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understanding yoga & karma

understanding yoga & karma

by david simon, m.d.
Self Development

happiness is life-supporting and life-sustaining.
The third spiritual law of yoga pertains to karma, or cause and effect. Every action we take generates a force of energy that returns to us. We reap what we sow.

When we choose actions that bring peace and happiness to others, karma tells us we will receive the same. Although many people misunderstand the law of karma to mean an imprisoning cycle of unending reactivity, it is actually the step to human freedom. Karma implies infinite choice-making. In every moment of our existence resides the realm of pure potentiality or unlimited choices. To understand karmic law is to be a conscious choice maker.

As applied to yoga, the law of karma is expressed as you consciously move through the postures, aware of how there is a reaction for every action you take. If your impatience forces you into a pose you are not ready for, your body and mind will respond with strain or resistance. By slowing down your movements, you become aware of your karmic choices and your body responds with gentle, graceful fluidity.

Put the law of karma into your yoga practice by committing to the following:

1. Be fully present in this moment and your next moment will not carry the consequences of the prior. The best way to prepare for the future is to be fully present right now.

2. As you move through your poses, ask yourself “Will this choice bring comfort?”

Listen to your heart for guidance. Your heart is the junction point between mind and body. If the choice feels comfortable, move with confidence. If it does not, then pause, and see if the consequences resonate with your inner voice.

Karma presents itself in your present by reminding you of your past. Choosing more consciously from the witnessing realm of quiet awareness, you make karma-free choices, aligning you with the universe and all the beauty it has to offer.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, body-centered restful awareness, was created by Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon to offer daily guidance in healing the body, mind and spirit.


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