What is yoga all about anyway?
The first thing people say to me when they find out I’m a yoga teacher is
“I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible”. I will continue to reply with “That’s not what yoga is about”.
Yoga is a long term practice and healing method through movement which is connected with the breath. It is the art and science of living. With yoga, ‘practice makes permanent’. It aids self-discovery and self-awareness. The tools you learn on the mat, you can take into your life. Yoga is about bringing harmony between the body and mind. It’s learning to meet yourself where you are, riding the fluctuation and changes in your body and growing through what you go through. Yoga helps you find your way.
Sure, you can build on your strength and your flexibility in a yoga class. You can optimise your body. However, yoga is not limited to the physical. You may also get some temporary relief and relaxation. However, yoga is not only about brief intervention. Yoga isn’t a random 60 minute class or a quick fix.
Oh, if only yoga was a tablet…
Where did it come from?
At no point was there an ‘original yoga’. The entire life span of yoga was an evolution. The reason yoga has lived on is because it has changed to meet the needs of the people. Lineage is a contentious point, it often involves ownership. No-one owns yoga. Its not religious, however, Tantrism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism had major influences in the philosophy of yoga.
We know that that the first indications of yoga came about around 2,000-3,000 years before Jesus lived. Yoga developed and changed so much since then that I would have to write a small dissertation to explain all of it. A major point in its history is Patanjali who is said to be one of the most influential writers of Sanskrit works including the yoga sutras (which is a text about theory and practice). Since then yoga continued to develop and change until in 1893 when someone from India led a conference about yoga in the USA. They took out the bits that wouldn’t be so accepted and added some new bits in. From there yoga continued to take over the world and meet the needs of the people.
Why is yoga so wonderful?
Yoga is a chance to explore the mind-body relationship
Yoga is a method to help connect to feelings
Yoga is an aid to diffuse stress
Yoga can ease pain across a range of conditions
Yoga can help improve your breathing (e.g. by generally making each breath slower and deeper)
Yoga can improve flexibility and strength
Yoga encourages development of a positive self-image, as more attention is paid to nutrition and the body as a whole
Yoga can help improve circulation and cardiovascular conditioning (e.g. lowering heart rate)
Yoga connects us to the now - the only thing that really exists
Yoga cultivates inner peace and calm
So how does this apply to me?
Know that everyone can practice yoga. Its a journey, not a destination. There is so much more to yoga than being able to touch your toes! Don’t let the Instagram yogi’s put you off. I personally love it when a student comes to class having never been before, struggle to follow verbal ques, doesn’t know their right from their left and then over time they identify things about their body that only they could observe on a subtle level. An experienced yogi isn’t able to do every contortionist pose, an experienced yogi knows themselves (physical to spiritual) inside out and back to front.
In a world where we have become so disconnected from ourselves and others,
why not take some time to check in?
https://www.yogaalliance.org/learnaboutyoga/aboutyoga/benefitsofyoga