The Yoga of Happiness

What is happiness?

Happiness is characterised by positive emotions and a sense of satisfaction with life. It’s often associated with feelings of joy, contentment, and fulfilment and it can be activated by experiencing meaningful relationships, personal achievements, engaging in enjoyable activities, or simply feeling a sense of purpose or belonging.

Often, people are waiting for happiness to descend upon them but maybe the wiser approach would be to cultivate happiness, joy and contentment in the here and now. This can be done using various yogic techniques to balance the mind and body and connect with one's higher Self.

Becoming present, being fully right here in this moment, is important, as well as incorporating physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation to reduce stress, calm the mind, and increase feelings of well-being.

In addition, practising gratitude, and cultivating compassion and kindness towards oneself and others is of paramount importance. These practices can help to shift the focus towards the positive aspects of life, promote a sense of inner peace and contentment, and ultimately lead to greater happiness and fulfilment as we recognise that we are part of a greater whole.

If you need more reasons to take that leap into the world of yoga, keep reading. Below are just a few ways that yoga can make you happier:

Increases Endorphins

Endorphins are neurotransmitters that are associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness. Yoga can increase endorphin levels in the body, improving mood and reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.

Reduces Stress

Yoga reduces levels of cortisol, a stress hormone in the body, resulting in enhanced mood.

Improves Sleep

A regular yoga practice can improve sleep quality, which makes absolutely everyone happier.

Increases Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment. Yoga supports this present moment awareness, allowing us to show up fully in life, drawing more bliss out of life.

Improves Self-Awareness

Yoga helps to improve self-awareness and self-acceptance, which increases self-esteem and overall happiness.

Improves Social Connections

When we feel better within ourselves, we connect with others in a much more beautiful way and this connection feeds us. Love within, love without.

Happiness can help us to feel more connected with others, be more productive and creative, and to experience a greater sense of purpose and meaning. But, in addition to the immediate benefits of happiness, research suggests that happy people are more likely to enjoy better physical health, live longer, and have stronger relationships. They also tend to be more resilient in the face of stress and adversity, and are better able to cope with difficult situations.

On the other hand, chronic unhappiness and negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, and depression can have serious negative effects on both mental and physical health, and can lead to a range of problems such as weakened immune function and cardiovascular disease.

Cultivating happiness is a worthwhile endeavour that can bring many positive benefits into our lives. So, don’t wait for happiness. Cultivate it in your life now. Be the one who sees the way and, if you need some support on your journey, check out the ‘Yoga of Love’ on Sattva Connect. As we tap into that ever-present love, we can’t help but see this life as the dance that it is.

“There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.” - Buddha