Excellence in Action is Yoga

Bhavnita Sharma

The best way to live life is to be the best version of ourselves. If we can truly believe that there are no limitations to our potential, then this is really possible. Yoga has given me this understanding & the more I learn, the more aware I become.

Initially, I began practicing Yoga for its physical significance but as I got to know the philosophical aspects behind it, my entire thought process has changed. Yoga is a holistic approach, working on multiple aspects at the same time, from the physical to the subtler to the subtlest. It changes you completely, not just for the good, but for the best.

The reality that we live in is conditioning of our minds, the way we perceive & experience the world around & Yoga begins at the core characteristic of the existence of this universe, which is ‘to act’. Nothing, that exists, is deprived of action. It is the basic trait & necessity for all beings to act.

Without action there is no existence, to exist is to act.

It is for all of us to understand that action is not only at the physical level, but it begins & happens right at the mental level. The process of thinking & feeling associated with any action is an action in itself. This signifies the need to act right. This relates to the aspect of ‘Karma Yoga: The Yoga of Action’, as given in the Bhagavad Gita, which says:

“Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam”: Excellence in action is Yoga

This rightly summarizes the entire context of how an action should be & this is the core value which I have adopted in my journey of Yoga. Our actions make us & define us. So, if every action is backed by a yogic perspective, our entire life will become simple & fruitful. This is what the universe & nature around us, clearly shows. Every element & thing is acting in the right way it should, thus the process of existence is possible. Being a part of this existence, it becomes our duty & responsibility to excel in

Our actions by doing them mindfully & with full dedication. And this is how I practice Yoga.