The greatest of all happiness, next to divine happiness, is to be at peace with one’s immediate relations, those with whom one must live every day in the year - Paramahansa Yogananda
The universe of relationships is vast and seemingly complicated. However, social relations permeate all aspects of human life. Man is a Social Being. This Blog will explore how Yoga can help you in building harmonious relationships with your near and dear ones.
Yama's & Niyamas – Guideline to harmonious relationship
The first two sections of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – Yamas & Niyamas are ethical guidelines not only for setting the foundation for spiritual progress but also for harmonious co-existence. While all of them are important in transforming our lives we will focus on three, which are critical in building relationships.
One of the Yama's – Sathya or Truthfulness is the most important attribute. Honesty forms the bedrock of trust, fostering an environment where both partners feel safe to express themselves fully.
Honesty is more than just speaking the truth; it encompasses a genuine desire to share one’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences openly. It involves being authentic, vulnerable, and transparent with yourself and others. Radical honesty allows us to remove the masks we wear, revealing our true selves to our partners. It entails being honest not only about the positive aspects of life but also about fears, insecurities, and past mistakes.
“Intimacy is healing” says Dean Ornish, MD, President & Founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Sausalito, California. He adds that there is something really powerful in being able to share your authentic self with others. Instead of a carefully curated social media profile.
The practise of embracing authenticity and open communication, offers a profound opportunity for individuals to connect on a deeper level.
Another Yama is Ahimsa – or Non Violence. Not just physical but mental, emotional, verbal violence can spell the death knell for any relationship. Sri M has often said ‘A minute of kindness is more precious than one hundred years of austere penance’.
Santosha one of the Niyamas is a state of contentment – being happy. Stress and anxiety are a source of unhappiness. Yoga teaches us that happiness is within us. A happy person radiates positive energy and that is the magical elixir for any relationship.
When you start your day with any form of exercise, meditation, Yoga you start feeling good. People who have experienced it are addicted to their morning workout routine. Physical activity helps bump up the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. When you perform your Asanas with the right breathing techniques it activates the gland that secretes the endocrinal enzymes in right proportions – another source of well-being, health and happiness.
While all the Yama & Niyamas are important - Truth, Happiness & Non Violence are strong positive reinforcements towards a beautiful relationship.
Taking care of yourself
To fix a broken relationship the first step is to look inward. This journey of introspection is challenging. Yoga is a self-nourishing structured practise that helps you get started on this journey. Not only are the physical benefits many, but it has a calming effect on the mind. It helps in managing stress and improving sleep. As you and your journey of self-care evolves you will start seeing an incredible change in your relationships. As your inner world changes the external world reflects it.
Yoga starts by asking you to be fully present
This skill is a boon for relationships. Most people are so busy that they have no time to look at each other, listen carefully, comprehend the unsaid – Yoga helps you to imbibe these qualities, which in turn leads you to be more perceptive and open to connections.
Promote the flow of positive energy with your near and dear ones through Yoga. Get started today to experience the difference.
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