Yoga: The Complete Yoga Poses

The ultimate goal of yoga is self-realization. You do not need to go to the mountaintop to find it or pay

a teacher to show you the way. There are currencies that we exchange with one another that are much

more valuable than money: kindness, selflessness, being one part of the greater good. Nor do you

need to look outside yourself. If you have an open mind, a sincere desire to learn and to apply that

knowledge on a daily basis, and the commitment to follow through on what you’ve begun, you can

achieve self-realization.

Yoga is, indeed, an excellent form of exercise that carries with it many immediate and long-term

physical benefits from improved flexibility to stronger muscles and bones. However, yoga is not just

about moving through the poses. Mindfulness plays an essential part in any dedicated yoga practice. If

performed properly, yoga quiets the mind of all distracting thoughts from the outside world

(chittavritti, meaning mind chatter), bringing you to a place of peace within. In turn, being mindful of

your thoughts will allow you to be mindful of, and truly connected with, your body, thus completing

the cycle of mental and physical health that will allow you to enjoy all the wonderful things that life

has to offer.