By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

When you consider internal fire, do words like tapas (heat) and agni (fire) come to mind? Burning impurities from within is a part of Yoga practice. At the same time, many cultures view fire as a form of cleansing. This brings about many passionate notions regarding the benefits of physical challenges in Hot or Power Yoga classes.

However, let’s discuss the inner fire that drives us to practice Yoga on a daily basis. It is mentally inspired fire that usually keeps every Yoga practitioner going. The mind is like a furnace, which heats up your entire being with inspiration, passion, and charges the mind with positive energy.

Observe a person who consistently has low motivation. It could be due to poor diet. If so, then the body must receive the proper nutrients to charge itself and then charge the mind. However, the source of low motivation is often a deeper problem in the mind. It might be poor self-worth. A person, who believes that he or she is not worthy of happiness, has no internal fire.

Will becoming a dedicated spiritual aspirant help such a person? To see a need for change is a primary step, but one who desires liberation, still needs direction. This will require time and study with a competent spiritual leader. Self-direction is possible, after foundational study, with a competent teacher.

This is the dawn of the “computer age.” Most of us want everything as fast as we can start a personal computer. If a problem has been brewing for decades, we want a solution right now. Sometimes, we demand a pill that will solve everything in one month or less. Yoga offers many solutions, but the study is a lifelong journey, and solutions may not be instant.

To recognize change toward self-liberation is the beginning of freedom. To ignite the fire from within, we must address our holistic health. We have to look inside at our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Only you are familiar with your pain, ailments, and troubles.

Each of us has a different pain threshold. Some people cry about everything, while others have much more pain and say nothing about it. If anything can be said about Yoga, one point is certain: It makes the worst of times bearable. You can practice anywhere, at any time, and feel the benefits of reduced mental, physical, or emotional pain.

On the spiritual level, some will say: “Yoga helped me find myself.” Others may be in hot pursuit of moksha or enlightenment. Whatever one’s spiritual purpose may be, the internal fire burns steady, within a seasoned practitioner, because Yoga makes life worth living.

© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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