Holistic Yoga

For very many years I have known that I want to practice ‘yoga’, but I have never done it. As with meditation, I did not feel ready for it, or was put off by Western esoteric forms that ultimately understand both meditation and yoga as self-optimization.

Meditation and yoga are philosophical, spiritual and ultimately transcending practices for overcoming one’s own Self, opening oneself to a greater consciousness. All this seems so clear now. My “study” of Indian philosophy is slowly taking shape, and I notice that my days are becoming shorter and shorter. I am beginning to learn a little Sanskrit. Reading the Upanishads and Vedas in German and English in Sri Aurobindo’s translations shows me how deluded, ignorant and shortsighted all the theories of the West are. In Aurobindo’s ‘Notes on the Mahabharata’ (Sri Aurobindo Vol 1 ‘Early Cultural Writings’ p.277ff.), there is a wonderfully sharp attack on European culture that is absolutely worth reading. It is one of his early texts, and the disappointment and anger at European arrogance can be felt here entirely unfiltered. A lifestyle without meat and alcohol, getting up early and good, open conversations with wonderful people contribute to this.

Holistic yoga

In any case, yesterday I went to my first yoga class; it was not exactly a beginners’ course. But for weeks I had already been toying with attending the class. It is a holistic approach that brings in pranayamas/ pranavyayamas/ mantras/ mudras/ asanas/ meditation. I was surrounded by demigods of the art of yoga, yet everything was so light and carefree; no one seemed to have to exert themselves, although it was quite obvious that most had been practicing yoga for very many years. For me it was, of course, almost impossible to follow, but the combination of breathing exercise, mantras, concentration and meditation, body awareness, rhythm made me almost forget time and my own limits. I think I have never exerted myself so much without noticing it.

Perhaps this wonderful snake that greeted me at midday on the way to the canteen inspired me to practice yoga in this form. But really, all of life is yoga.