The Five Principles of Yoga and Why You Should Learn Them By Heart

The Five Principles of Yoga and Why You Should Learn Them By Heart

Yoga is an ancient practice that has adapted use in healing and creating physical or mental wellness. Many are interested in learning yoga skills for its holistic benefits. But, before you embark on this journey of not just physical, but also spiritual, revitalization, you need to learn what principles yoga has that make all these benefits possible. A deeper understanding of the practice will educate you on how you can maximize those benefits that you can gain.

The Five Principles of Yoga

The five principles of yoga are one of the basic concepts taught upon your first session with the yoga practice. With a holistic perspective, it emphasizes the idea that yoga is a practiced lifestyle instead of a mere exercise routine.

The five basic principles of yoga are outlined below:

1. Asanas (Exercise)

2. Pranayama (Breathing)

3. Shavasana (Relaxation)

4. Sattvic (Diet)

5. Dhyana (Meditation)

Importance of Learning Them

If you were to examine the principles of yoga, you might think that it is such a complex practice. But in close examination, you will realize that these were the same health principles taught to you by your parents and your doctor. Indeed, these principles were designed based on the idea that a holistic health experience comprises not just your physical body, but also your mental and spiritual health.

It teaches you to discontinue any unhealthy practice and follow the natural path towards attaining longevity and improving health.

Proper Exercise (Yoga Asanas)

Ancient yoga philosophy sees the body as the temple of your spiritual body. Hence, better spiritual health always begins with the physical body and health. Various yoga postures or asanas are required to perform in yoga that will help in exercising and working out your body. Common yoga postures stretches and tones your muscles and ligaments to provide full motion.

As a result of performing these asanas, you will be able to enhance the flexibility of your joints and spine. There are several entailing benefits as a result of proper execution of these poses. Since yoga asanas can be quite demanding at times, beginners are often required to take beginner's course to allow their body to slowly adapt to these complex posture patterns.

Proper Breathing (Yoga Pranayama)

Breathing is vital in proper execution of the yoga postures above. With proper breathing, it means breathing that is rhythmical and utilize all of your lung muscles to absorb oxygen. Proper breathing required for yoga exercise is deep and slow, with a rhythmical pattern. Hence, you need to allocate regular length and duration whenever you inhale or exhale.

In order to achieve that, proper breathing control is necessary. In deeper perspective for yoga philosophy, the ability to control your breathing signify that you have full control over your mind. This also serves as your foundation towards achieving a more focused and calmer state of mind.

Proper Relaxation (Yoga Shavasana)

Before you can attain proper relaxation needed to start your practice of yoga, you need to be able to accomplish the first two principles: proper exercise and proper breathing. Ancient practice of yoga in India utilized powerful techniques that enable one to enter a deep relaxation state. In modern times, relaxation is vital in stress management situations since most people have to deal with a fast paced and highly stressful environment on a constant basis.

Yogic relaxation begins with the muscles and relieving it from any form of tension. You need to rest your entire body until it revitalizes your nervous system. Only then will you feel relaxed and attain inner sense of peace. When you feel relaxed physically and internally, it affects the way you deal with everyday activities and make you more effective in what it is you need to do.

Proper Diet (Sattvic)

Food and diet is another essential element in yoga practice, especially in its impact on the mind. To be specific, yoga emphasizes a lacto-vegetarian diet to further enhance your progress towards a holistic body-mind-spiritual rejuvenation. Termed as sattvic diet, it consists of vegetables, fruits grains, nuts, and dairy. This type of diet complements any type of yoga practice.

Furthermore, yoga beliefs state that meat products create distraction in your system, making you feel restless and dull. The process of digesting meat also consumes too much of your energy that yoga philosophy insists should be allocated only to your body's meditative and healing capacity. Therefore, people who practice yoga must discontinue including meat in their diet if you want to attain better results.

Meditation (Dhyana)

This is the final straw and the most crucial aspect of any yoga practice. This is basically where all other yoga principles hinge on. Positive thinking and outlook, as yoga experts would suggest, is a key factor in attaining better mental and physical well-being. This coincides with the yoga belief that mind controls everything in your body and as long as you have control over your mind, then you have control over your body and health.

To gain slow but gradual control of your mind, you need to regularly practice meditation. Hence, it is best to develop your own meditation routine wherein you spend a few minutes of your day meditating. By slowing down the activity of your brain, you are able to create a deeper state of meditation. Once you have achieved the four principles above, then it should be easier for you to gain a calmer sense of mind, healthier body and mind.

Benefits of These Yoga Principles

Since the five different principles of yoga target different aspects of your mental and physical health, there are several benefits listed as a result of practicing yoga. The best aspect about yoga is that practically anyone can do it, regardless of age, gender, body size, etc.

Listed below are just some of its beneficial results:

*Boost of energy and vitality;
*Makes you more effective in battling stress;
*Relief from muscle tension;
*Better posture;
*Increased muscle flexibility;
*Improve stamina and strength;
*Cure back issues;
*Cater to proper digestion and bowel movement;
*Better circulation of blood;
*Effective weight loss plan; and,
*Improved mental and spiritual health.

Should You Do Yoga Everyday?

Everyday Yoga

There are quite a few ways to answer the question, “Should I do yoga everyday?” The right approach for you depends on your perspective and definition of yoga.
It depends on what your body needs and what kind of yoga practice you're doing.
In the most expansive sense, the answer is “Yes.”

If you think of what yoga is as a whole, it defines how we live. It can guide how you interact with the world, and is a very good guide at that.

Part of yoga is being kind to people, living by ethical guidelines such as ahimsa, or non-violence, and satya, which describes truth and honesty.

When you consider this broad perspective of yoga as a way of living with the highest integrity, then it only makes sense that we practice it everyday.

However, most of the time people ask this question they’re referring to the physical asana practice. Should you go to your mat and practice everyday?

Well, it depends.

What kind of yoga do you do? Is it serving your body in the highest way? Is it aligned both physically and philosophically with your highest good?
Those are the questions you really need to know to decide if you should go to your mat everyday.

And some days it’s more appropriate to rest. When women are on their menstrual cycle, sometimes the body would like a day off. Sometimes when the body is fighting off an illness or injury the kindest thing to do is not to practice.
Then again, sometimes the best thing you can do is to get the breath and circulation moving to assist the body’s natural healing capabilities.

Small Doses of Yoga Delight

But what if you don’t feel you have the time for that kind of consistency?
If you aren’t able to make time for a yoga class, or your own personal practice, don’t despair. Take a few minutes here and there throughout your day.

Here’s an example:
Sit up tall in your chair and connect to your breath.
Let your breath initiate the movements described here.
With an inhale, lift your arms up over your head.
With an exhale, float your hands back down to your sides.
Repeat this a few times and notice the change in your breath and body.
See? Super simple, not at all time consuming, and yet this is a very powerful little exercise to increase circulation and wake up your breath. It can help you have more energy and focus as well.

Meditation is Yoga

Another aspect of yoga that is tremendously helpful to include in your everyday practice of being human is meditation.

Meditation connects you to who you truly are, helps you get clear about your purpose in life, and supports equanimity in this wonderfully crazy world.
Meditation doesn’t have to take a long time; even 5 minutes can make a huge difference! Just be patient with your mind and explore the stillness with wonder and curiosity. Check out the Demystifying Meditation link above if you’re interested in learning more, or if you want a couple of meditations to try.

Your Own Truth

Often we doubt ourselves, or don’t give our intuitions the attention they deserve. It’s great to look for outside sources of information, yet use these to inform your own choices, not to decide for you.
Trusting yourself is so important. No one else can tell you what is right for you in the deepest, truest sense. Sure, sometimes our choices lead to mistakes, but by forgiving, learning, and moving on, we get stronger.
When you’re unsure about your yoga practice, or anything else for that matter, go within and find your own truth.
Listen to your body. Listen to your own wisdom. Listen to your intelligence. Listen to your heart.