Aging2K.org

Aging – a word with little or no substance to those with youth; a word having due cause for concern for those who’ve seen decades ticking past, the evidence visible on their hands and faces. It comes as no surprise then that the aging and the elderly, more so than their youthful counterparts, become more inclined to spiritual practices – not necessarily to prepare them for the great Hereafter but to acquaint themselves with an inner being found only through accumulated wisdom.

Raja Yoga

Spiritual yoga, also known as Raja yoga, is by no means a new concept, yet it is one little understood and often subject to malpractice, especially under western spiritual yoga instructors. Its purpose is to unite the living being, aging or not, with the divine self, a feat accomplished through meditation which, according to certain spiritual yoga texts, should be preceded and accompanied by a life filled with the moral blossoms of purity. This in itself should serve as the reason why the aging and elderly seek to expatiate on their knowledge of the inner-self.

Hatha Yoga

At this stage it has to be said that many texts on the subject warn of the dangers associated with malpractice. Where many yoga practitioners, aging and elderly, simply dive into the physical side of yoga (Hatha yoga), the advised modus operandi is to excel with spiritual yoga first before attempting the physical and breathing exercises. Now this might seem like a long road to travel, but the benefits are endless, especially those reaped during the practise of spiritual yoga. The results of spiritual yoga meditation are spectacular as its practitioners not only report a better way of life, but a decrease in their aging appearance and an increase in their daily energy.

Where traditional western practices have often lambasted the principles and benefits of spiritual yoga, recent years saw an increase in those who choose to live their spiritual life alternatively. It is after all a method of delaying the aging process from within the body, instead of using products composed of chemicals, whether natural or pharmaceutical.

There is one problem however: the results obtained during the practise of spiritual yoga, unlike the use of western or natural medicine depends largely on the practitioner. Don’t misunderstand – spiritual yoga is intended for all who deem themselves human – but the deciding factor lies in how diligent we are in our daily lives in following the principles of yoga whilst at the same time being receptive to new ideas and a new way of life as well as those things we learn and realise ourselves which, under normal conditions, we would choose not to experience.

Aging is not a cause for concern; it is a signal from nature: where previously the youthful body relied on the external world for sustenance, that very sustenance should now be sought within the aging body through the teachings and principles of spiritual yoga to ensure a long and prosperous life. Spiritual yoga is a key that can be used to unlocked the greatest treasures found within ourselves which, when found, will prove more valuable to the young, the aging and the old than any other treatment or medication available.