Raja Yoga

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I was asked again today if I was a yoga teacher. Just like every time before my "rational" mind freaked out and my nerves got the best of me. Having never taken the traditional yoga teacher training the voice in my head yells, "You're not qualified!".

I forget that Yoga is more then just an asana, or physical practice. I forget that I've been a dedicated student to the path for over 4 years and have studied the art of stillness with reputable spiritual teachers from multiple cultures. I forget I have helped countless numbers of people start their own meditation practice and transform their lives.

Why do I place such value on a piece of paper?

It frustrates me that I fall victim to social pressure to achieve some kind of standardized goal to validate myself. It saddens me that I doubt myself because I have not taken the path laid out in the rule book.

I was expressing my dismay at not knowing how to answer the question,"Are you a yoga teacher?" when my partner, an amazing yogi who has been teaching Hatha Yoga for over 10 years, stopped me mid sentence and proclaimed, "Are you kidding me? You teach Raja Yoga!"

Allow me to set the record straight: In all my years of travel and study I have NEVER heard of Raja Yoga! Not one soul, nor one book had ever mentioned ANYTHING about Raja Yoga. Now perhaps I've just been reading the wrong books (sorry Eckhart Tolle, Barbara Martin, Hafiz, Rumi, and Hazrat Inayat Khan), but I was sincerely shocked to learn I was practicing a "legitimate" Yoga and had no idea.

Raja Yoga, which translates into "Royal Union" or "Royal Yoga", is the Yoga of the mind. It is the art of meditation. Raja Yoga meditation is generally based on directing one's life force to bring the mind and the emotions so into balance that the attention may be easily focused on the object of meditation - the union of Divinity and Self. In the words of Swami Satchidananda,

"Every thought, feeling, perception, or memory you may have causes a modification, or ripple, in the mind. It distorts and colors the mental mirror. If you can restrain the mind from forming into modifications, there will be no distortion, and you will experience your true Self."

Raja Yoga is the INNER work. While other yoga practices tonify and purify the body, Raja Yoga tonifies and purifies the mind. In order to truly raise ones vibration BOTH an inner and an outer practice are necessary.

You would think with all the dedicated Yogis in LA, Raja Yoga would be right up there with Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikram, and Power.

Why isn't it? Good question...

It is my absolute passion and pleasure to practice, and share the practice of Raja Yoga.
Now when someone asks me, "Are you a Yoga teacher?", I'm going to answer whole heartily, "Why, Yes I am!"


*If you would like to learn more about Raja Yoga and meditation, you may contact me at JaquelineMarie.com