In my yoga classes I spend a lot of time talking about what yoga is.
Sometimes I think it’s also helpful to think about what yoga isn’t.
I think this is particularly important when yoga is a practice from an ancient culture that is increasingly making its way into western culture. There needs to be some way to make it palatable to the general public, without actually losing the essence of what it really is.
That can be a tricky balance.
So here’s what yoga isn’t:
- It’s not exercise per se. Sure we are moving our bodies when do asanas. However, yoga in its essence is not the asanas, that’s just one ‘limb’ and has a greater purpose.
- Yoga is not about how flexible you are. The number one concern I hear from students is that they’re not flexible. Particularly with the increase of images of hypermobile people in yoga poses on Instagram, we have a strong concept that yoga requires flexibility. However, yoga is about working with the body as it is each day.
- Yoga isn’t fancy labels and gear. Yep, I own some of those too, so there’s no judgement here. The point is that yoga doesn’t care if we come in our daggy old sweats or a $150 leggings. If anything, going back to the principles of ahimsa, choosing yoga clothes that would cause no harm would be in alignment with yogic philosophy. If we break that down then you might look for things that are made ethically, to the people who make them and the planet, ensuring they’re not releasing micro-plastics.
- Yoga isn’t picking your toes or thinking about what you’re having for dinner.
- Yoga isn’t just coming to the mat
- Yoga doesn’t care whether you’ve done your hair and makeup
- Yoga isn’t interested in your mood
- Yoga doesn’t care about the size and shape of your body
- Yoga doesn’t have anything to do with whether you can get into this pose or that
- Nor does it have anything to do with whether you’re a good person or not (Well….I do yoga, so I’m ok)
What yoga is, is a tool.
It’s a tool in your toolbox to support you to live an intentional life and balance the equivalent of qi, which in yogic traditions is called prana and be able to reach samadi (enlightenment – and what this is in our modern world is certainly worthy of another post). And this particular tool uses postures, focus, self control and values as guiding principles.
I think sometimes we forget that.
Ultimately, most of us in the developed world aren’t ‘following’ yoga, but are more ‘going to’ yoga. It’s something we do that takes us out of our normal life and gives us a reset.
I invite you explore the place of yoga in your life. How do you see it? How does it fit in? What do you use it for? What are you wanting from yoga? Is there something you need to change to deepen your yoga practice and make it more than just about the mat and exercise?
