What is Yoga?

Thomas Yoga Pose

In the popular media and culture right now, yoga is known as the physical postures of hatha yoga or vinyasa yoga. Hatha and Vinyasa yoga are very important tools for purifying and cleansing the nadis and energy channels of the body as well as improving the health and function of the internal organs and glands. More then stretching the body, the practice of yoga stimulates the flow of the energy throughout and the individual experiences enhanced energy, vitality and a feeling of being uplifted and expansive. Both strength and relaxation are the result of the practice.

The physical postures (asanas) and conscious breath (pranayama) are meant to address the physical, mental and emotional toxicity which naturally builds up in human beings. While the asana practice is very important, there are many other facets to the larger field of yoga. The word literally means “to yoke together” or to create balance between two polarities. Yoga is not a religion. Rather, it can be a spiritual path whereby the individual develops a personal connection with the mystical reality, the field of Prana, Universal Intelligence, God and Goddess.

Yoga is a multi-leveled conscious approach to living life in the world from a context of sacredness in all things, places and people. A basic precept of yoga is that the mind creates our reality; what we think creates our outer reality. So the process of disciplining the mind is a very basic quality and result of the disciplines of yoga. It is said that we are refining the power of the mind through the discipline of breath, mental focus and inner gaze. The practices of yoga are spiritual practices, developed over thousands of years, giving the individual tools with which to understand the essence of life and to enhance their own evolution and spiritual maturity.

Thomas Yoga Pose

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

  1. Yamas
  2. Niyamas
  3. Asana
  4. Pranayama
  5. Dhyana
  6. Pratyahara
  7. Dharina
  8. Samadhi

Styles of Hatha & Vinyasa Yoga

Types of Yoga