Yoga Mat and Yoga Practice

To the western yoga practitioner, a yoga mat is synonymous with the practice of yoga. There are two common mistakes in this perception. The first misconception is that yoga is what is that common and popular practice of body postures. Yoga is an entire believe system, rooted in thousands of years of indian culture. It involves meditation, breathing exercises, chanting, and even a specific diet. The practice that is so common now is only a minor part of the entity which is yoga, and it is known in the world of yogis as "Hatha Yoga". This is the physical training of the yogi, which is not done for gaining strength or flexibility at all, as these are only the minor side-effects a stern and persistent practice of the asanas, the yoga postures, would give the yogi.

The real and deep meaning of these postures and breathing techniques are the meditative qualities which they involve. Being able to perform the asanas does not mean the practitioner is super-flexible or extremely powerful, but that he is in a place of inner peace and a strong mind-body connection. The ability to spread ones intelligence throughout the entire body is the true meaning and goal of the asanas, if one could even speak of goals in the world of yoga. Being able to consistently keep a high level of concentration while stretching and pulling the same muscle, and the entire body, to four different directions, while keeping the breath at a constant and mellow pace, is the place yogis who practice Hatha yoga want to be.

The second common mistake today is the automatic connection people make between the practice of poses to being on a mattress. Of course, there is no argument over the comfort a high quality yoga mat provides in the practice, yet it is not a must. If you travel India, you will rarely see any yogi using a yoga mat, or any mat at all. The mat is a western idea, and a new one as well. One does not have to own a mat to practice yoga, and that is one of the basic ideas of any yoga practice, be it Hatha yoga or silent meditation. The practice of yoga is available to anyone anywhere, as it requires nothing but the stern desire to develop ones mind and achieve Nirvana, the supreme state of mind. The deep and powerful drive is enough for anyone to practice yoga in any place he is at the moment, be it on a flight, in his car, at work, or lying on the beach.

Be true to yourselves and your practice, and your life will get better forever. It is too easy to be tempted to buy all these new and colorful yoga-accessories, yet for the true yogi, who seeks the opening of the heart for the spirit to rise, these things do not matter.