Enlightened Living

Mindfulness practice in everyday life.

Michael J. Formica, MS, MA, EdM is a psychotherapist, social scientist, and educator in Westport CT. He is an Initiate in the Shankya Yoga lineage. See full bio

June 6, 2008, Spirituality

Comments on "Yoga as a Vehicle of Transformation"

Yoga as a Vehicle of Transformation

By Michael J. Formica on June 6, 2008 in Enlightened Living

We are not physical beings having spiritual experiences; we are spiritual beings having physical experiences.

A true and complete Yoga practice can provide us with a system for living that supports the structure and consistency upon which human being thrive, and which, ultimately, is one of the keys to lasting emotional health. Read More

Excellent!

Submitted by Angela Chen Shui on June 6, 2008 - 8:55am.

Great article, Michael. I share your wariness of these 'new-fangled' yoga streams. I like the traditional and the focus on the spiritual development rather than the 'exercise'...

Thanks for your article.

Angela.

Thanks, Angela!

Submitted by Michael J. Formica on June 6, 2008 - 5:59pm.

Thanks for your feedback. Blessings, Michael

A Spiritual Practice

Submitted by Annie on June 6, 2008 - 1:48pm.

I too understand what you are saying about Yoga and the foundations of a spiritual practice being corrupted by the need for a more modern take on it. However, I do believe that at least these newer ways are still 'ways' and paths to a spiritual practice in a world where 'fast' food and 'fast' lives are the norm. Just like certain movies with loads of special effects are a way of asking certain questions or getting certain ideas out into the masses in more enjoyable ways. If we are to help people to grow we have to keep up with the times and present the information and practice in ways that engage them at thier level.

http://wordpress.com/balancenoosa/

Thanks!

Submitted by on June 6, 2008 - 7:12pm.

Michael: I love this paragraph of yours - "Frankly, that's ass-backwards because we are not physical beings having spiritual experiences, we are spiritual beings having physical experiences." Body is at the service of the Mind - not the other way around! Great job with this post!

Thanks, Pavel...

Submitted by Michael J. Formica on June 7, 2008 - 2:07am.

High praise, coming from you... Blessings, Michael

Miracles do happen in the EAST!

Submitted by Hari Om on June 7, 2008 - 5:49am.

I personally got cured of Bipolar after practising an active Meditation for 3-4 months when more than 5 years of "scientific" psychotherapy/medicine did n't!
Either people never believe that I had Bipolar in the first place or they think that I am under meds/therapy and pretending a cure.I know BOTH ARE WRONG!Have serious reintegration issues now and appeal to the readers of this blog to help if they can.
I am pleased to know that a "scientific" American has such insight on Yoga.I have read two books connected to Swami Rama,one by he himself and the other by his disciple,Justin O'Brien (Living with the Himalayan Masters and Walking with a Himalayan Master) both MASTERPIECES.After reading this ,I am able to relate to the two books though their approach is slightly different and did not stress much on the eight-fold path.Michael---good reading.Thanks.
Love,
Hari Om
(Name Changed)

The Royal Path

Submitted by Michael J. Formica on June 12, 2008 - 3:26am.

Hari: Both books to which you refer are transcriptions of Swamiji's personal journals. If you were to read The Royal Path, The Path of Fire & Light, The Philosophy of Hatha Yoga or The Perennial Psychology of the Bagavad Gita - all by Swamiji - you would find that he taught traditional ashtanga and Raja, along with Jhana yogas. Namaste, Michael (Govind Das)