For most people, yoga represents a reprieve from everyday life. While on your mat, you can put your troubles aside and work on your strength, balance, and mobility.
However, the Yogi ideals can make life off the mats that much more fulfilling, too. Yogi ideals can have a profound impact on the way you view life and help you develop self-love and awareness during your everyday life.
The Yogi ideals can help you make better decisions, too. Following the yogi way of life can reduce the harm you cause and help you move through the world with grace, mindfulness, and love.
Yoga, which originated in Northern India 5,000 years ago, is underpinned by 10 principles. These principles were formalized by Patanjali and can be broken into 5 external practices and 5 inner observations. These include:
These ideals guide the life of a Yogi and can help you live a more fulfilling, content lifestyle. This can be a powerful change if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Consider learning more about the 5 principles of the Yoga Sutra. Alternatively, you can increase your knowledge by watching documentaries that serve as a perfect introduction to the Yogi principles.
It’s worth pointing out that the principles of the Yogi can mean different things to different people. Discovering what Satya and Santosha mean to you can relieve your anxiety and help you lead a calmer, more fulfilling lifestyle.
The Yogi ideals aren’t just platitudes meant to be ignored when you leave the studio. Instead, you should use the Yogi principles to refine your decision-making and lead a more fulfilling, peaceful life.
The Yogi principles can be used when making everyday decisions, too. For example, if you’re buying a new car, you can use the principles of Ahimsa and Aparigraha to guide your decision-making and purchase a low-impact electric vehicle (EV). EVs are eco-friendly and typically feature animal-free interiors. As more of the grid switches to renewable sources, EVs will become increasingly carbon-efficient and, therefore, cause less harm to the environment.
You can also use Yogi principles to improve your relationships. This is particularly helpful if you’ve experienced conflict with coworkers, bosses, friends, or family. Principles like Brahmacharya transform the way you approach disagreements by helping you practice self-restraint. This is crucial when you’re experiencing heightened emotions due to a recent argument.
Yogi ideals can help you make the right choice in an emergency, too. It’s difficult to make positive, assertive decisions when fear has it in your grip. However, the Yogi ideals teach you to follow non-violence and pursue truthfulness in thought. This can be deeply empowering when your adrenaline is pumping and you need to make the right choice.
Many people practice yoga for its physical and mental benefits. Chief among these benefits is a sense of empowerment. When you're deep in a flow, you feel as though you could take on the world. You don’t have to leave these feelings behind at the studio door, either.
Instead, take your practice home with you by following empowering home workout plans. These plans will maximize your garage gym space and help you set aside time for yoga sessions that enhance your lifelong strength. Practicing at home gives you instant access to the health-boosting benefits of yoga and can be partnered with workouts that build your balance, tone your muscles, and get the whole family moving.
Creating your own home studio helps you achieve the principle of Tapas, too. Tapas teaches you to pursue your goals with tenacity and effort. By putting together a home studio, you’re making a clear intention to spend more time on the mat. This is deeply motivating and ensures you are always able to work up a sweat and hone your balance during busy weekdays.
A home studio doesn’t need to break the budget, either. You can pursue yoga in the comfort of your own home by upgrading your mat, installing some mood lighting, and switching on some Bluetooth surround sound speakers. This will allow you to practice around the clock and is sure to enhance your Brahmacharya (self-discipline and consistency) .
Yogis around the world are renowned for their calmness and self-assurance. You can unlock these ideals for yourself by embracing the principles of the Yogi in your day-to-day life. Start small, with simple gestures to improve your self-love. Increase your consistency and embrace the principle of Brahmacharya by creating your own studio space at home. This will help you remain calm under pressure and improve your relationships with your family and friends.
By Katie Brenneman