Yoga – The Way Of Life
By Yoganaath Dileep

Yoga carves out a way of life for people.  The yogic way of life is characterized by peace and tranquility, harmony and health; much the opposite from the common Hong Kong lifestyle.  The present social philosophies are inadequate to solve the problems of man.  The yogic way of life offers a new understanding of an ideal society.  It provides a frame-work for an appropriate management of resources within the inner micro world.  It also provides the right way for the macro transactions in the society. 

YOGA IN YOUR LIFE

Most people are first drawn to yoga as a way to keep their body fit and supple.  Others come seeking relief for a specific complaint.  Whatever the reason, yoga can find the solution.  To understand what yoga is all about you need to experience it for yourself.  At first glance it seems like a series of strange postures which are meant to keep the body fit.  But with regular practice, you can become aware of subtle changes in your approach towards life.  As you move forward in the true way of yoga, you can experience a state of inner peace, which is your true nature. 

Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India thousands of years ago.  It is one of the oldest systems of personal development in the world.  Yogis had a very good understanding of man’s essential nature and of what he needs to live in harmony with the environment.  According to the yoga philosophy, our physical body is a vehicle while our mind is the driver.  Actions, emotions and intelligence are the forces which move the body (vehicle).  If any of these forces are not balanced, problems will appear.  Just as we expect our cars to depreciate in value with age, so we resign ourselves to the fact that our body will also function inefficiently after a certain age.  However, by keeping our body parts clean and well-lubricated, we can significantly reduce the catabolic process of cell deterioration. 

In more recent times, medical research has begun to pay attention to the effects of yoga.  Thorough studies have proven, for example, that relaxation in the corpse pose can relieve high blood pressure and constant practice of asana and breathing techniques can cure some psychosomatic ailments.   Laboratory tests have also shown that people who practice yoga regularly have an increased ability to consciously control autonomic or involuntary functions such as temperature and heartbeat. 

Even further research has proven that the practice of yoga significantly increases lung capacity and respiration, as well as reduced body weight and improving one’s ability to resist tension and stress.  The curative and preventive effects of yoga are widely accepted today while people follow yoga as their way of life.  
 
Yoganaath Dileep was born into a gifted family of Yogis and has been practicing all the classical forms of yoga for more than 20 years.  He has been teaching for 12 years and 3 of them have been in Hong Kong.  He’s presently teaching classes at Myoga and California Fitness.