April 11, 2025

The Bhagavad Gita: A Timeless Tale of Yoga, Meditation, and Inner Wisdom

If you’ve ever rolled out your yoga mat and wondered where all this talk of inner peace, warrior poses, and soulful surrender actually comes from — then it’s time we took a dive into one of the most legendary spiritual texts of all time: the Bhagavad Gita.

But don’t worry — I’m going to TRY and give the story of the Bhagavad Gita the fun way — packed with ancient wisdom, eternal truths, and even a battlefield (yep, really)…I’ve now read it a few times so hopefully I can summarise it okay also. And, of course, I want to relate this back to how its timeless teachings relate to yoga, meditation, and modern life. It’s ‘stuff’ I genuinely use everyday to navigate my world (the battlefield; which doesn’t have to be seen as negative – it depends what’s on your battlefield after all).

The Scene: A Battlefield, Not a Temple

Picture this: You’re standing on a vast battlefield called Kurukshetra. Armies are lined up. Drums are pounding. Bows are drawn. It’s tense. Really tense. And in the midst of it all, a mighty warrior named Arjuna is having a full-blown spiritual meltdown.

This isn’t your average yoga class.

Arjuna, a prince and elite archer, is moments away from leading his army into battle. But there’s a twist — on the other side are his cousins, uncles, teachers, and friends. People he grew up with; people he loves. Suddenly, he drops his bow and says: “Nope. I can’t do this.”

Then enters Krishna — Arjuna’s charioteer, best mate, and, as it turns out, the Supreme Divine himself. (Yes, a charioteer and a god — multitasking at its finest!)

The Gita: A Dialogue on Life, Death, and Everything in Between

What follows is a divine dialogue — a 700-verse conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, right there in the middle of this epic battlefield. And that conversation? It becomes the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most profound spiritual texts in the world and remains by far my second favourite yogi book.

But don’t be fooled by its ancient origins. The Gita is surprisingly relatable, even today. It talks about doubt, duty, fear, purpose, happiness, the nature of the self, and yoga and meditation. All the things we have and some things we need to learn how to cope with in this life.

Yoga in the Gita: It’s Not Just Poses and Postures

When we say “yoga” these days, most of us think of Downward Dog and sun salutations. But in the Bhagavad Gita, yoga means much more than that. THIS is for me, personally, why I fell in love with Yoga. Because of the meaning behind it.

1. Karma Yoga – The Yoga of Action

Krishna kicks things off with Karma Yoga — the idea that we should act without being attached to the outcome. Sound familiar? It’s the ultimate “let go” mantra.

For anyone who’s ever stressed about results, this is your chill pill: Do your best, but don’t obsess over the rest.

In the yoga world, this shows up as practising poses without worrying if they’re Insta-perfect. It’s about showing up for your practice, not performing it. Detaching.

2. Bhakti Yoga – The Yoga of Devotion

Bhakti Yoga is all about love — pure, heartfelt devotion to the Divine. Krishna tells Arjuna to surrender his ego and act with love. Whether you call it God, the Universe, or simply your Higher Self, Bhakti Yoga invites you to live from a place of deep connection and trust.

In your practice what does this mean? It’s that moment when your meditation feels like a prayer, or your yoga flow becomes a moving meditation of gratitude and with time, that happens and it’s magical.

3. Jnana Yoga – The Yoga of Knowledge

This is the path of wisdom and inner inquiry. Jnana Yoga asks, “Who am I, really?” Krishna explains that we are not just the body, or even the mind — we are the eternal soul, the Atman.

Have you heard the classic yoga quote: “You are not a human being having a spiritual experience, but a spiritual being having a human experience.”

When you sit in stillness during meditation, observing your thoughts instead of being ruled by them — that’s Jnana Yoga in action.

The Big Spiritual Plot Twist

Here’s where it gets a little juicy and perhaps layered.

Krishna reveals his true cosmic form — a dazzling, infinite being that contains all of creation. Arjuna sees it and is completely awestruck (and slightly terrified that his friend is so much more than he thought). It’s a mind-blowing moment — a reminder that there’s a vast, divine intelligence behind everything – including you.

But Krishna brings it back to simplicity: Do your duty. Live with love. Be steady in meditation. Realise your true nature. That’s the path to peace.

Meditation in the Gita: The Inner Battlefield

One of the Gita’s standout chapters for me is on Dhyana Yoga — the yoga of meditation. Krishna says the mind is like a restless monkey, hard to control. I know my mind is often like this – I hope you resonate also.

But with practice, he says, it can be tamed.

Here’s the method in a nutshell:

Sit still.
Keep your spine straight.
Focus your mind.
Let go of distractions.
Meditate on the Self, or a chosen divine form.

This isn’t just theory. Science backs it up: meditation reduces stress, improves focus, and boosts emotional wellbeing. If you want to explore this further, come to one of my classes here.

What the Gita Teaches Us Today

So what does this 5,000-year-old story have to do with us scrolling through phones, rushing through commutes, and squeezing in a 20-minute yoga session between meetings?

Everything.

The Bhagavad Gita tells us:

You are more than your thoughts.
Peace isn’t found outside — it’s discovered within.
Yoga is a way of living, not just stretching.
Meditation is how we return home to ourselves.
Act with love, not fear.

It’s spiritual wisdom that’s as relevant today as it was on that battlefield. Our battlefield is life and choose who and what you pop on it.

Be the Arjuna of Your Life

Let’s be honest with ourselves and each other — we’re all Arjuna sometimes. We face tough choices. We freeze up. We doubt ourselves. But the Gita reminds us: we’ve got our own inner Krishna — that calm, wise voice within that knows the way.

So the next time you roll out your yoga mat or sit down to meditate, remember: you’re not just doing a class. You’re stepping into a tradition of spiritual warriors, seekers, and sages. You’re embodying the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita — with every breath, stretch, and moment of stillness.

Om Shanti my friends and I hope to see you at the studio here soon. ✨

Being,

Gizelle Renee Xx