In the view of yoga, Spirit manifests the world through the interaction of the three gunas (forces of nature). As we study the characteristics of each guna, we can begin to see them at work in our lives and in the world. Yogis and mystics seek to go beyond the gunas and relate directly to Spirit. You can improve your life by understanding the gunas and learning how to work with them.

Yoga practices and meditation allow us to develop harmony of body, mind and spirit. Patanjali (The Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali by Swami Hariharananda) identified nine main hindrances to finding fulfillment in yoga. Explore techniques to overcome these blockages. Discover how to live in states of peace, harmony and ongoing love.

Yogis seek to relate to Spirit in a superconscious way, beyond the normal thinking mind. Most often we use the evaluating mind to perceive and interact with the world. The problem is that this level of awareness doesn’t know the soul, Spirit within. Developing spiritual sight and intuition brings new understandings about our own life and the meaning of life in general.

Spirit is our essence. Through yoga we can cultivate a conscious relationship with Spirit. Explore the attributes of the Divine which can express through you as you grow in spiritual awareness. Find how joy and fulfillment are multiplied through your connection with Spirit.

It is important to know that we are spiritual beings in order to function well and be truly content. We miss one of the main joys of life if we don’t know our true nature. Though spiritual practices, we come into contact with Spirit and begin to realize our essence.

Purification, gathering and liberation are three stages of growth in yoga. Purification is removal of anything which impedes progress. Gathering is centering or focusing on the project at hand. Purification and focus prepare for the next level — liberation. The soul, the Spirit within, becomes free to move and express.

A yogi who has spiritual realization actually lives in the harmony of body, mind and spirit. He/she becomes a partner with Spirit, knowing, loving and serving the Divine. Explore several contemplations which can open you to an interplay with the Lord. You can become a partner and enter into a wonderful relationship with Spirit.

In the view of yoga, we keep reincarnating until we learn to love. The great yogi Sri Ramakrishna taught that love and devotion are the keys to experiencing and relating to the Divine. The Bible contains hundreds of passages about love. Yoga practice helps to release the emotional chains which bind us and to discover the heart’s true feeling — unconditional love. Enjoy a meditative exercise to stimulate the love which is already within you.

Your nature is the key to finding your way to greater fulfillment. When the yoga you practice matches your nature, you go farther and faster on the path. Enjoy yoga practices which help you determine which yoga best fits your nature.

From a yogic viewpoint, life is a gift. We are immortal souls living in mortal bodies. A yogi seeks to sense and attune with the eternal soul. Leo Tolstoy wrote that we can choose to love life itself, no matter if it is happy or miserable. You can enjoy the gift of life and celebrate the eternal consciousness moving within you.