We all know that yoga has been around much much longer than social media, but I didn’t always know (along with many others I’m sure) that yoga is not about physical hypermobility and amazing abs. It’s not about competition or performance. Yoga is a science that gives us the tools to work towards freedom and happiness for ourselves and for EVERY. ONE. Yoga is not exclusive to any body type, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, physical or mental capability, etc.
Yoga is a way of life. It’s an ancient practice from the Indus Valley cultures that informs how we move through the world from how we interact with others to how we honor our authentic selves. "Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit verb, "yuj," meaning to yoke or unite. Through yoga, we learn to unite our minds and bodies and spirits, to unite with our true selves, and to unite with others in the spirit of diversity and inclusion.
The study of yoga is not about learning proper alignment in poses. Yes, a safe movement practice keeps us limber and physically and emotionally healthy, but yoga philosophy offers so much more than just āsana (the physical practice). Ancient texts like The Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita offer guidance for how to change our lives in positive ways by evaluating our ethics, using breathwork, learning how to focus and be discerning about how and where we spend our energy, and more. The goal of yoga is to create personal and collective change for the better. If you’re starting a yoga practice this year, great!! I encourage you to take it further than an exercise class and see what kind of positive changes you can make for your mental health, your community, and even the world.