How does the practice of yoga serve to heal the human body, mind and spirit?
The great sages, spiritual leaders and ancient yogis have explored and revered the deeply healing and transformative effects of yoga through the ages. Yoga has survived and revived to serve humankind from east to west, as a physically and spiritually developmental practice. Patanajli explains, ‘By dedicated practice of the various aspects of yoga, impurities are destroyed: the crown of wisdom radiates in glory’ (sutra 2.28), on which B.K.S Iyengar reflects that ‘yoga can cure or lessen physical, mental, moral or spiritual suffering’. This essay will consider how sadhana creates this process of healing and purification in the body, spirit and mind.