The Purpose of Yoga - Overcoming Hurdles to Blissful Aging

Let's look at three major hurdles to blissful aging, and the solutions, Yoga has to offer. These hurdles are stress, poor eating choices, and fundamentalism.

Technology, financial worries, work-related stress, and unstable relationships, are the most common distractions, but they serve to "chew up our time" and "choke the life" out of us.

Challenges are healthy, but overwhelming stress is worse for your health than a bad diet, because it will literally kill you much quicker. Yoga teaches us to see clearly, rather than stagger through life without a purpose.

Poor eating choices have never been more abundant and affordable, but there is a price in the form of obesity, lack of mobility, disease, and a much shorter life span. Yoga has been preaching a healthy diet for thousands of years. We do not have to make every dietary change abruptly, but a gradual change toward healthier choices is an educated decision.

Whether it is political, social, philosophical, or religious based, fundamentalism is based on intolerance. It is the root of genocide and holocausts of the past. Fundamentalism is a trap based upon polarizing people into an angry mob, with a motto of "us against them."

When we become part of the mob, we have been duped, and we lose our awareness. This is why fundamentalism has no place for Yoga. Self-realization would prevent you from joining an angry mob.

Blissful living requires complete awareness of all that is good in life. All of life's treasures are at our feet - if we take the time to look closely. We cannot live forever, but we can take the time to enjoy our family, friends, health, and the common sense, we have gathered, up to this point. This is why Yoga practice is such a healthy choice to make; for anyone of any age.

© Copyright 2007 - 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. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html