An old quote states, “the only thing constant in life is change.” If change is inevitable, why is it so difficult for us to accept? Could our perception, the stories we tell ourselves, actually determine our reactions? Could Yoga hold the keys we need to cope with change without succumbing to stress?
According to Yogic science, we live in two separate worlds: the physical and the spiritual. In the material world, our minds and bodies are the agents that we use to create change. For every action we take, there are also consequences that propel us toward or away from our sacred calling.
In the spiritual realm, we have innate knowledge of what we need to do to live authentic, purposeful lives. When our material and non-material worlds are in alignment, we are in a position to reach our highest potential – to answer the quintessential question of “Who am I?” When we are out-of-sync, we expose ourselves to discontent and disease.
“Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word for “union” and refers to the science of uniting human awareness with divine reality. Based on ancient Vedic scriptures, Yoga provides the tools we need to cope with the stress of change in our physical bodies and our environment.
Over the centuries, our stories have too often focused on material acquisitions and ego-dominated power struggles. In doing so, we have separated ourselves from our higher consciousness, from nature, and from each other. At the lowest level, we have created discord in our own lives; at the highest level, we have contributed to problems within our own culture and, ultimately, in our world. The price we have paid for this separation is fear, violence, war, materialism and pollution.
Imagine the difference we could make if our personal and global stories centered on love, gratitude, and compassion. Mahatma Gandhi summed up the essence of Yogic philosophy when he said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Just as we have created our tales of woe and despair, we can create new ones of peace and love. We can only change ourselves; in doing so, we can change the world.