What comes to mind when you think of yoga?
Is it an exercise class? Is it doing handstands on the beach? Is it the one time you accidentally signed up for hot yoga and thought you were going to die?
Yoga is a spiritual practice which originated from South Asia thousands of years ago. Today in the Western world it’s usually thought of as a physical practice to increase flexibility. Traditionally, it has involved so much more!
On a spiritual level, yoga is a method to get to know the Self. The Self is our consciousness- our awareness, our Soul, the part of us that is unchanging. This is in contrast to our little ‘s’ selves- our ego, our brain, and the part of us that acts unconsciously.
All the practices of Yoga serve to help you connect with your higher Self, quieting your mind so you can see more clearly and guiding you towards self-actualization.
I think this is the reason why so many people are drawn to yoga. It is incredibly healing to realize you are more than your thoughts, emotions, and physical body. You are something much bigger, wiser and more mysterious.
So, how does the physical practice tie into this? Well, all of the postures we practice today are designed to help clear the body from energetic blockages, stimulating the flow of “prana,” or life force energy. The physical postures, or asanas, prepare the body and mind for meditation, where we more clearly see our higher Selves. What we see, we can become more like.
While the basic principles of yoga can be simplified, in truth Yoga has a complicated history. There’s always more to learn, so this is just a very basic recap of where yoga is at today, as well as my understanding of it.
If it’s Not Just Physical Postures, What Else is Involved?
Here’s a spoiler- Yoga is not confined to practicing on your mat! Yoga is something you can practice every moment of every day. The practice of yoga involves adhering to ethical principles, practicing breath control, practicing meditation, and practicing general self-awareness- as well as practicing the physical postures.
What About the Different Types of Yoga Classes?
There are a lot of “types” of yoga classes out there. Here’s a recap of each type-
Hot Yoga: Practiced in a heated room with special grippy mats. Classes vary from “warm” to “hot.”
Vinyasa: Usually a yoga class that links “breath to movement.” Also usually involves repetitive movement sequences and a series of Sun Salutations.
Ashtanga: This is a highly traditional practice that can involve minimal props and following the same sequence of movements in each class.
Hatha: This is usually used to refer to a more gentle yoga class, but it can also refer to the broader system of Hatha Yoga- all modern yoga classes can be considered part of the Hatha system.
Yin: A slow class focused on deep stretching. Each pose is held for several minutes, in theory providing a better stretch for the fascia.
Restorative: Also a slow class- this class is usually focused on rest for the mind rather than physical exertion or deep stretching. Props are heavily utilized to create comfortable postures for the body.
Other: There are honestly so many types of yoga out there, from hula hoop yoga to goat yoga and more. Even the “types” listed above can vary quite a bit depending on the instructor as everyone has their own interpretation.
Remember that doing a yoga class is only a small part of “doing” yoga. Practicing meditation, mindfulness and studying the ethical principles is also considered “doing” yoga!
What are the Benefits of Yoga?
A physical yoga practice can offer a lot of benefits, including better flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as better posture, increased body awareness and better cardiovascular health. It also promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and mental clarity when combined with mindfulness and breath practice.
An advantage to yoga over other forms of exercise is that it is spiritual in nature, and many practitioners can enjoy the healing benefits of incorporating the ancient spiritual practice into their lives. The physical postures are also easily modified for various fitness levels, body types and abilities, making it easy and safe for a lot of people to practice, even when they’re recovering from injury.
The community that yoga classes offer can also enhance the benefits. Many people form an identity as a yoga practitioner, which gives them a deeper sense of purpose. All of these things help with a sense of well-being and better mental health.
What are the Drawbacks of Yoga?
Unfortunately there are also drawbacks to yoga, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change the drawbacks.
The first drawback is common yoga injuries. While it’s rare to get injured suddenly in a yoga class, there are many injuries that can occur over time due to improper practice. What helps with this is committing to proper form, but also to practice strength training in addition to yoga practice.
The second is that there is an overwhelming lack of education regarding the needs of women compared to the needs of men in a yoga practice. Yoga was created for men’s bodies, and most practitioners and teachers don’t realize the need for differentiation, even to their own detriment. A traditional yoga practice can cause a lot of harm to women’s bodies over time, just like many other types of exercise classes. What helps with this is finding a teacher who really understands the needs of women compared to the needs of men in a yoga practice, and who can teach to that.
The third drawback is that sometimes yoga studios can be a little superficial. Maybe that’s your thing or maybe it’s not, it’s just good to know that while some more corporate studios are focused on promoting a certain “look,” others are smaller, more local and more welcoming.
Do you practice yoga? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!