Yoga for Health

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Non-violence is the first limb of yoga. The second limb is truth. Why do we lie? It is because of our fear of losing our reputation and of losing others love. You know why spouses lie to each other? Because if they tell the truth, there will be a fight! When there is a conflict between love and truth, love always wins, that is why spouses lie. Yogas limbs are non-violence and truth, but yoga also leads to non-violence and truth.

Yoga for health: We should not restrict yoga to just de-stress, or to lose weight or lower the blood pressure. It’s very unfortunate if it is limited to that. But the common people first want health. Otherwise it’s just pravachan, talk. So health is the doorway to the higher spiritual plane. Exceptions are those who’ve already gone there. Once you have a taste of the spirit nothing in the planet can distract you. However, one can be spiritual in spite of sickness. Spirit engulfs everything in creation. Spirit is like space. You can’t say something is outside space. Good health is just one of the benefits you can derive from yoga.