Playing Your Edge in a Yoga Pose

You may have heard your yoga teacher instruct you to “play your edge,” but did you understand what she meant?

Your edge is like an arena of potential, an opening to the possibility of what lies beyond the safety of your comfort zone. Playing your edge is finding balance between effort and relaxation — not too little, not too much.

Moving slowly is key so that you can feel and observe what is happening physically and mentally. Always avoid pushing aggressively toward pain and causing injury.

Discomfort versus Pain

You will often feel discomfort when practicing asana. This sensation comes from stretching to a point of intense feeling yet not so far that you feel pain.

When you do nothing, you feel nothing. If you are feeling nothing, you are in your comfort zone. You want to sensitively journey outside of this zone, which will result in a certain degree of physical and mental discomfort. The more that you embrace this discomfort, the more you will create space and ease in body and mind.

Pain is a sign that you have entered dangerous territory, and you need to pull back or stop entirely. Ideally, you’d like to play your edge to the maximum point possible before the onset of pain.

Using Your Breath

Proper breathing is a pivotal part of playing your edge. Slow, deep breathing will keep you calm and centred when faced with challenge and discomfort.

If you feel overwhelmed in a posture, breathe deeply and slowly to find a place of calm. Your naturally active mind might decide to take control of the situation and tell you that you have been defeated. Conversely, you might decide based on how you feel that you can force yourself further.

At this point, you should come back to your steady breath to quiet your mind and listen attentively. Wait for cues from your body that it is ready to create more space for you to move deeper. Similarly, pay attention to sensations that indicate you might have already gone too far, then adjust accordingly. Notice if your breath becomes choppy, strained, or shallow as these are also indicators that you are not in a balanced place.

Your Edge, Not Theirs!

Remember that yoga is non-competitive. It is less about “doing” and more about “being.” Accept and honour your body and its limitations, and try not to compare yourself with anybody else.

Your edge reminds you of your limits. By definition, an edge is a border or a dividing line. But it is also an action of moving slowly or gradually. Mindful movement allows you to play safely, as it gives you the opportunity to change direction if needed.

Pushing past your limits can be counterproductive. You want to work with your body, not against it.

The challenge is that you may not know your body well enough to be aware of these limitations. Therefore, it is important to develop healthy relationships with your body and mind so that you can navigate your way with an attitude of acceptance and love.

When you play your edge, you encourage yourself to realize your potential with sensitivity and the utmost respect for your body.

Yoga Nidra: The Art of Conscious Sleep

What is Yoga Nidra? You might begin by thinking of Yoga Nidra as an extended version of savasana. Though this is not an entirely accurate description, it’s a helpful starting point.

After all, savasana is the ultimate relaxation pose — which is the primary aim of Yoga Nidra. Compared to savasana, though, yoga nidra is a much more comprehensive system of relaxation which has a profound transformative power.

The Origin of Yoga Nidra

Swami Satyananda Saraswati was inspired by what he learned during the time spent with his guru Swami Sivananda. These experiences with yogic sleep practices led him to develop the accessible, structured system of deep relaxation known as Yoga Nidra.

It is important to recognize that Satyananda created a system that would be more straightforward and meaningful to the average person, but you should know that the practice of Yoga Nidra is built upon ancient practice. The difference is that these ancient practices were not accessible to the average person until Yoga Nidra popularized them.

What is Yoga Nidra?

Often referred to as yogic sleep, Yoga Nidra is a deep relaxation system which puts you into a state between sleep and wakefulness. Being in this state allows you to consciously access, and even make suggestions to, your unconscious mind.

The System

There are 8 distinct stages of the Yoga Nidra system. It begins with physical relaxation and continues on to deeper and deeper states. In Yoga Nidra, you are guided all the way through this process of relaxation.

1. Internalization – Initial relaxation: You begin by coming into savasana to relax your body and mind.

2. Sankalpa – Personal goal/positive statement/self-affirmation: After relaxing mind and body, you repeat this resolve 3 times mentally.

3. Rotation of consciousness – Body scan: Awareness is brought to all parts of the body in a very specific order, starting with your right thumb.

4. Breath awareness – Becoming aware of your natural breath: You count your inhalations and exhalations as it helps with mental focus and alertness.

5. Manifestation of Opposites – Pairs of feelings/emotions: You are instructed to imagine or recall contrasting sensations and emotions.

6. Creative Visualization – Various symbols and images: You witness what surfaces in response to certain imagery.

7. Sankalpa – Resolution revisited: The resolve is repeated 3 times with positivity and determination.

8. Externalization – Bringing awareness outward: Take the time to ease your way back into full wakefulness.

Effects of Yoga Nidra

Not only is Yoga Nidra deeply relaxing, it is also deeply therapeutic. It calms the nervous system, which helps with depression, anxiety and stress.

This practice has the power to undo deeply unconscious behaviours, attitudes, and thought patterns. It can empower you to make changes in your life that you might not have otherwise felt capable of doing.

Indeed, it is an effective system for addressing a variety of needs. If you know that you need to relax more or that you have always wanted to try meditation; if you have been practicing yoga for some time, but feel frustrated with your lack of personal growth; or if you are actively seeking healing, Yoga Nidra may be the answer for you.

Your Yoga: A Spiritual Practice

It is unfortunate that some people use yoga for purely physical reasons because it is a profound spiritual practice.

With a devoted and consistent practice, yoga will lead you toward the spiritual enlightenment outlined in such classic texts as the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita.

Yogic Spirituality

Yoga is not a religion. In fact, devotees of many different religions participate in a healthy yoga practice. Some people might consider yoga to be their “religion” in the sense that it is their path or lifestyle of choice.

Literally, yoga means “union with god,” and in Hinduism, Krishna is the godhead, the symbol of pure consciousness. The difference between Hinduism and yoga is that yoga does not require you to worship, only to observe and honour.

What Does Spirituality Mean To You?

Many people consider themselves to be spiritual because they believe in something greater that connects us all. They may refer to that “something” as god with no particular form, shape, face, or name. To them, being spiritual has more to do with the foundational principles that are shared by many organized religions — beliefs, for example, such as treating people with respect.

In our daily lives, we are often distracted by meaningless external stimuli. Yoga reminds us of our interconnectedness with everybody and everything in the universe. By being mindful, meditating, and controlling our senses, it enables us to see clearly and connects us with the truth.

Taking Your Yoga Practice into Every Day

It’s not as hard as you think. Simply by applying some yogic principles to your daily life, you will begin a journey into spirituality.

Do Good, Be Nice. Ahimsa is the yogic practice of nonviolence. Be kind and gentle with yourself and others. You can be your own worst critic. You may unfairly judge other people. Stop unhealthy and negative thought patterns. Be compassionate, understanding, and loving.

Be Mindful. Pay attention! If your life seems to be a continual string of mindless actions, it’s time to get present! Make each moment count.

Meditate. Take time to meditate, especially if you have a hectic schedule. Meditation is deeply empowering and calming, and it connects you with yourself and the Divine.

Read. Studying yogic philosophy is a devotional practice. The Yoga Sutras, written by the sage Patanjali, may, arguably, only be of interest to a very dedicated yoga practitioner. However, try reading a bit of the Bhagavad Gita daily. You may find it more straightforward.

The Bhagavad Gita

This central text of Hinduism is like a Bible for yogis in the sense that it teaches lessons and offers guidelines through the telling of a story. In Christianity, the Bible uses various stories called parables to impart God’s teachings in a memorable way.

The Gita takes place on a battlefield (representing inner turmoil and spiritual battle) as a conversation between the warrior Arjuna and the Supreme Being Krishna. Its central teaching is that of karma yoga (selfless service).

By studying and applying the lessons of the Gita to your life, you will extend your practice on the yoga mat toward a greater development of your spiritual being.

The Secret to a Successful Yoga Practice? Practice!

Practice makes perfect, right? But what if perfection should not even be part of the equation when it comes to your yoga practice?

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Svatmarama wrote, “Constant practice alone is the secret of success.” Sometimes the process is more valuable that the outcome. Many people value goals more than what it takes to achieve them, specifically work and diligence.

Yoga is not a goal-oriented activity. It is an ongoing practice. Through yoga, you are engaging meaningfully and productively with yourself.

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Svatmarama also wrote, “Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy.” Similarly, a former colleague shared a wise nugget of advice: Do it now. This was his motto to avoid procrastination and be as successful as possible.

Sometimes we have a tendency to talk about things rather than actually doing them. Focusing on the process makes us realize a simple truth: you can’t even begin to accomplish a goal without taking action.

Yoga requires self-discipline and consistent action. Regardless of your chosen path, you need to practice — if not daily, then at least consistently. You need to do the work to yield the result.

This is why karma yoga is such a powerful practice. It puts service at the forefront with no attachment to the fruits of labour.

Theory versus Practice

According to Sri K Pattabhi Jois, father of Ashtanga, “Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.” The application of theory, or in some cases the reworking of theory, brings you into the present instead of entertaining what if’s and what could be’s.

Yoga is a system, a science. Just like a scientist in a laboratory with his or her hypotheses, the yogi “experiments.” The only difference is that the yogi’s experiments involve asana.

The Practice of Asana

If you consistently practice a posture, you are bound to get better at manifesting it. If you consistently neglect one posture in particular, such as full locust or backbends, you deprive yourself of that learning opportunity. Acquiring new knowledge by working intimately with these postures will help you discover more about them.

Through direct experience, you observe and understand asana in a different way than from just reading from a book. You feel subtleties in your own body and may even develop new strategies or techniques.

You not only practice the pose but also the techniques of being in the pose. You become better at being still, mindful and present.

Practice Equals Success

The beautiful thing about a yoga practice is that its effects have the potential to permeate into all parts of your life. The deeper you practice, the greater your opportunity of becoming a successful human being.

Yoga brings you back to your natural state, one of bliss and pure consciousness. Although you are already a perfect, divine being, your yoga practice helps you to remember this, so you are not just working painstakingly toward an external, imposed goal of perfection.

Through diligent practice, you work to find your way back to yourself. This is true success!

Meditation: Many Methods to Master the Mind

What exactly is meditation? People usually think it entails sitting still and not thinking. Based on this definition, they think it will be impossible for them! While their perception is correct to some extent, it is also not entirely accurate.

There are many different styles of meditation that utilize varying techniques or approaches such as mantras, visualization, and breathing. Some practitioners even keep their eyes open. While sitting in stillness is common practice, you are bringing focus to your naturally active mind rather than eliminating all thoughts.

Traditionally, meditation is a mental discipline designed to bring you into a state of consciousness and closer to enlightenment, also known as Samadhi.

Sitting in Lotus

Lotus pose, Padmasana, is considered the ideal seated position for meditation. Your feet are placed on opposite thighs with the soles of your feet turned upward and your knees touching the floor. Of course, this is not accessible for most people.

When in lotus, proper posture and correct alignment keeps you alert and increases concentration. Your chakras are aligned, creating a portal for divine energy to flow freely. You can also sit in half-lotus or a simple cross-legged pose, or you can even lie down. Is this sounding a bit more attractive to you?

Meditation can also happen in the form of movement. With walking meditation, you completely immerse yourself in the sounds and sights around you. Or you can practice yoga, tai chi, or hula hooping! There are countless ways to meditate so it’s important not to fall into a dogmatic view of meditation as the act of sitting still.

Yoga and Movement-based Practices

Meditation is about bringing yourself into the present and cultivating self-awareness. Therefore, you can make any of your actions meditative.

One of the major purposes of hatha yoga, the physical branch of yoga, is to limber up the body in order to be able to sit in lotus; at the same time, yogic exercise constitutes a powerful method of mastering the mind. Since a yoga class is a primarily physical experience for most people, it may be difficult for you to grasp that the focus of the mind plays an essential role in this physical practice. When you use your breath to control your mind to control your body, you bring yourself into a moving meditation.

Hula hoopers often consider getting into “the zone,” a place where thinking about technique is abandoned and feeling the flow is the focus, as a meditative experience.

Mindfulness in Action

Being mindful of daily activities can also be considered a kind of meditation. This is the yoga of everyday life. Instead of rushing, take your time when you eat. Chew slowly and savour what you are tasting. Pay attention to the rainbow of colours and the array of delightful aromas of your food. When you are in conversation with people, listen attentively and take a moment before you speak.

By being mindful of your actions, you are meditating as you bring yourself fully into the present moment, living your life with conscious awareness. This may not prove to be less challenging than sitting still in lotus, but it presents you with more options to explore meditation.

What are Yoga Blocks For?

Even if you have attended many yoga classes, you may have never used props during your practice. Perhaps, you have seen them at your local yoga studio, but you still may have no idea how yoga blocks are used.

Alignment

Proper posture is foundational to a yoga practice. Whether in standing postures such as Mountain Pose (Tadasana) or seated postures such as Easy Pose (Sukhasana), proper alignment makes postures as physically effortless and non-stressful as possible.

Alignment begins with the position of the pelvis. A yoga block can help to bring the pelvis into a neutral position, making it much easier to sit for periods of time, which is especially useful during meditation. If your pelvis tilts forward or backward, your body needs to work harder to stay upright, resulting in discomfort.

Placing a yoga block either widthwise or lengthwise on your yoga mat under your sitting bones will give you the height you need to neutralize your pelvic position. Less strain is put on the spine, shoulders, and neck from being thrown out of alignment when in a slumped position or hyperextension. Your knees will come closer to the floor or rest on the floor below your hips, which is ideal for meditation.

A Helping Hand

In standing postures, such as Warrior (Virabadrasana) 3 or Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana), a yoga block can help you to feel more stable and confident. You can focus on breathing and exploring the posture instead of your fear of losing your balance.

Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) requires you to move from Warrior 3 (standing on one leg, bringing the other leg up and back and upper body down so they are both on one plane, level with your hips). Since you are already working on balance and strength, placing your hand on the floor to support yourself while opening your opposite hip and bringing your opposite arm up may seem a bit precarious!

If you are unable to reach the floor without compromising your alignment, a block can act as an extension of your arm, giving you more space to lengthen your side body, while bridging the gap between your hand and the floor. This simple modification gives you more freedom to feel your body and play with possibility.

From Active to Passive

A yoga block can provide physical support, so that you can relax into a posture with less effort. Changing a posture from active to passive allows you to experience it differently.

In Reclining Bound Angle (Supta Baddha Konasana), you lie on your back with the soles of your feet together, outer knees releasing toward the floor. This can be uncomfortable as tight hips and groins resist the release. Placing a block of the same height under each knee, supporting the outer thigh, allows you to move toward deeper release.

There are many other ways to use yoga blocks in your asana practice. As with other yoga props, they are helpful tools for bringing the body into alignment, creating stability, and providing support for relaxation. Now that you have this basic knowledge, try experimenting with blocks to take you deeper into your personal yoga practice.

Simple Yoga Routines for Everyday Life

Yoga does not have to complicated. It is possible to make it part of your daily life. The key is simplicity and accessibility. Try these simple-to-follow yoga routines designed for various times of the day.

Start Your Morning Engine!

One of the most effective ways to wake up your body is by stretching in the form of a sun salutation, a flowing sequence of postures.

Classical Hatha Sun Salutation:

  • • MOUNTAIN POSE: Stand with your toe knuckles together, heels slightly apart. Relax your arms at your sides. Inhale deeply.
  • • Exhale, bringing your hands in front of your chest into PRAYER POSITION.
  • • Inhale, reaching your arms forward and up beside your ears, coming into a BACKBEND.
  • • STANDING FORWARD BEND: Exhale, reaching your arms forward, hinging at your hips, bending your knees if needed for your hands to come beside your feet.
  • • Inhale, reaching your right leg back, bringing your knee to the floor, coming into a LOW LUNGE.
  • • Exhale and inhale, bringing your left leg back into PLANK.
  • • KNEES-CHEST-CHIN: Hug your inner elbows in toward your body. Exhale your knees, chest, then chin down to the floor, but not your hips.
  • • BABY COBRA: Using hands for support, inhale and slide forward, pressing your pubic bone down gently. Lift your head and chest, keeping arms close to your body.
  • • DOWNWARD DOG: Pressing your hands into the floor, exhale and reach your tailbone up and back, bringing your body into an inverted V shape.
  • • LOW LUNGE: Inhale, bringing your left foot forward.
  • • STANDING FORWARD BEND: Exhale, bringing your right foot forward.
  • • BACKWARD BEND: Inhale, bringing your arms up and back.
  • • MOUNTAIN POSE: Exhale, releasing your arms to your sides.

Repeat on opposite side to complete 1 round. Do 2 to 10 rounds.

Working Yoga into Your Work Day

If you are like most people, you probably spend much of your work day in unnatural positions such as sitting at a computer. Give yourself the opportunity to prevent tight shoulders and neck pain resulting from extended periods of sitting or improper posture.

Passive Forward Bend:

Stand with your feet hips-width apart and knees soft. Gently hinge at your hips. Let your head be heavy. Take hold of opposite elbows.

Nod your head as if saying “yes,” then shake your head as if saying “no” to release neck tension. Be as passive as possible, allowing your spine to decompress. Just hang out and breathe!

Release your arms. Press into your feet and slowly uncurl your spine until you are standing again.

Relax and Release

At the end of your day, you probably won’t feel like being very active. Take time to prepare your system to rest and replenish itself.

Sleepy Time Sequence:

Hug your knees into your chest with both hands. Take 5 deep breaths.

Place your feet on the bed. Bring the soles of your feet together, releasing your outer knees. Support your legs with pillows or blankets. Reach your arms above your head, and take hold of opposite elbows. Breathe here for 5 minutes.

Extend your legs out, keeping feet apart. Bring your arms to a 45-degree angle away from your body. Focus entirely on breathing, letting go of the stresses of your day. After at least 5 minutes, allow yourself to drift into sleep.

Ahimsa: Loving with Intention

Ahimsa is a Sanskrit term meaning “to do no harm.” It is the practice of nonviolence or the avoidance of violence, and acting from a place of pure love. One of the five Yamas, or restraints, Ahimsa is part of a code of ethics outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.

Applying Ahimsa During Asana Practice

Sometimes students become frustrated at the beginning of classes when the instruction is moving too slow for their liking. The slow pace conflicts with their tendency to go fast, full-force ahead. Like these students, you may be so goal-oriented in your practice that you will do anything to force your way into a yoga posture, instead of experiencing the process and letting your breath guide you.

A slow pace and connection with breath is meant to bring you into the present, to cultivate awareness, and to observe yourself in action. By being mindful and moving slowly, you decrease the risk of possible injury as you avoid hazardous movements.

Mindful movement also inspires body awareness, developing a love relationship with your body, so you know how to nurture and respect it. You should be gentle with yourself; indeed, there is no need to be harsh and aggressive — which is usually less productive.

By yogic standards, activities such as running and aerobics are considered violence against the body, while yoga asana provides the optimal kind of non-violent bodily movement. In short, asana is ahimsa in motion.

Vegetarianism: Animal Love

Many people consider a vegetarian diet as a form of ahimsa. The practice of eating meat is regarded as a method of harming and causing suffering to animals.

Traditionally, the yogic diet is lacto-vegetarian. It includes dairy because, in Hindu religion, cows are sacred and treated with respect. In North America, the consumption of dairy as part of a yogic diet is discouraged, unless it is organic.

Eating a pure vegetarian or vegan diet can be seen as a way of being supremely loving and non-harming toward yourself. In yogic terms, we eat to gain Prana, vital life energy. Food gets energy from the sun, so plant-based foods will provide the most energy and best nutrients for your system. Aside from your body, these pure foods also have a profoundly positive effect on your mind’s clarity.

Relationship and Interaction

You can be harmful through your words, actions, and thoughts. Take a moment (perhaps, a breath?) before saying something to hurt somebody’s feelings, especially if you really care about that person. Often, we make comments out of an emotional or reactive place, so we do not have a chance to consider consequences. The result of doing harm to others is suffering: theirs and your own.

You can also be violent toward yourself. You may criticize and judge yourself too harshly, or you might tell yourself that you are unworthy of acceptance and love.

Of course, we are all deserving of love. Ahimsa reminds us to be compassionate, kind, and loving to free ourselves from the suffering we cause one another.

“Slow Versus Flow”: Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga

Hatha is the path of yoga with which you might be most familiar, but did you know it is also a style of yoga? Did you know that Vinyasa is a type of Hatha yoga? Now you might be wondering about the difference between Hatha and Vinyasa, the two most common styles of yoga.

Hatha Yoga: The Foundation

Hatha is a system of yoga written about in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swami Swatamarama in 15th-century India.

In Sanskrit, Hatha means force. Another common interpretation: Ha means sun, Tha means moon. Hatha yoga addresses opposites and their union to achieve balance in the bodily systems.

It consists of asanas (physical postures or exercises) and pranayama (breathing exercises), whose purpose is supposed to be for spiritual enlightenment as they discipline and prepare the body and mind for meditative practices.

What is a Hatha class?

A Hatha yoga class is usually slow-paced with postures being held for periods of time. It can be practiced with no particular sequencing, though schools such as Sivananda and methods such as Bikram (hot yoga) follow a sequence of 12 and 26 postures, respectively.

Hatha yoga stresses relaxation, proper rest, and steadiness. While practicing, you use a full yogic breath, sometimes referred to as a 3-part breath, which is as natural and quiet as possible. You expend as little energy as necessary, keeping the body relaxed, the mind calm, and the breath even.

This is the best type of environment for a beginner since the approach is deep, yet slow. You can cultivate a solid foundation as you learn to connect with your breath and your body.

What is Vinyasa?

In Sanskrit, Nyasa means “to place,” while Vi means “in a special way.” A sun salutation, Surya Namaskar, is an example of a Vinyasa. Separate postures are linked together in a flowing motion.

A Vinyasa practice is considered more of an intermediate or advanced practice because of the correlation between fluid movement and breath. This does not mean that you cannot practice and explore Vinyasa as a new student. But consider this: if you find it challenging to control your breath, you might find it challenging to link it smoothly with movement that you might also find challenging. However, if your teacher’s style is slower, practicing Vinyasa could be appropriate and accessible for a beginner.

This is an example of how Vinyasa yoga is quite diverse. Though known as a more rigorous practice, no particular pace is required. Vinyasa comes from Ashtanga yoga, a style made popular by Pattabhi Jois. Unlike Ashtanga, it follows no particular sequence or series.

In Vinyasa, you use an audible and controlled Ujayi breath, to focus the mind and assist you through movements. This breath creates internal heat for internal cleansing.

In a nutshell: Vinyasa is a style of Hatha Yoga. On a yoga schedule, think of Hatha as slow and deep, and Vinyasa as fast and flowing. As styles of yoga differ, so do those of your teachers, which will affect your experience. You won’t know what works for you until you try!

Karma Yoga: The Practice of Selfless Service

Even though the word “karma” is now widely accepted in the English language, the concept of karma remains more elusive than one would think — even among yoga practitioners.

In North America, we are more familiar with Hatha yoga, particularly the practice of asana in yoga classes. Nonetheless, karma is a path of yoga gaining popularity, as more people become involved to some degree in a yoga community.

A Cure For Depression and Anxiety?

According to the teachings of Swami Sivananda, a respected guru whose disciple Swami Vishnudevananda brought yoga to the West, karma yoga can remedy conditions of depression and anxiety.

In The Practice of Karma Yoga, Swami Sivananda wrote, “by doing service, you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, the idea of superiority and all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. Humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy will be developed. The sense of separateness will be annihilated. Selfishness will be eradicated. You will get a broad and liberal outlook on life. You will begin to feel oneness and unity.” By serving others, you ultimately serve yourself through an improvement in your emotional and spiritual well-being.

Feelings of depression and anxiety result from mismanaged emotions. Depression has been referred to as “anger turned inward,” while anxiety occurs when you are over-stimulated and overwhelmed. When you practice karma yoga, you train your mind away from your own emotional state to focus on the needs of others. And this change in focus can help improve your own mood.

One Path: Yoga in Action

Karma yoga is the path of yoga which stresses action. In this spirit, many yoga studios now offer what they refer to as karma yoga programs. Participants usually receive a certain amount of yoga classes or unlimited yoga classes in return for a minimum amount of hours of work.

However, true karma yoga is considered to be selfless service with no expectation of immediate reward. Your reward in practising karma is spiritual, not material.

It is in this lack of expectation that you can discover something you may not expect to find within yourself. When you are motivated by unselfish reasons, and you realize your interconnectedness with others, you enjoy the pleasure of living in community and acting from the heart.

A Path to Self-Realization

In the Bhagavad Gita, a central yogic text and one of the most important in Hinduism, karma yoga is explained as an even deeper and more profound practice. In Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita, the Supreme Being Krishna says to the warrior Arjuna:

Human beings are bound by Karma other than those done as Yajna (sacrifice). Therefore, O Arjuna, do your duty efficiently as a service or Seva to Me, free from attachment to the fruits of work.

When you have god or a pure intention in mind as you perform any action, you eliminate or neutralize the karmic consequence of any action. When you trust that you are acting in good faith, in devotion to a higher being, or for a greater purpose, you act out of a spiritual, not selfish, intentions.