Andrew Tanner Yoga is about the union of our individual consciousness with the higher or universal consciousness. It is our attachments to and identification with, the body and mind, that causes us to feel separated from this Universal Consciousness in the first place. We think the body and mind are the real “us.” And because the body and mind are controlled by desires, emotions, and thoughts which are in a state of constant flux and “stress”, we can never feel a true sense of peace.
Yoga techniques help make the body strong, flexible, supple, and blissful; as well as guiding the mind into a clear but relaxed state devoid of negative thoughts. In this way our physical desires, emotions, and thought patterns become more aligned with our higher self, helping us to make positive life choices that bring about happiness, instead of constant distraction, stress, an discontentment. With less distractions from the body and mind, the consciousness moves naturally towards the universal consciousness, its real true self...
Yoga is not just for flexible people. Yoga is not for people who want to run away from the world and live in a cave. Yoga is not a religion...
Yoga is for people who can’t touch their toes, (duh thats why you need it. I couldn’t touch my toes when I started either! Yoga is for people who want to find balance in a modern world which is anything but...
Yoga is to help a christian be a better christian, a jew a better jew, a muslim a better muslim, a hindu a better hindu...
My hope is that through the practice of yoga people can find physical health, emotional stability, and spiritual peace, so they can make the best decisions in their daily lives which reflect their highest ideals and greatest goals. May all people treat themselves, others, and life with kindness, patience, compassion, and joy!
Om Shanti, (Peace to all)
Andrew Tanner, Nov. 2010
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