Открытый Йога Журнал

One of the first manifestations of a human being in this world and one of the earliest ways of interaction with the Universe is a sound — the first cry of a baby, or child’s cooing, which translates into words and speech in the course of time.

Every day we see and use thousands of symbols: we greet each other, say “good bye”, blow kisses, pray, thank, bow, menace, adopt different poses reflecting our state of mind or physical condition. We often think nothing of the symbols, they seem so simple and common. Is it really so, and what is the role of symbols in our life?

Symbols are some kind of a language, that had been formed long before we started using words.

Symbols can represent an idea, or a conventional sign for a concept or an event. Any idea materialized in a physical form will become a symbol.

In ancient times symbols were used instead of words for communication between people of different nations and races. While words could sound differently and have different meanings, a symbol was understood by everyone in the same way. The appropriate use of symbols and the knowledge of traditions made it possible to bring together total strangers.

Открытый Йога Журнал

All of us have certain qualities that correspond with our perception of the world. Some like to work with their hands and make some useful things for other people. Others are capable of bringing a group of people together to achieve a common goal. They make excellent managers. Some of us are very good at reaching out to people and kindling people’s minds to explore new knowledge. Why are we so different?

Gunas

Each person is a combination of certain qualities and experience, that make up three groups of bodies of varying density. Therefore, we can exist in three states according to our tendencies: active, passive or the state of clarity. In Vedic philosophy these states correspond to three gunas: Radjas, Tamas and Sattva. These states are common to all people, however, in different combinations and proportions. The combination of Gunas determines the way people live, think and act.

Открытый Йога Журнал

Why do some people feel happy and others don’t? Some of us are strong, full of energy and luminous and others are passive, sluggish, dull and uninteresting. Why are some people successful in all matters and achieve their goals within a short time, and for others things fall apart, whatever they do? Why do some people succeed in building the desired world around themselves, and others only look on the dark side of things and don’t understand how to change the situation?

Prana — Life Force

According to Yoga teaching, each of us is Atma, or a Higher Self — a part of the highest and ultimate Absolute, that gave birth to this world. Our Higher Self manifests itself in this world by two abilities: the ability to perceive something and the ability to do and to change something. And the driving force behind these abilities is Prana or the potency of life. Prana is the ability to manifest ourselves in this world, it is what develops and transforms our existence.

How Does Prana Function Inside Our Body?

The effect of Prana in our body can be compared with the work of a good manager in a large company, who knows all the processes and can do the job of any expert. If there are many bright managers in a company, the company grows, develops and thrives. If there are few people like this, a company can fall apart even if the external conditions are good. So, in case of an enterprise, the relevant slogan is “The personnel is everything”, and in case of our body the relevant slogan is “Prana is everything”. Prana manages the flow of energy from food and water, it “repairs” our body, helps it to recover if it doesn’t function right. Prana gives us health, physical strength, it awakens our intellectual abilities and creativity.

Открытый Йога Журнал

As it often happens, the inner weakness destroys our plans, our health and our life. At times, the following thoughts come to our mind: «This is not for me, I cannot do it.» Where does this lack of self-confidence come from?

Our past failures raise doubts about our own abilities. We perceive any personal mistakes as a proof of our inadequacy, and become confident that next time nothing is going to work out.

Do you recall the endless attempts of little kids to stand on their two feet and walk? It is hard to imagine that they consider themselves losers every time when they fall. They see the goal and do not notice bumps and bruises.

«Great strength of body is the gift of nature.» Bias

If we falter once, we tend to choose the path of weakness rather than strength. Eventually we develop a habit to demonstrate weaknesses of our personality. On the contrary, by demonstrating our strong points, we take the path of power and develop a habit of living from the position of strength.

It is important to give room for error. «Everybody can make mistakes.» «Only those who do nothing make no mistakes.» A mistake is just a sign that we need to change direction, nothing more. If we remember this and fill our mind with the thoughts about our own power, it will help us to keep our mistakes in perspective.

«Nobody knows the extent of his strength until he has tried.» Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The important point: do not focus on weaknesses!

Открытый Йога Журнал

People start practicing yoga for different reasons. Some are looking for answers to spiritual questions; others are motivated by the desire to get into shape or to lose weight. When you choose yoga for losing weight, the following questions arise: «Is it possible to lose weight by practicing yoga? Is it necessary to become a vegetarian? How quickly can I get a result?» Let’s refer to some theory of Yoga in search of answers to these questions.

Yoga as a self-exploration system

To start with, let’s remind ourselves of what is yoga. Yoga is a self-exploration system based on the method of harmony and two main yoga principles — not doing any harm and using common sense.

In the process of self-exploration, it is possible to achieve any targets, including the acquisition of a beautiful slim body. But this is more like a «free application» to everything else, what yoga is able to reveal in a person. The main purpose of Yoga is reaching an unconditional freedom. Regular exercises bring our body into a natural, harmonious, ideal condition, making it free from any pressure and strain.

Открытый Йога Журнал

Human development nowadays is very fast. We have to perform a large variety of tasks, process a huge amount of information and try hard to succeed in different areas of our lives. It seems impossible to achieve all goals and objectives without forcing ourselves and without losing out on our health and happiness.

Each of us has a different level of health and wealth, some of us see the world in shades of grey whilst for others it looks colorful and bright. Some people achieve their goals easily and quickly and it could take years for the others to progress towards even modest objectives. What do all these differences depend on? Is it possible to become healthier and more successful?

According to Yoga, each of us has a Higher Self, which is absolutely free, Almighty and All-knowing. It manifests itself in cosmosphere as prana. The word «prana» translated from Sanskrit means «breath» or «life». It is also called «vitality». In Yoga it is recognized that prana pervades the Universe, although it is invisible to the eye. In this world we can see and perceive different objects, amend them, as well as change ourselves.

The ability to spot the objects, therefore «freezing» or forming them is called the principle of Consciousness, and the ability to transform and change these objects is the principle of Energy. The mixture of these two principles represents prana.