One’s impression of yoga starts with what they see or read – that is people trying to twist their bodies to assume a variety of challenging poses (asana) that flow from one asana to another. If you are not a yogi, it may take a lot of thinking trying to make a link about yoga and its benefits primarily on the physical and mental well-being. Yet, yogis claim that it offers more as one learns to integrate yoga in life in all contexts.

Embracing yoga may not come that easy. It is generally preceded by some life-changing events or by meeting people that inspire one to adopt lifestyle modifications. Regardless of what brought you to it, the question is how are you going to keep a yogic life off the yoga mat? The answer lies in integrating yoga in life as you live it on a day-to-day basis. Here’s how you can do that.

Yoga Starts with You

• Be kind to yourself to be able to feel compassion for others. If you love yourself, you will be kind to your body, your mind, and your spirit. This means taking care of your body. It is not just about doing what’s right for the body; it is also about avoiding harmful things such as drugs, alcohol, stress, and unhealthy foods. It also means listening to your body to be able to give it what it needs.
• Be true to yourself. This starts from self-awareness that makes you sensitive about what you want and who you are. Through meditation, you can clear your mind to be more sensitive about your feelings and your body. As the whole world sets their expectations and rules that unduly stress your mind, yoga can make you clear your mind and do things based on what you believe is just and right.

• Be contented with what you have. Work hard to get what you want in life and be contented with the rewards that life offers. People who covet other people’s possessions and rewards are those who are not happy and contented with what they have. Claiming what is not theirs – a compliment promotion, credit for a job well done, a compliment, an opportunity, money – is akin to stealing and pretentiousness. Getting what they didn’t work for is like carrying a heavy load on one’s conscience.
• Be kind to others. You need to love and appreciate your own worth before you can be capable of appreciating other people. Start by trying to listen to what they have to say. This usually leads to understanding them and their shortcomings. Do not entertain negative thoughts or entertain false ideas about other people without the benefit of validating your conjectures. Learn to speak truthfully, as you discover the real motivations behind perplexing actions. Compassion starts with your desire to have a harmonious relationship with others.
• Help without expecting anything in return, – this is the essence of real helping – and in yoga, this is good karma. Hypocrisy is all about helping others for a certain trade off or reward. Yogis who practice what they believe try to be good to their neighbors without compensation. Someday when you find yourself in the same predicament, good karma will bring you someone who will help you as you did when you helped someone in need.

Most of all, keep in mind that integrating yoga in life does not start or end with yoga asana and pranayama. Life is never predictable; with yoga, you can learn to roll with life’s punches more easily. Yoga is about being aware and good to yourself to be able to be good to and for others.