Understanding the Stress Strain Curve
If you observe carefully, our day starts with preparedness for the grand presentation for the day. Starting with brushing our teeth, having a bath, wearing the best clothes, planning our tasks, negotiation points at work, etc. Irrespective of the position that we are in life, we are always seeking to better ourselves, to better our positions.
Why? Because we are not content with the current position that we are in. We want to move up the ladder of success. We seek from the world attention, cognizance, affirmation, praise, as the urge to remain relevant for them is paramount. Lack of relevance implies losing one’s identity in the minds of people. The drive is to always capture mind space, be it with our bosses, our peers, competitors, or the public at large. Lack of this unnerves us.
Hence, what we try to do in life is to prove that we are different, unique, most wanted. In the process, we seek to outdo others, gain new skills, and start pursuing the ephemeral source of happiness. This is the source of all stress.
Stress – Underlying Cause
The root cause of us wanting to be relevant in other people’s lives is the instinct of survival. The moment you stop being relevant to the other, the feeling of not being wanted creeps in. This shakes the very foundation of security. Imagine this at the workplace. Your future becomes uncertain, your source of survival, source of happiness starts quaking.
The Slippery and Uncertain Anchor
However, such a perception is fraught with the dangers of turning ourselves into nervous wrecks. When the point of reference is the other, which is always changing and unpredictable, our life becomes like the TV set whose remote is with the other. Press a button and the channel changes every second. We are unable to fathom the vagaries of our own mind, forget fathoming the workings of the other. We are all caught up in trying to read and predict the other person’s mind and position ourselves so that their perception of us improves. This is like anchoring our faith on a mirage in a desert which gives an optical illusion of water, giving hope of greenery ahead. We are bound to fall flat on our face. And when we are not recognized, praised, it leaves us stressed. In fact, stress ends up being the only constant companion in the above pursuit.
Implanting a Rock-Solid New Anchor – Our Self
A true understanding of ourselves is required to help us implant an anchor that is rock solid and leads us to the trajectory of happiness. The Self is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. The Self is the common substratum that is at the very core of all sentient and insentient beings around. The Self is the source of bliss and lasting happiness as it is not anchored on anything but is omnipresent on its own strength and intelligence. It is the source of all creativity. When the reference point is the unchanging reality, nothing can rattle us. It brings a space of contentment. Contentedness is not antithesis to progress and success. In fact, when you are content, a certain sense of tranquility dawns within, and then the best creative ideas spring up. How do we tap into this source?
Yoga and Our Self
It is only through Yoga that we can understand our true selves, the strength that lies within. Yoga means union. Union with our own Self. How do you experience this Union?
We can experience this in every act and every moment that we live by leading a life of awareness. Now that is easier said than done. We have the Mind, Intellect, Memory, and Ego which can become impediments as it is ever ready to flit and take our minds away from the present moment. To experience the Self, we need to transcend these layers.
At Sri Sri School of Yoga, we understand the transformative power of yoga in fostering this transcendence. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our Yoga Therapy Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to promote holistic wellness. Taking place from 28th April to 5th May 2024, this program offers customized therapies for the recovery and maintenance of health. Through a blend of therapeutic yoga sessions, mindful meditation, and nutritional education, participants will embark on a journey towards empowerment and self-discovery.
Among the offerings are a Yogic Diet, Yogic Kriyas, Specific Asanas, Specific Pranayama, Daily Parameter, and Deep Relaxation Technique. This Program aims to empower individuals with Type-2 Diabetes to take control of their Health and Well-Being, fostering lasting habits for a life of vitality and balance.
Yoga Sets the Pathway
Knowledge of Yoga provides the skill to mindful living. It teaches us how to live life in this world of duality to experience true Happiness and Confidence that lies hidden within. One need not have the other as an anchor anymore. One needs to rely only on one’s Self to tap into unbounded happiness and strength.
Knowledge of Yoga starts with the Yamas and Niyamas in life. The personal and social conduct you need to internalize in your life to set the blazing pathway of happiness. It teaches you pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.
The Purpose of Meditation
Meditation helps you experience the deeper levels of consciousness which are the source of happiness and strength. And this does not require one to set foot into the Himalayas or wait for one to retire. This is a misconception. You can experience the Art of Living Meditation Programs to start your meditation journey. The earlier you adopt meditation, you will realize how smoothly your world of duality can be lived with ease and happiness. In fact, it is only the intelligent ones who adopt this early in life to live this magnificent life devoid of stress. Armed with the sheath of knowledge of yoga and the practice of meditation, they go about playing with all the offerings of life. Good situation or bad situation, you are able to move about with ease and grace. Stress is basically the gap between perception and Reality. When you are anchored in Reality, Happiness in lieu of Stress becomes your constant company.
