What is yoga?
The word yoga sometimes conjures images of a contortionist bending and twisting in seemingly painful ways. When in fact, the physical aspect of yoga is only a small part of what yoga is. The word yoga means "to yoke" or "to join" and is about connecting the mind to the body. When we do pranyama, or breathing exercises, and the asanas, the physical postures, we are practicing making the connection. If you're interested in learning more about what yoga is, check out Sadhguru's book Inner Engineering.
Yoga is not something that you do. Yoga is something that you become. It is not an act, it is a quality. - Sadhguru
Why practice yoga?
The health benefits of yoga have long been confirmed in the ancient and medical world. Yoga has been promoted as a pathway to healthy living and high quality of life by numerous medical and health associations including the American Osteopathic Association, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, American Heart Association, and Harvard Medical School.
Benefits include:
Benefits include:
- Heart Health
- Bone Health
- Reduced Stress
- Increased Strength
- Reduced Pain
- Better Sleep
“The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia.” - Dr. Natalie Nivens, DO
How do I start?
What a great question and there are many right answers. The truth is that there is no one way to do yoga because yoga is something each of us has to do on our own. That being said, as a registered yoga instructor, I can hold the space for your practice and guide you through a practice designed to bring your body and mind together. There are so many ways to cultivate an individual yoga practice today. You can read a basic yoga textbook, watch and follow along with youtube videos, listen to guiding podcasts, follow a breathing exercise from an online article, do a class with an app on your phone, or go to a studio or private yoga teacher for a more personal, integrated experience. You can do one of these activities, or ALL of them! It's YOUR yoga practice!
Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life. - B.K.S. Iyengar