17 Jan What is Yoga?
The word yoga is said to translate to yoke, to join or to unite. It is a ‘doing’ word and we often see the word union as a definition of yoga but what does that actually mean?
Yoga can take different forms. Many of us in the Western world see yoga as a form of physical exercise – a series of postures that flow together (or are held statically) that strengthen and stretch the body in order to release physical tension and/or tightness, which in turn affects the mental/emotional state of the practitioner. Yoga can definitely take that form and it can take many other forms as well. The ‘what’ for yoga is based around the 8 limbs that Patanjali wrote of many moons ago in The Yoga Sutras.
These 8 components are said to guide and support us in living a meaningful and purposeful life and they are:
1. Yama – the way with interact with others
2. Niyama – the way we interact with ourselves
3. Asana – physical posture
4. Pranayama – breath
5. Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses
6. Dharana – internal focus/concentration
7. Dhyana – contemplation/meditation
8. Samadhi – enlightenment
Simply put yoga can be diverse as you can see from the limbs above. We can practice physically or we can withdraw moving our attention inward to focus on the breath. We can be practicing our yoga out in the world in the way we interact with others and in how we relate to ourselves. Yoga might look like practicing Yoga Nidra Meditation everyday. The wondrous thing is that Yoga can change with us as we grow and move through the inevitable change that comes with transitioning through life.
Do one of these aspects of Yoga call your attention – is there an aspect you would like to explore, one that you believe would be most beneficial to you?
So what is yoga to me?
The practice of yoga is and can be different for every body. My expression and practice of yoga has changed over the years. I came to yoga because of an injury as well as some low level anxiety. My practice early on was very gentle but powerful – a combo of traditional hatha yoga mixed with flowing qi gong and that became my first teacher training. It was wonderfully soothing to my overwrought nervous system and as my physical body strengthened I was drawn to ‘stronger’ and more dynamic practices. Then that changed too – most especially during children bearing and rearing days, breast treatment and menopause. Most days I practice meditation, yoga nidra and/or a form of physical practice – but I don’t hold myself to it anymore – it’s free flowing living this life can be wide — some days my yoga is to rest and that is the most important aspect I think I have learned from my practice of yoga – to connect to myself first and foremost is the great gift yoga keeps on giving to me. Connecting and listening intently and intuitively – what do I need most today? I overrode this dear body for too long – now I choose to listen to and honour her except when I go back into old patterns! Ha ha – disclaimer – being human! Samadhi not quite yet – being ‘all the things’ human yes!