The yoga has become worldwide acclaim as a healing discipline that helps in achieving a holistic sense of wellbeing. In the yogic tradition, prayers are the most important part of it. In yoga, certain mantras or prayers are chanted during opening and closing of the yoga classes and while practicing certain yoga poses to enhance its effectiveness. While in western countries yoga is restricted to its physical form but in India, the practice of yoga is much more spiritually inclined. Hence the people from all over the globe come to India for their yoga teacher training as true yoga should be learned under the guidance of an experienced yoga trainer. In India yoga prayer or mantras has its own special place.
What are yoga prayers??
Yoga prayers show our gratitude and respect towards the yoga practice. These yoga prayers are chanted in Sanskrit. A yoga prayer can be chanted verbally and one can chant it silently in their mind. In yoga, we begin our classes by tuning in with Adi mantra. Adi means primary, mantra means mind wave. The prayers mantra is the creative projection of mind though the naad or sound.When you join a yoga TTC program you will get your yoga prayers sheets on the first day. These prayers are chanted to connect with your inner divine and to let go for every ego that can hinder or become a hurdle during your yoga practice. These opening and closing prayers let your spirit and mind prepare for the full benefit of yoga practice.
The opening prayers
In yoga, opening prayers is the gratitude that is offered to the teachers that have nurtured the practice for thousands of years. They have developed it and nurtured the yoga in its modern form so that we can practice and reap its benefits. These verses are written in Sanskrit and are meant to invoke your own spiritual power in references to Hindu mythologies. As you chant the prayers at the beginning of your yoga practice you let your inner self to the divine self and leave your ego aside while practicing. It cleanses the energy and aura of the space as well as prepares the mind, body and soul for the upcoming practice.
Closing Mantra
The closing prayers of yoga bring a peaceful ending to your yoga practice; It is like a putting a seal to the beautiful practice and offers our practice to make a better world
Why do we pray before and after the practice
By chanting these prayers before and after the prayers we bring our consciousness to a higher vibration. This helps us to bring you closer to the higher self- to the divinity. The continuous chanting of prayer fills the practitioner will peace and centred his focus to the practice.
Studies show that continuous chanting of mantra stabilizes the heart rate, reduce blood pressure and increase the production of endorphins in the body; which in turns complements our physical practice of yoga asana.
