The Miracle of Self-Help Through Yoga Practice

Can Yoga make miracles happen? Can we make miracles happen? How often do you hear people hope or wish for a miracle? Many people perform wishful thinking, but how much action do they put into their wishes? Let's look deeper into our daily Yoga practice, in order to recognize miracles - whether they are big or small.

When we sit down to meditate, it does not have to be a chore. There are many forms of meditation. One of them is through mindful self-reflection. This is not a time for self-destructive criticism, but for objective observation. When we take the time to observe without judgment, it becomes easier to see, and appreciate, the many miracles that take place each day.

Observe the impact you have made on others. Have you made someone smile? Have you encouraged someone to pursue their hopes and dreams? Have you made success possible through transferring positive feelings toward them? These may seem like small matters, but karma is a chain of small matters, which are a result of initial action that "set the wheels of motion" into a concerted action.

Many people are not aware of how much good they do for others, until the results of initial action become apparent. Consider this: Yoga, in all of its forms, is designed to end or reduce suffering. This may not seem to be a miracle, but it makes a big difference to someone who is in extreme pain. If you have pain from sciatica, all you can think about is pain. Yet, if you visit a Yoga teacher, or therapist, and as a result your pain goes away, it would seem like a miracle.

Pain, suffering, or being handicapped can bring about emotions, such as anger, depression, helplessness, self- doubt, and many more negative feelings. Any physical problem can challenge your mental and emotional ability to cope with it. Worse yet, our spiritual health can become challenged. It is still common, for those who suffer, to blame God.

In the past, our ancestors sacrificed each other to various Gods in order to end suffering. At this point in time, we consider ourselves civilized, in comparison to our ancestors; but when suffering is overwhelming, it becomes easier to take rational thought and "toss it out the window."

We are still human, and unbalanced, emotional health can take a toll on anyone. Yoga is a system, which allows one to train the mind for those times, when we are challenged by life's struggles. This is the daily miracle of Yoga practice.

© Copyright 2009 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html