Celebrating Life With Yoga

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This volume addresses the wisdom of yoga with a practical approach. While many people Wink of yoga simply as a series of postures and breathing exercises, which is only a part of the vast yoga wisdom, it unveils yoga in its true sense. Yoga is not meant for doing, but for being; being in our real nature, being in complete communion with the Supreme Consciousness, i.e. Truth, Bliss and Consciousness.

Yoga helps one to discover oneself "who am I"? And the moment we know who we really are, every moment of life becomes a celebration. Yoga is thus the key to celebrating the life festival. Giving an introduction to the origin, history, traditions and different paths and aspects of yoga, the book authoritatively answers the basic questions: how can we apply yoga in our personal, family and social life?, what are the causes of suffering?, how can we live a stress-free and blissful life? and how can we attain the supreme goal of life, i.e. Self-realization, God-realization?

As the book is designed to conform to the course contents of yogic science of Indian universities, it will be of great use to students, academicians and yoga aspirants alike.

Ajay Bhardwaj, PhD, has four masters under his belt, two in English literature, one in Human Consciousness and Yogic Science, and the other in Journalism and Ma. Communication. "A Study of Yoga-related Coverage in Print Media" was his PhD thesis.

Dr Bhardwaj is Senior Asst Professor in the Dept of Communication at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV), Haridwar. He is also associated with the Dept of Yoga and Health, DSVV, where he is teaching post-graduate and other courses. He has co-authored a book Fillt714711 Consciousness and Yogic Science. His research papers and articles have been published in various journals of national and international repute, magazines and newspapers. He is a member in Editorial Board of many Yoga journals and has presented papers in numerous national and international seminars. He has qualified NET (Yoga) July 2018.

TODAY a large number of people suffer from various physical and mental ailments, and they are mainly lifestyle related. There is no permanent cure for many a disease like diabetes and blood pressure. One has to undergo lifelong treatment to negate the challenges of such diseases. Ages ago, our saints and sages knew the importance and method of remaining healthy to lead a fulfilling life. Their philosophy reflects well in the saying: sharir madhyam khalu dharma sadhanam, meaning that the body is the primary medium for performing our personal and social functions.

Emphasizing the importance of human life, Goswami Tulsidas in his Ramacharitnabas has aptly remarked: bade bhagya manush tan pava, implying that this human body has been achieved by great destiny and effort. In fact, nothing is so beautiful and fulfilling as the human life. Because an individual can achieve the supreme goal of his life, i.e. enlightenment, and devote himself to serve the entire humanity. It is equally true that only a cultured and civilized individual can be the basis of a cultured and civilized society, just as only an enlightened being can show light to others. The ancient saints, seers and yogis, although having no material comforts, would lead a blissful life. Why? Because they had a holistic lifestyle. They adopted yoga as a spiritual means, a lifestyle and as the philosophy of life.

Since yoga-centred spirituality paves the way for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of an individual, through such individuals the society gets transformed into a healthy, harmonious, prosperous, peaceful and blissful entity. All the great yogis had specified the importance of applying the yogic and spiritual lifestyle for the overall benefit of the society. They validated the adoration of life deity through spiritual lifestyle on the one hand and the social fellowship and unification through the experiment of the collective sadhana on the other. While the yogic lifestyle provides one the inner vision of peace and perfection in every action, it also provides him the spiritual vision to see the entire creation as the manifestation of his very soul. He begins to see all beings in himself and himself in all beings.

Today people are flocking to yoga for their well-being. Several researches on yoga have shown that it is successful in curing several physical and mental disorders. Today people have begun to realize, validate and propagate that yoga can mitigate many health issues what medicines and other health-care products can't. This has led to the widespread popularity of yoga even among the youth and celebrities as they want to gain and maintain their physical charm and fitness. No doubt, in recent years, people's interest in yoga has increased manifold but it is equally true that people aren't aware of the true form and purpose of yoga. Some asanas and kriyas, which they consider yoga, are merely physical exercises, and they reflect only the external aspect of yoga. It is this aspect of yoga that has gained wide acceptance, first in the Western countries and later in India.

A number of yoga clubs have mushroomed in India and abroad where the so-called yoga gurus are projecting yoga merely as a means of physical exercises rather than an extraordinary science of self-development and self-realization. Although yoga is helpful in gaining physical well-being, it is not the ultimate goal of yoga. Self-realization is its ultimate goal. Yoga in fact begins with the purity of mind. That is why Maharshi Patanjali recommends yama and niyama in his ashtanga-yoga. Thus there is the dire need to present the true form and purpose of yoga before the common masses; otherwise they would remain unaware of the reality about it and will remain confused. Media can play a major role in educating the masses on the ultimate purpose of yoga, in addition to its effects on physical well-being. We must practise yoga in our daily life for physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Thus by following the royal path of yoga we can celebrate every moment, leading a pious, prosperous, peaceful and blissful life.

Coming to the chapter scheme, Chapter 1 "Yoga: Meaning and Concept" details the meaning, definitions and concept of yoga as per the ancient and modern yogic texts and yogis. Chapter 2 "History and Traditions of Yoga" deliberates on the history and different traditions of yoga.

Chapter 3 "Different Paths of Yoga" discusses raja yoga, hatha-yoga, mantra yoga, laya-yoga, jnana-yoga, karma yoga and bhakti-yoga. Chapter 4 "Importance and Applications of Yoga" details the role and importance of yoga in our day-to-day life for physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Chapter 5 "Practice of Yoga" presents important suggestions and guidance in persuing the practice of yoga.

While writing this book, I have tried to consult and assimilate all the aspects of yoga and spirituality and therefore tried to illustrate various points with latest examples from newspapers, magazines, research journals and other sources. The views of yoga experts, scholars and journalists, who have been active in academic and professional fields, are incorporated to enrich the contents. I hope, it will help in propagating the message of yoga in its true form and spirit, and will create awareness among people about yoga for their well-being and enlightenment.

Written in a simple language, this book, I hope, would be useful to yoga aspirants, yoga teachers and common man alike. It is my belief that it would be a step forward in the society understanding yoga better.

Suggestions for improvement are welcome and such inputs, I am sure, will add value to the forthcoming editions.

**Contents and Sample Pages**

This volume addresses the wisdom of yoga with a practical approach. While many people Wink of yoga simply as a series of postures and breathing exercises, which is only a part of the vast yoga wisdom, it unveils yoga in its true sense. Yoga is not meant for doing, but for being; being in our real nature, being in complete communion with the Supreme Consciousness, i.e. Truth, Bliss and Consciousness.

Yoga helps one to discover oneself "who am I"? And the moment we know who we really are, every moment of life becomes a celebration. Yoga is thus the key to celebrating the life festival. Giving an introduction to the origin, history, traditions and different paths and aspects of yoga, the book authoritatively answers the basic questions: how can we apply yoga in our personal, family and social life?, what are the causes of suffering?, how can we live a stress-free and blissful life? and how can we attain the supreme goal of life, i.e. Self-realization, God-realization?

As the book is designed to conform to the course contents of yogic science of Indian universities, it will be of great use to students, academicians and yoga aspirants alike.

Ajay Bhardwaj, PhD, has four masters under his belt, two in English literature, one in Human Consciousness and Yogic Science, and the other in Journalism and Ma. Communication. "A Study of Yoga-related Coverage in Print Media" was his PhD thesis.

Dr Bhardwaj is Senior Asst Professor in the Dept of Communication at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV), Haridwar. He is also associated with the Dept of Yoga and Health, DSVV, where he is teaching post-graduate and other courses. He has co-authored a book Fillt714711 Consciousness and Yogic Science. His research papers and articles have been published in various journals of national and international repute, magazines and newspapers. He is a member in Editorial Board of many Yoga journals and has presented papers in numerous national and international seminars. He has qualified NET (Yoga) July 2018.

TODAY a large number of people suffer from various physical and mental ailments, and they are mainly lifestyle related. There is no permanent cure for many a disease like diabetes and blood pressure. One has to undergo lifelong treatment to negate the challenges of such diseases. Ages ago, our saints and sages knew the importance and method of remaining healthy to lead a fulfilling life. Their philosophy reflects well in the saying: sharir madhyam khalu dharma sadhanam, meaning that the body is the primary medium for performing our personal and social functions.

Emphasizing the importance of human life, Goswami Tulsidas in his Ramacharitnabas has aptly remarked: bade bhagya manush tan pava, implying that this human body has been achieved by great destiny and effort. In fact, nothing is so beautiful and fulfilling as the human life. Because an individual can achieve the supreme goal of his life, i.e. enlightenment, and devote himself to serve the entire humanity. It is equally true that only a cultured and civilized individual can be the basis of a cultured and civilized society, just as only an enlightened being can show light to others. The ancient saints, seers and yogis, although having no material comforts, would lead a blissful life. Why? Because they had a holistic lifestyle. They adopted yoga as a spiritual means, a lifestyle and as the philosophy of life.

Since yoga-centred spirituality paves the way for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of an individual, through such individuals the society gets transformed into a healthy, harmonious, prosperous, peaceful and blissful entity. All the great yogis had specified the importance of applying the yogic and spiritual lifestyle for the overall benefit of the society. They validated the adoration of life deity through spiritual lifestyle on the one hand and the social fellowship and unification through the experiment of the collective sadhana on the other. While the yogic lifestyle provides one the inner vision of peace and perfection in every action, it also provides him the spiritual vision to see the entire creation as the manifestation of his very soul. He begins to see all beings in himself and himself in all beings.

Today people are flocking to yoga for their well-being. Several researches on yoga have shown that it is successful in curing several physical and mental disorders. Today people have begun to realize, validate and propagate that yoga can mitigate many health issues what medicines and other health-care products can't. This has led to the widespread popularity of yoga even among the youth and celebrities as they want to gain and maintain their physical charm and fitness. No doubt, in recent years, people's interest in yoga has increased manifold but it is equally true that people aren't aware of the true form and purpose of yoga. Some asanas and kriyas, which they consider yoga, are merely physical exercises, and they reflect only the external aspect of yoga. It is this aspect of yoga that has gained wide acceptance, first in the Western countries and later in India.

A number of yoga clubs have mushroomed in India and abroad where the so-called yoga gurus are projecting yoga merely as a means of physical exercises rather than an extraordinary science of self-development and self-realization. Although yoga is helpful in gaining physical well-being, it is not the ultimate goal of yoga. Self-realization is its ultimate goal. Yoga in fact begins with the purity of mind. That is why Maharshi Patanjali recommends yama and niyama in his ashtanga-yoga. Thus there is the dire need to present the true form and purpose of yoga before the common masses; otherwise they would remain unaware of the reality about it and will remain confused. Media can play a major role in educating the masses on the ultimate purpose of yoga, in addition to its effects on physical well-being. We must practise yoga in our daily life for physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Thus by following the royal path of yoga we can celebrate every moment, leading a pious, prosperous, peaceful and blissful life.

Coming to the chapter scheme, Chapter 1 "Yoga: Meaning and Concept" details the meaning, definitions and concept of yoga as per the ancient and modern yogic texts and yogis. Chapter 2 "History and Traditions of Yoga" deliberates on the history and different traditions of yoga.

Chapter 3 "Different Paths of Yoga" discusses raja yoga, hatha-yoga, mantra yoga, laya-yoga, jnana-yoga, karma yoga and bhakti-yoga. Chapter 4 "Importance and Applications of Yoga" details the role and importance of yoga in our day-to-day life for physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Chapter 5 "Practice of Yoga" presents important suggestions and guidance in persuing the practice of yoga.

While writing this book, I have tried to consult and assimilate all the aspects of yoga and spirituality and therefore tried to illustrate various points with latest examples from newspapers, magazines, research journals and other sources. The views of yoga experts, scholars and journalists, who have been active in academic and professional fields, are incorporated to enrich the contents. I hope, it will help in propagating the message of yoga in its true form and spirit, and will create awareness among people about yoga for their well-being and enlightenment.

Written in a simple language, this book, I hope, would be useful to yoga aspirants, yoga teachers and common man alike. It is my belief that it would be a step forward in the society understanding yoga better.

Suggestions for improvement are welcome and such inputs, I am sure, will add value to the forthcoming editions.

**Contents and Sample Pages**