Harness Your Mind’s Power: Yoga for Inner Peace and Intentional Living
How many thoughts do you think you have per day? What percentage of those are useful thoughts?
Scientists estimate that an average person has about 60,000 thoughts per day, and about 90% of those thoughts are repetitive. This means that about 90% of our mental activity involves spinning in circles and revisiting the same stuff over and over again. The yogis call it chitta vrtti or “the vortex of the mind.”
Fundamentally, yoga is about settling the vortex of the mind and eliminating some of that incessant mental noise. Only when the mind settles, says sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, can you see yourself for who you are and the world around you for what it is (sutra 1.3). Otherwise, he warns, we continue to spin in our mental vortex and define ourselves through our misguided assumptions, painful past, and fears of the future (sutra 1.4).
Another traditional text, The Katha Upanishad, depicts the body as a chariot. In this material world, the body, or chariot, is pulled around by the five senses. The five senses are represented by horses; they charge chaotically in different directions so that we can indulge in what we see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. Pulled around by our senses, we try to satisfy one urge after another but never feel fulfilled.
The passenger on the chariot represents the Self, the center of consciousness, which is a neutral witness. The reins represent the mind, which is impulsive and easily distracted by whatever enters its field of vision. The mind can be pulled in many directions unless the charioteer, representing the higher Intellect, takes charge of the reins. This image of the body as a chariot poses some important questions, for example:
- Who is driving your chariot? Is your mind running wild, or have you taken charge of the reins?
- How internally aligned are you? Are you in touch with your senses, your mind, your higher Intellect, and your inner Self?
- What path are you taking in life, and who gets to decide? Is it a conscious choice?
The Katha Upanishad further states that only when the five senses stand still and Intellect is firmly in charge of the reins of the mind can we enter the highest state of Yoga.
Would you like to experience the state of Yoga? Do you want to take charge of the reins of your mind, become more internally aligned, and direct your chariot/body toward your goals?
This is exactly what we aim to do in our yoga series, Harness Your Mind’s Power: Yoga for Inner Peace and Intentional Living.
In this yoga series, we explore how we can use yogic tools to focus our attention, build mental strength, cultivate emotional resilience, and gain clarity in our thinking. We use chanting, text study, meditation, and self-study, along with physical postures and breathing practices, to cultivate awareness of the body and mind, improve decision-making skills, boost creativity, sharpen concentration, and create greater emotional balance. Regular mind training through yogic techniques teaches us how to live with greater focus, direction, and resilience.
THIS YOGA SERIES IS FOR YOU IF YOU:
- Feel tired of the endless mental chatter pulling you in random directions
- Want to become aware of the patterns in your life and begin making different choices
- Are looking to develop an understanding of how your life experiences can alter your nervous system and change how you perceive the world
- Find yourself ready to explore your inner layers and address past traumas and emotional pain
- Want to use yoga and meditation to regulate your nervous system and develop a better awareness of your inner world.
In the Harness your Mind’s Power: Yoga for Inner Peace and Intentional Living series, you will get:
- 30 targeted yoga practices to educate, train, and expand your mind, overcome your conditioning, and cultivate emotional resilience
- 28 articles in printable pdf format that use different lenses to help you understand why your brain does what it does and what steps you can take to direct it with more intention
- 12 videos with a brief outline of the most important points for each chapter.
By following the practices and articles in this yoga series, you can gain better mental clarity, a more focused mind, a lighter burden of the past, and a more clear understanding of who you are and where you are going.
Here is a short video that gives you the series overview.
In this series, you will tap into the power of ancient techniques, neuroscience, and modern psychology to access your powerful inner resources. You will begin to understand different aspects of yourself, face your mental hang-ups, develop your inner strength, and connect to your own healing potential. When the world around you seems chaotic and unpredictable, yogic mental training techniques help you stay grounded, centered, open-minded, and connected to your natural inner peace.
Do you want to take charge of the reins of your mind, become more internally aligned, and make conscious decisions on your own path? In this series, we will explore how we can harness the vortex of the mind, heal our old wounds, and deepen our Self-awareness.
Sounds just what I need. Very interested ?
Muy interesante. Muchas gracias Olga.??
Hi,
Great post! I’m curious about the statistic of 60,000 thoughts per day. Do you have a particular source for this? Coincidentally I did a search on this subject not long ago and I found a range from 6,000 – 85,000 thoughts per day. Would love a trusted source. Thank you.
Hi, Linda, thank you for your comment! I agree with you; the estimation varies quite a bit 🙂 I am basing my statements on the work of Dr. Fred Luskin from Harvard University, which is referenced in this article, although I haven’t been able to get my hands on the research itself. But this is the common number I keep hearing, most recently at the yoga therapy conference. If you find something more definitive during your research, please let me know!