What is yoga?
When I began my yoga practice in 2014, I was admittedly looking for a new form of physical exercise. I knew that most of the yogis I’d seen on social media or depicted in our culture were lean, fit, and flexible, and the idea of being able to stand on my head or do a side crow seemed impressive. What I didn’t expect to discover was the power of yoga practice beyond what happens on the mat.
Often, when we think about yoga, we are thinking about the physical practice of yoga: the Asana. Sometimes, we also think of the Pranayama, which is the control of the breath. These two elements are important parts of yoga practice. But did you know that yoga is actually a holistic philosophy that can help us form deeper connections with ourselves, others, and the world around us?
The word ‘Yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, which means to yoke or join together. Through a yoga practice, we are bringing together the mind, body, and breath at the individual level. However, yoga also challenges us to take this practice into our interactions with the world around us.
Historically, yogic theory dates back to ancient India, during which a set of scriptures called the Yoga Sutras defined how to practice yoga in mind, body, and spirit. The Sutras cover eight “limbs”, with Asana and Pranayama being just two of these eight. The additional limbs teach us important concepts such as material detachment, introspection, resilience and self-discipline, generosity, peacefulness, and meditation.
Yoga teaches us that there is no difference between us and the universe we exist within. When you treat yourself, other people, and the world around you with kindness, love, and protection from harm, you become one step closer to achieving complete bliss. So, when we practice yoga as a holistic lifestyle, we are also joining together the individual consciousness with the consciousness of nature and the greater universe.
Everything we learn off of the mat can be applied to our physical yoga practice. For example, when we compare ourselves to others, we will never make progress because we must focus on the journey within. This applies to something as simple as achieving your first handstand and as complex as getting a promotion at work. Likewise, our Asana allows us to unlock new insights about ourselves. For instance, while resting in Savasana, we might realize that we have been avoiding sitting with a feeling that we didn’t want to face; without the distraction of our day-to-day lives, we might finally find the courage to sit deep in those emotions, process them, and move one step closer to healing.
Next time you take a yoga class, ask yourself if you are simply moving through the flow or ready to uncover something deeper. The objective of yoga is not to touch your toes but instead to take in the learnings you experience on the way down.