The original context of yoga was spiritual development practices to train the body and mind to self-observe and become aware of their own nature. The purposes of yoga were to cultivate discernment, awareness, self-regulation and higher consciousness in the individual. A good yoga practice is one that allows its practitioners to achieve peace, with themselves and with the external world in which they live. The spiritual aspect of yoga emphasizes achieving peace and mental clarity, while improving posture is of secondary importance.
The understanding of yoga as a holistic philosophical and methodological framework is often lacking, particularly with regard to its spiritual nature and fundamental objectives. However, their spiritual intentions increased over time, suggesting that hatha yoga practiced in the West can cultivate spirituality. You don't have to believe in God to do savasana, but for the spiritual among us, it's an opportunity to experience God's presence. The spiritual aspect of yoga can help yogis to develop the integration of the inner self and unity with the Supreme Consciousness.
Yoga is deeply rooted in spirituality and many of the postures have deeper goals that go beyond simply stretching and strengthening muscles. The spiritual aspect of this posture is that you are renouncing what is happening around you and find peace in pure stillness. Another cross-sectional study (Dittmann and Freedman, 200) found that the level of spirituality is higher in women who practice for psycho-spiritual reasons compared to those who practice primarily for physical or appearance reasons. To date, only a few studies have investigated the contribution of spirituality to the positive effects of practicing yoga.
Even so, this review aimed to explore what aspects of spirituality are actually measured in yoga research and not to determine or delimit the definition of spirituality. The warrior pose helps your body to develop not only physical strength, but also spiritual preparation for the internal battles that the mind and heart must fight and win. Consequently, studies that use the terms “religiosity” or “religious” but that capture aspects of spirituality are not included in this review. Spirituality is a broad and vague construction, which can be approached from psychological, philosophical, transcendental-religious and phenomenological perspectives.
Consequently, yoga can be a method that facilitates spiritual well-being and health, spiritual growth and the development of an integrative worldview.
