Yoga is the ancient art of unifying your mind, body, and spirit. The numerous techniques and exercises in yoga help you enjoy good health and well-being.
With time, this ancient art has evolved into different styles like Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Kundalini among others.
One of these is Karma yoga which uses the intent of your actions to control the reaction of cause and effect.
The guide below will help you understand Karma yoga.
Karma Yoga – A Brief Introduction
Karma yoga is often as a yoga of action or the path of selfless service.
The word Karma comes from the root word Kru which translates to work, deed, or action. Karma yoga includes the set of practices to unite your body, mind, and soul.
It is a disciplined yogic path to help you become kind, generous, and unselfish. Enroll in a certified YTT school to understand Karma yoga under the guidance of yoga experts.
Let us find out what is the purpose of Karma yoga.
Purpose of Karma Yoga
The primary goal of this yoga style is to help you attain enlightenment through action and work in the world. You need not wish for wisdom to learn and practice Karma yoga.
Keep in mind, Karma yoga lets you help others and lessen your own ego and suffering. Your actions are viewed as a form of prayer or worship to deepen spiritual connection to the Divine.
Ever read the Bhagwad Gita? It is a holy text which talks at lengths about Karma yoga. According to it, there are four principles of Karma yoga including duty, ego, expectation, and attachment.
Yoga experts have come up with a small guide explaining these four principles of Karma yoga.
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Guide to 4 Principles of Karma Yoga
Given below is an in-detailed explanation of the four principles of Karma yoga.
1. Duty
Each one of us has a set of duties to fulfill in this life. There are some duties in which you do not have the freedom to choose. Some duties you can choose. Karma yoga requires you to prioritize all duties and perform them to the best of your abilities.
The highest duty you can have is the duty towards yourself. It means you should take care of yourself first, do what is good for you before you can do the same for others. At the same time, it is your responsibility to fulfill this duty to the best of your ability.
2. Ego
Ego encompasses all ideas you have about yourself or others. It includes your likes, dislikes, and desires. With every action, you think of the consequences for yourself and how it impacts you and your image. Karma yoga is concerned with fulfilling your duty without thinking about yourself. The main goal of Karma yoga is to control and let go of the ego.
Yoga experts recommend that you do not involve the ego in the practice of Karma yoga as it is only then you would be able to perfom the actions without attachment or desire. Remember, ego is like a cancer which only grows if left untreated. Join a certified RYT 200 to understand more about this principle of Karma yoga.
3. Attachment
Karma yoga requires you to perform every action without attachment. It means whether you like the duty or not, you do it to the best of your abilities. For example, if you are a teacher then you do not teach one student more than the others because you like them more. You do the teaching without any attachment with the process or the final result.
4. Expectation
The vast majority of time when you do something, you rarely do it without any expectations. When you do something without the expectation of reward, the result of the action performed does not affect how you perform the duty.
In the long run, you do it not with the expectation of getting something out of it but as a duty. Join a certified YTT school to learn Karma yoga under the guidance of yoga masters.
Unforunately, there are a few misconceptions going around regarding Karma yoga. Don't worry! Yoga experts will help clear all that up.
What Karma Yoga is Not
- Karma yoga is not:
- An exchange where you offer your time and service in exchange for something.
- Working for free in the name of spirituality or humanity
- Not every social service counts as Karma yoga
- Working for cheap is not Karma yoga
Conclusion
Karma yoga helps you reach the final stage of enlightenment through honest actions and work without expecting a result. You should enroll in a Yoga Alliance certified YTT school to learn and practice Karma yoga under the guidance of yoga experts.
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