WHAT IS YOGA? IS IT EXERCISE OR IS IT MORE?
Most gyms in the country offer Yoga as part of their weekly exercise classes and I even teach at Leisure Centres and Gyms across Wiltshire. This is because Yoga is a physical activity and we all know how important moving our bodies is for staying healthy. As yoga grows in popularity especially in spaces where physical health is a priority this brings us all to wonder.
WHAT IS YOGA? AND IS IT EXCERSIZE?
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years for peace and liberation from suffering. To create unity in the practitioners internal and and external experiences. Because it is a physical practice it has been utilised by many looking to capitalise on its many, many health benefits. For some they come to yoga class purely for an exercise class and that is fine, you can take from your practice what you need! There is of course more to this practice and at the end I will bring together answers from other students and teachers of yoga of what yoga is to them. I hope this will empower you to trust your own experiences of yoga.
Yoga is a mindful movement practice. It will help you become more present as you bring your awareness to your breath and movements. As we practice yoga we improve our physical health but also develop awareness of the body, the mind and the connection between the two. When we become more present and aware, we naturally become more engaged in life. When we are engaged with life we are living fully. So to me, yoga is a movement practice which enhances my physical and mental health and helps me connect to my true self and create a more fulfilling life.
Now a lot of students come to yoga simply to improve their physical health, become more toned or flexible and this is great! It is what yoga poses (asanas) are designed to do. If you look at the Limbs of Yoga (more on that another time), the yoga poses are here to keep our bodies in good health, often out of respect/gratitude for our life and to enable us to sit in stillness for meditation.
Meditation Spot
The Beatles Ashram, Rishikesh, India.
Remember yoga originated in INDIA, a deeply spiritual and devoted country and this is woven into this practice and so, even if yoga is simply a tick in your weekly exercise plan, I hope this awareness comes through and improves your overall wellbeing – not just your abs!
In my classes we sit in stillness, we move, we laugh, we build up a sweat. Each class is different, sometimes classes are challenging, other times deeply relaxing. As we continue to practice yoga we build our own understanding of what yoga is to us.
I would love to hear your thoughts on what Yoga is to you and so please let me know, I will add them all in below!
STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON – WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga is the practice of understanding myself.
Yoga Student & Teacher
Love this question! When I first started yoga it was about the exercise. I was about becoming fitter, stronger and more flexible. Incidentally, it sort of coincided with my developing interest in meditation. Over time as I learned more and more, it became about the exercise AND the mindset. Now, for me, it’s a practice. It’s more like a way of living my life that takes places on the mat but also transpires to off it too. It’s about the connection between my body and mind, strengthening that, learning and developing it. And it’s been a physical transformation too, learning to befriend my body and to understand it and what it is telling me. I never used to listen to my body, but now I recognise that it’s all connected and our body sends us messages all the time. So now my yoga practice is less about getting a sweat on (although I still enjoy this part!), it’s more about listening to myself, taking care of myself, and being comfortable in my own mind and body.
Yoga Student & Teacher in training
My Yoga has changed so much over the years, I think these days my yoga is all about healing.
Yoga Student
yoga to me? nourishes my mind, body and soul in the most positive and lovely way, such a big part of my life . It feels almost like I’m treating myself to a little luxury each time I practice, I leave class feeling great. I think I’m investing in my health for future years , I want to get fitter and stronger as I grow older.
Yoga Student
To me it is just a place to be… to switch off the mind but also challenge my body.
Yoga Student
Yoga is to me …A HUGE stress relief. That manages to relax me and revive me all at the same time. Since injury, poor posture and lower back health, it’s what I call my connector, it brings my weights workouts to meet my core strength and fills in the gaps of what would otherwise be an incomplete picture of health.
Yoga Student
Yoga is a tool that helps us go within and be in this present moment beautifully
Yoga Teacher
Its the breath, the way it calms my mind and feeds my body. It’s that moment when the noise stops, allowing me to see inside my heart. Its the joy that feeds my soul. It was once all about tha asana, but no longer.
Yoga Student
