Does life feel like a carnival ride? How do we deal with the challenges of life? What do you consider happiness to be? Can Hatha Yoga Really Open the “Gateway to Happiness?” Let’s take a look at solutions to happiness, which you can find in the practice of Hatha Yoga.
Life is often compared to a carnival ride. The “vicissitudes” of life cause us both pleasure and pain. To some extent, we all need a certain amount of stress, but the practice of Hatha Yoga can help you gauge the amount of stress you’re under.
Visualize stress like water: You need some water to survive, but too much water can turn into a flood. Hatha Yoga controls stress, like a dam controls water. We want a steady stream, but not too much.
How do we deal with the challenges of life? Many people want to avoid challenges and stress, but in the right ‘dose’, it’s the challenges that keep us going. Start or end your day with yoga, and you will face the challenges of daily life with positive energy in your heart.
What do you consider happiness to be? Is it money, possessions, power, fame, retirement, or something else? All of these things stress our soul. The more we have, the more we want, the more we get bored, the more we worry.
Happiness cannot be bought. Look at the lives of the “rich and famous” if you need proof. Happiness is a choice, and hatha yoga can help anyone find the path to happiness.
Can Yoga Really Unlock Happiness? definitely! All forms of yoga teach meditation and pranayama. In Hatha Yoga, these concepts sometimes become secondary to yoga postures (asanas). However, these three concepts combined will help you feel more joyful—even during frustrating times.
Yoga can be practiced all day long. When you offer acts of kindness, you will be grateful to know that you helped someone. Kindness love is a universal yogic concept. This is just one of the many “off-the-rug” yoga methods.
You can practice loving-kindness by giving to others. Let someone in front of you while you’re in traffic or help someone in need. If you don’t have money, loving kindness doesn’t have to be materialistic.
Karma Yoga is selfless service; All you have to do is help or listen to someone who needs you.
Finally, every time you offer, help, or listen, you “come back.” This should not be the primary motivation to help others, but giving is always rewarded in one way or another. This is just one example of the law of cause and effect, which we also know as “karma.”
© Copyright 2006 – Paul Gerard / Aura Publications