence.

I realise that this is less the history of yoga and more quotes about yoga. To wrap up, Yoga is a practice that has evolved over thousands of years and made its way into people’s lives all across the world. When I researched yoga more than anything else I found a lot of pieces that talk about the insights and inspirations people have found while working towards physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

I don’t know how much of the spiritual side I agree or get along with, or believe in, but it’s been really nice, and feels really good to do.