Although yoga is the ancient art of uniting your body and mind, it still offers numerous health benefits. Moreover, this ancient art has transitioned into a global phenomenon with a number of forms. There is Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and Kundalini yoga among others. One popular style of yoga is Karma yoga, which is amongst the four classical schools of yoga.
Karma yoga falls alongside Jnana (self-study), Bhakti (devotion), and Raja (meditation). Moreover, each of these provide you the path to enlightenment and liberation. The word Karma is Sanskrit for action and found in Hinduism and Buddhism traditions. Karma is known as the accumulation of your actions in the past, present, and future. Let us understand a bit more about this yoga style.
The History Of Karma Yoga
First outlined in the ancient Hindu text, The Bhagwad Gita which dates back to somewhere between 5th and 2nd century B.C.E. This Hindu text provides numerous ways to liberation from suffering, connection with the divine, and self-realization. If you plan to become an 200 RYT, knowing Karma yoga is an important part of the journey.
The Bhagwad Gita highlights the importance of selfless action which you do from the heart with awareness. Your attachment to the outcome of the action is said to be the cause of suffering, especially when you expect to get something in return. For you to practice Karma yoga, you have to practice serving others without any expectations of the result being in your favor.
However, you might ask
Why Is Doing Karma Yoga So Important?
It removes the ego and gets you rid of any differences between you and others on a deeper level. This helps purify the mind by removing the judgmental aspects of your nature to serve others without expecting anything in return.
With that said, yoga experts have come up with why doing Karma technique of yoga is beneficial for you.
1. Source Of Activeness
Daily practice brings activeness in all aspects of your life. Moreover, activeness is the key to helping you realize the source of all pleasure and suffering in this life.
2. Helps Serve Others By Helping Ourselves
Doing the right action is like helping others. However, in the process of serving others, it also fills your heart with compassion and love. You should join the Yoga Alliance Certification India to know everything about yoga.
3. Balances Your Mind
Developing awareness with yoga helps you remain balanced in every situation. Remaining calm helps you resolve a tense situation with ease.
4. Develops Single Pointed Awareness
All of us say something, do something else, show something, and feel something else. This clearly states that our consciousness is stressed. However, learning Karma Yoga during the 200 RYT program helps you develop a single pointed consciousness.
However, for you to fully understand how Karma yoga works, you must also understand the principles of this yoga style.
Principles Of Karma Yoga
Yoga experts have come up with four principles that govern it.
1. Duty
Everyone has certain duties assigned to them. Whether you are someone’s brother, sister, mother, or father; there are some duties you have to fulfill. It focuses on prioritizing your duties to know what is important or which holds more importance over another.
However, the highest duty is the one you have towards yourself. It means you should first take care of yourself, do what is good for you, and only then can you do good for others.
2. Ego
Ego is all the perceptions and preconceived notions you carry about yourself and others. This includes your likes and dislikes among other things. Unfortunately, with every action you start thinking how it will benefit you, and your perceived image.
However, the main goal of Karma yoga practice is to control and release your ego. Remember, it is important that practicing Karma yoga does not includes ego. Always keep in mind that your ego is what keeps you away from reality and stuck in a dream world. You should join the Yoga Alliance Certification India to learn more about this principle of Karma yoga.
3. Attachment
The third and most important principle of Karma yoga is doing your actions without attachment. No matter whether you like the work or not, you have to give it your best. In other words, you have to fulfill a responsibility without expectations of what the end result will be.
4. Expectation Of Reward
Most of the times, every action we perform has some expectation attached to it. However, in Karma yoga you have to perform an action without expecting anything in return. This is what helps you move away from the trap of ego and towards the ultimate truth. To become an 200 RYT you must know this aspect of Karma.
However, at times, many people carry a misconception about Karma. Yoga experts have come up with what is not a part of Karma.
Misconceptions About Karma Yoga
There are some misconceptions prevalent about Karma yoga, it is not;
1. An Exchange
If you think that giving your time and service makes you liable to get something in return, think again. It is done with an intention of getting nothing in return.
2. Working For Less
Working for less than you deserve is not something Karma preaches.
3. Social Service
Remember, not every social service is Karma.
4. Working For Free
Working for free in the name of humanity or a spirituality is also not Karma yoga. You should join the Yoga Alliance Certification India to understand what Karma is from yoga gurus.
But, this does not means that Yoga does not have anything to offer.
Benefits Of Karma Yoga
Two major benefits of daily practice of Karma include;
- It helps make clear your priorities as you get a deeper understanding of your roles and duties towards yourself and others.
- This form of yoga also balances out your karma as you perform every action without attachment to the end result.
Conclusion
Although it is a bit hard to perform an action without getting attached to the outcome. However, this is where Karma yoga helps you understand how this attachment is the root cause of all suffering. You should enroll in the Yoga Alliance Certification India to understand this yoga style in complete details.
