Can Yoga Solve The World's Problems?

The world is full of problems.  Every day you can see it on the news  regional conflicts abound and talk shows about political turmoil are ubiquitous.  You can sense  the palpable tension in the workplace or the anger of drivers in freeway traffic. We even see it as the self-destructive behavior of our favorite celebrities in the tabloids at the checkout counter of the grocery store.  Trouble and strife seem to be everywhere.  Will there ever be an end to his cacophony of conflict and disunity?

The underlying cause of much of our worlds problems is a lack of unity or harmony.  If you think this way and I think that way then we just can't find common ground.  In certain parts of the world it would be acceptable for one person to kill another other over a disagreement in religious or political ideology.

Yoga philosophy offers a simple paradigm change that unites versus separates--the idea that everything is one!  We more commonly think of Yoga as a set of exercises that is going to give us strong abs and a shapely bum, but the real benefit of these ancient practices is the peace it brings not only to individuals but to entire communities. As one practices Yoga the effect on every aspect of ones being changes, the physical, energetic and even spiritual aspects move toward calmness and harmony or in other words--oneness!

A recent article in the New York Times outlined how Muslims have rejected Yoga as non-Muslim because of its Hindu roots.  Some imams have even issued "fatwa's"
against Yoga.  Certain Christian faiths have made similar pronouncements.  Yoga itself maintains that truth is truth, whether it was pronounced by Christ, Mohammed, or Buddha.  Yoga states that human suffering arises from a sense of not recognizing that we are spiritual beings and then associating a sense of I, me and mine with our body, mind and possessions.  This results in a mental projection of the world that is simply cobbled together over our lifetimes through our education and cultures.

Our mental projection or minds  view of our world creates a constant sense of instability and anxiety.  This is in large part due to the fact that subconsciously we know most of what we accept as truth is contrived.  The practices of Yoga takes us back to our real selves where there is no conflict and we feel at ease.  In this state our minds function better, we tap in to our unlimited resourcefulness and creativity.  Most importantly we get along better with our fellow humans not to mention the other creatures of the world.   We see the commonality in all people and things--harmony in our personal lives is restored.

As Mahatma Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."  World change starts with individuals.  Yoga offers a set of practices, some physical, some energetic and some spiritual that changes us from the inside out.  This initially starts relieving the stress of our personal lives.  It reduces health problems, 80-90% of which are due to stress according to the American Medical Association.  It does improve our bodies which reflect the natural form driven by the needed function of the Yoga physical practice.  Most importantly as we evolve through these practices we start to see the commonality around us versus the otherness. 

When otherness is reduced politicians work together for common good.  Companies employees are more productive.  Neighborhoods are more
harmonious.  As the mood of the ensuing world improves strife, tension, stress and instability are reduced.  Therefore, the practice of Yoga could help to solve the world's problems.  But, it starts with an individual.  So take a Yoga class and see how it will change your life.