Yoga provides each one of us with the opportunity to discover that pure self, that pure blissful living being.
Shiva and Shakti are one and the same.
The word Yoga has it roots in the Sanskrit language. Yoga means 'union'and is a realisation of the unity of all things which indicates that the purpose of yoga is to unite ourselves with our highest nature. Yoga is a state of union between two opposing forces or polarities, these two opposing forces are termed Shiva and Shakti. Shiva is the male principle and represents pure consciousness. Shakti is the female principle and represents vital energy. These two forces Shiva and Shakti may also be explained as the union of body and mind, the union of individual awareness and universal awareness. Yoga is the process of uniting opposing forces in the body and the mind in order to realize the spiritual essence of our own being. The idea that the great male gods all possess an inherent power through which they undertake creative activity is assumed in Hindu philosophical thought. When this power or Shakti, is personified, it is always in the form of a goddess. The cosmos is the eternal undiluted Supreme Self expressed expansively from the central core that is Shiva/Shakti, thus enabling the Supreme Self to know, see and live the Supreme Consciousness through its own self willed limitation.
The underlying purpose of all the different aspects of a yoga practice is to reunite the individual self with the Absolute or pure consciousness. To unite with this unchanging reality liberates the Spirit from all sense of separation, freeing it from the illusion of time space and causation. . The most important teaching of yoga has to do with our nature as human beings, it states that our "true nature" goes far beyond the limits of the human mind and personality, that instead, our human potential is infinite and transcends our individual minds and our sense of self.
It is solely due to our own limited understanding that we are not able to discriminate between the real and the unreal which prevents us from realizing our true nature, however re-integration can be gained through the practices of the various yoga disciplines. Until this re-integration takes place, we identify ourselves with limitations of the body, mind, and senses, often we can feel incomplete and limited or that something is missing or lacking in our lives, a void, something that cannot be filled, and we keep searching for that something, but can never seem to find it. We search for happiness, material wealth, love, name, fame and we constantly seek out change in our lives but we are all too often looking in the wrong places. This can lead to feelings of sorrow, insecurity, fear, and separation, because we have separated ourselves from the experience of the whole. True joy and happiness is our real nature, some say it is our birth right and it can only to be found within, not in the external world. Yoga teaches us how to connect to this inner peace, tranquility, and wisdom and is a practical science to help us become aware of a higher state of consciousness.
When your practice of yoga awakens your heart, it shows on your face and sounds in your words and it shines out in everything you do,
"Breathing in, I calm body & mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know that this is the only moment."
— Thich Nhat Hanh
The eternal pure and blissful Self abides in the heart, the chamber of light. Within the heart there is a beautiful flame the size of your thumb, it is full of knowledge, full of love. This divine flame gives lustre to your body, it gives power to your mind. This divine flame in the cave of your heart allows you to love others. The cave of the heart shines brilliantly: it blazes with a self born light. Without either sun or moon, the cave of the heart is lit by itself. The silence of the heart is luminous and completely peaceful. From this sacred place it flows into the rest of your life.
Swami Chidvilasananda
Asanas- (postures) we work on alignment and the general mechanics of the body, stretching, stengthening and toning muscles, joints and bones. Each posture also has a healing effect on the body internally, toning and stimulating organs, glands, nerves, promoting cellular renewal and oxygenating blood. This releases physical and mental tension resulting in increased energy flow leading to supreme consciousness.
Pranayama - (breath/energy-control) regenerates, revitalises and renews the body, calms and refreshes the mind resulting in increased mental clarity, concentration leading to a state of absolute pure "bliss" .
Meditation and Relaxation- the art of silencing the body and mind to connect to a source if stillness deep within your being ultimately tuning in to your heart and intuitive true divine nature