Yoga, not just an exercise form, but to some a complete lifestyle. It has been stated that yoga is fourfold, it is faith, aspiration, perseverance and means. This practice is ancient, its origins date back to sixth or fifth centuries “BCE” in India. There are many different writings about the origins of yoga, it is associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
In Jainism the meditation aims at reaching and remaining in a pure state of soul, which is believed to be “pure Conciseness’ in Hinduism, yoga is considered a philosophical school, one of the six “Astika” schools of Hinduism, while Buddhism has a variety of meditation techniques that aim to develop mindfulness, concentration, supramundane powers, tranquility and insight.
Now having said all that I am still none-the-wiser as what exactly all that means, I just know that yoga is good for your body, mind and soul. In the late 19th century a chap named Swami Vivekananda introduce yoga to the west, then in the 1980’s it became hugely popular as a form of physical exercise. And as we see today, it is still widely practiced by people all over the world.
In the clip below, you will meet a young lady from Australia who practices her own form of yoga every day. It is like most forms of yoga but with a slight twist. 17-year-old Mary has taught her dog, a 3-year-old Australian Shepherd named Secret, how to practice yoga with her. Mary calls what they do together “Doga” and it is truly an amazing thing to watch.
Secret seems to know exactly what is expected of her throughout the exercise routine. They start with Mary laying on her back, then Secret jumps up onto Mary’s feet then extends her front paws to Mary’s outstretched arms. When I saw this I thought to myself, what an amazing animal, she has been trained so well, then as I watced more of the clip it became very apparent that Secret is certainly a special dog, and looks like she is really getting into the whole yoga thing, you can see the smile on her face as the exercises get more and more complicated.
Yoga may not be everyone cup-of-tea, but to those who practice this ancient art, it is a way of finding a deeper relaxation than ever before. Not only are the benefits physical, but they are emotional and spiritual as well. I’m not sure what Secret is thinking when she is doing her “Doga” but she looks remarkably relaxed. Click on the link below and be amazed at this incredible duo performing their daily routine…….. I think I might just go and buy one of those mats right now.
https://youtu.be/TFir7fhPcwI
