Yoga a Path to Happiness

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There are many paths to happiness and Yoga is one of them. Within all forms of Yoga, we learn the principles tolerance and acceptance. To avoid judging ourselves, and others, is a key to finding contentment. Let’s look at how the practice of Yoga can be your path to happiness.

When we learn to accept ourselves, and others, at face value we have made a major step toward contentment. How many people want to change the way a friend, spouse or partner lives life? Maybe we want to change others for the best, or possibly we just want to micro-manage someone else’s life.

You have to wonder how relationships survive, if one side of the relationship constantly struggles for change and control. If we constantly judge, over handle, and refuse to accept differences in friends, we strain the entire structure of a friendship.

Yoga teaches us that compassion (karuna) for all beings is a moral action. Karuna is not simply pity; it is the action of compassion for others. If we have compassion for loved ones, why do we choose to judge them or struggle for dominance in our relationships?

Granted, there are times when we should help a person we see who is on a path of self-destruction. For example: Our children cannot guide themselves until they are adults. As parents, we would like to see our children responsibly take control of their own lives. Once a child becomes an adult, we are best to think carefully and be controlled in our advice.

With all of this said, the moderate Yogic path is the best choice in building relationships of unity. Loving relationships are difficult for many of us to maintain, but we can put forward our best effort. It is not an easy task to accept people the way they are, but we will be much happier when we learn to appreciate the positive aspects of our relationships.

© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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