Sedona Soul Stretch: 10 Ancient Yoga Principles to Heighten Consciousness and Performance discusses specific ways to apply ten ancient Yoga principles to increase well-being and guide your everyday life decisions to achieve greater success. It shows how to use these proven principles to enrich your home and work life and achieve your deepest goals and desires. The principles begin with Compassion for self and others and shift the focus inward to get in touch with your soul and connect with the energy of all sentient beings throughout the Universe.
The first set of five codes, called the Yamas in Sanskrit, is based on human characteristics observed as the highest good present in everyone. You display them when you are at your highest of well-being. These Social Harmony Characteristics guide you to practice Compassion for self and others, Truthfulness, Non-Stealing, Moderation in all things, and non-attachment to worldly desires and possessions.
The second set of principles, called the Niyamas in Sanskrit, are internal soulful practices that encourage you to move more deeply within to expand your Higher Consciousness. These principles guide you to increase inner well-being as you practice Purity, Contentment, Discipline, Self-Study, and Surrender to a Higher Power as you realize your Oneness with the Invisible Intelligence of the Universe that affects every aspect of life.
These ancient principles were culled from the oral tradition of wandering sages, known as Sadus or holy persons, who taught these principles as a way to prevent human suffering. Approximately 200 years before Christ, these precepts were recorded as part of 196 wise sayings or aphorisms in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
About the title — Sedona Soul Stretch does not require a trip to Sedona or to any other sacred place. Author Johanna Mosca included the name Sedona because so many of her own soul-stretching epiphanies occurred through experiences of spiritual connection with clients in her Sedona Spirit Yoga and Hiking sessions. Hence, the title Sedona Soul Stretch. However, the wisdom of these 10 Ancient Yoga Principles extends beyond time and space and will be yours forever, no matter where you find yourself in life. May living these principles help you grow in the deepest and most compassionate way.