Shizuyo Okuyama: Practicing Yoga with Keio Students

2021/09/02

Whether they practice yoga or not, many people think of using their bodies to perform "poses" when they hear the word yoga. What exactly is the purpose of these poses?

Looking back at the history of yoga, seals depicting people meditating in yoga seated positions were excavated from the Mohenjo-daro ruins around 2500 BCE, and it is said that this era may be the origin of yoga. Later, around 200 BCE, the scripture "Yoga Sutra" was written, defining yoga as "the cessation of the turnings of the mind."

Yoga began with the goal of achieving a calm mind through seated meditation, but the more one tries to concentrate, the more distracting thoughts tend to arise. Because it is difficult to deepen concentration to the point of stopping the movement of the mind, it is said that "poses" incorporating elements of movement began to be practiced. The evolution from simple seated positions to dynamic "poses" occurred because it was believed that moving the body allows one to deepen meditation more easily and consciously.

Meditation refers to a state of deep concentration where emotions and thoughts of "the present moment," which are usually directed outward, are intentionally turned inward. We are caught up in a lot of information every day, such as stimuli coming in through our eyes and ears or feelings that things must be a certain way, but we pause these and look at our inner selves. By doing so, a strong heart that is not overwhelmed by anxiety is built, and a stable mental state is born.

I teach yoga classes at the Hiyoshi and Mita Campuses. In the first class, many Keio students worry about being "stiff" or "whether they can do the poses well," but I often tell them that the original purpose of yoga is to aim for "mental stability." By touching upon the essence of yoga, the awareness of Keio students changes little by little with each class. They gradually acquire qualities such as calmness, kindness, and composure, becoming able to notice their own mental unrest or emotional fluctuations before class and choosing to control those emotions. This is the effect of yoga and its greatest appeal.

I hope to play a part in the physical and mental stability of Keio students through yoga classes.