What is Yoga?

My very simplified, yet realistic, view of this deep and ancient philosophy is yoga is an experience that each individual has to find for him/herself. Yoga is about learning about oneself, on and off the mat. In order to learn and experience, one must be open to exploring even if it means being a little uncomfortable.

To experience the beauty that yoga offers one must be receptive and committed to the learning process. Yoga is a lifelong learning process. Even once you think you’ve found your spirit and you’re living from your heart, you’ll realize there’s more within to be discovered. You’ll crave more.  You’ll crave the process.

I’ve been told that unless you’ve been practicing yoga for 15-20 years you’re still a beginner. Though I believe the beginner mindset for a true yogi continues to exist even if one has been practicing yoga 50 years. There is always something new to learn on and off your yoga mat. Usually the new piece of information you learn (whether it’s an asana, sutra or a news event) changes how you viewed the prior information or pose you once knew. When you start to experiment and play with the new and the old, existing feelings, sensations and thoughts are impacted and new ones are created. There’s always a cause and effect. This is the appeal of yoga. This is life.

Like life, yoga is an evolutionary process. It’s a process full of choices. I encourage all my students to explore a multitude of options: try different yoga styles, teachers, environments (home, studio, outside, office, etc.), poses, amplifications and modifications.  Try a private yoga class in your home and/or attend a group yoga class at a new yoga studio. These are all options in which a choice much be made.  The choices one selects create the experience. Through experimenting and patience, one will experience the beauty of yoga and find that there is no end.  Wishinng you all eternal bliss in your yoga journey.