What even is yoga anyway?
What comes to mind when you hear the word 'yoga'? Chanting hippies? People contorted into crazy positions? Sexy people in Lycra?
When you ask Google what yoga is, it will give you many different answers:-
“Yoga is one of the most popular group fitness class there is and has seen a huge rise in popularity over the last two decades.”
“Yoga is a practice that connects the body, breath, and mind “
“Yoga is an Indian heritage involving physical, mental, and spiritual practice, which aims to transform body and mind.”
Maybe you think you know what yoga is, and maybe you don't. But as a yoga teacher, one thing that I can tell you is that people have many ideas about what yoga is, and very often those ideas are often super misguided. The truth is, that I have no authority to tell you what yoga is, but I can tell you a few things that it is not, and like anyone else, I can share with you what I believe that yoga truly is.
Yoga is not an exercise class
Yes, there are many physical benefits to yoga. Yes, when you commit to the practice of yoga you will see and feel physical changes BUT this is just one element of the practice of yoga. Busting out some crazy pretzel looking postures (or even the perfect handstand) doesn’t make someone ‘good at yoga’ - it might mean that they are very bendy, or very strong and this is great! But without the connection of the body, mind and breath - these things are not in themselves, yoga.
Yoga is not competitive
Walking into a yoga class can be intimidating. Most of us have been there at some point, the person next to you is tanned, toned, flows with the grace of an angel and suddenly you feel like an awkward potato. This is normal and believe it or not, all part of the practice. In yoga, we must leave our ego at the door, then when it sneaks back over to our mat mid practice, send it right back out again! How we look in our asana (or yoga pants) isn't what is important, we must not strive to do things as well, or 'better' than anyone else. In yoga we aim to tune into our own bodies, and to find discipline within our own edges.
Yoga is not just what happens on the mat
The physical practice is just one of The Eight Limbs of Yoga. But that is a whole area of study that it too long for a humble blog post – but let's just say that there is way more, wonderful things to yoga – I invite you to take a deep dive and do some reading if that has whet your appetite!
So what is yoga?
Yoga as we know it is evolving every day, which is wonderful. People around the world and commuting to their practice and discovering for themselves what yoga means to them.
If I had to put 'yoga' in a nutshell: 'Yoga' is a Sanskrit word meaning 'to yoke' – which means to join together; in yoga we join our breath, body, soul, and mind.
To me personally, it is a sacred practice that makes my life infinitely better.