Yoga Can Relate to Light

Of course I'm not going to leave out yoga when talking about light.

I'm not a yoga savant. I'm still learning so much about it. There's a lifetime, more than a lifetime possibly, of knowledge about the yoga asanas and meditation that has been practiced for centuries. But what I do know about yoga I can relate to light.

https://youtu.be/HR1qoRu0rzY

Asanas and Lines of Energy

The lines of energy that we refer to in yoga are more often used to help with teaching correct alignment in postures relating to anatomy and decompressing joins and releasing tightness. But they are more than that. They are the invisible channels in which energy flows. As you open up into Warrior 2, for example, you can imagine the flow of energy extending through your fingertips pointed in either direction.

I once came across a series of videos in which a yoga teacher used computer graphic overlays to demonstrate how the lines of energy work in yoga. It helped me see yoga with a new understanding. And I imagine, at times, an energy of light flowing through my body as I enter and hold different poses.

Another thought with this: Light is often connected to concepts of energy. In yoga, and in many martial arts, energy comes from the core. Yoga is full of core work, strengthening the energy in the center, strengthening and enhancing the light.

The Chakras

Chakras teaching is a major part of yoga teacher certification. I didn't have to go memorize all it for my 200-hour certification, but it is a bigger part of my 300-hour cert. And I believe it is because the understanding of chakras line up well with the yoga philosophy of the body, Kundalini energy, and major nerve plexuses and endocrine glands along the spine.

Chakras are energy vortexes (power of light), and each chakra is associated with specific phycica, mental, and emotional functions of the body. The two that remind me of light the most are the solar plexus chakra and the crown chakra.

Solar Plexus Chakra

The solare plexus chakra is associated with the element of fire (light) and is connected to our sense of self worth. While I could make a case for any of the chakras being related to light, this one is especially important to me because if our self worth is low, our energy and light are low. We truly feel dim. If we can raise our self worth, we feel more light in our lives.

Crown Chakra

The crown chakra can be hard to connect to, but when you do, it feels like light, at least for me. When I have connected to my crown chakra, I feel light emenating from my head, almost like a beam connected to heaven.

The crown chakra is a spiritual chakra, a source of connection to the Divine. It is very much tied to our connection to God, our understanding of self, and our spirituality. God is light, and when we connect to Him, we feel that light.

Quieting the Monkey Mind

If you're not familiar with the monkey mind, it's the mind that never shuts up. It's the train ride thought that gets derailed by the slightest divergences and shiny objects. It's those thoughts that won't leave you alone when you're trying to go to sleep at night.

It's difficult to shut off all the noise in our heads. But when we are able to, we find peace and harmony and light.

Yoga quiets the monkey mind through moving meditation. As we move in and out of poses and focus on our breath, our thoughts are better able to stay on one thing. There's something about connecting movment to meditation that helps the mind quiet of all the tasks and worries so we can find contentment in the moment.

That's light to me--comfort and peace.

What I Know about Yoga I Can Relate to Light

I'm not a yoga scholar, but I love it. It teaches me about many aspects of the universe and about my spirituality and self. I have felt closer to God during some yoga practices. I have felt greater peace from yoga when I have been in the throws of life trials.

Light makes me think of power, energy, peace, harmony, enlightenment, and more. And I truly believe yoga that has brought me all these things, has and does bring more light to my life.

What do you think? Do you practice yoga? Have you felt light in some aspect from your practice?