What is Yoga?
“Yoga has a further meaning which suggests a mirror, in which we might see ourselves.”
Defining Yoga can depend on the lens one looks through, who, and when you ask. For the sake of starting somewhere …. The philosophy of “Classical” Yoga can be defined as one of the many classical Indian Darsanas. Darsanas are schools of thought, lenses, or mirrors for interpreting reality. Yoga appears throughout the Indian corpus of Shastras, Sutras, and texts.
The term Yoga is also used to describe the result of Yoga itself, as a union, through recognition of the self’s true nature or unfettered and transparent discernment with no wild waves or confusion from the mind. There are many schools, iterations, definitions, translations, opinions, and meanings of Yoga, these are just some….
The word Yoga is first mentioned in the Vedas of India which are some of the most ancient wisdom teachings known to man. Yoga evolved through the ages and eventually took place as one of the six classical Indian Darsanas or lenses for interpreting reality. Yoga develops philosophically through the Śramaṇa movement, Samkhya Darsana, various oral traditions through the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Pātañjalayogaśāstra, and many other rich yet lesser-known texts.
In the "Classical" Yoga Darśana, there are eight limbs, or stages, which make up the philosophical Yoga of Patanjali. Asana, which refers to the physical postures commonly associated with Yoga, is just one part of the complete system of Yoga. The other limbs cover aspects such as lifestyle, relationships, breath control, and meditation.
What has become so popular worldwide over the last fifty years and is Asana-centric is Modern Postural Yoga. This viral, more physical remix is usually far from the robust contemplative science of awareness that is Patanjali’s Yoga. In this online learning space, we will attempt to present the practice, resources, and knowledge to help elucidate and find your course and highlight the lesser-known transformative inner limbs.
A Science of the Mind, Body
Soul
Classical Yoga is a comprehensive system that encompasses philosophy, psychology, and science. The system was formalized by the Pātañjalayogaśāstra, also known as the Yoga Sutras. Classical Yoga involves various practices such as controlling the nervous system through breath control, enhancing awareness of psychological impressions, and preparing the mind and body for focused concentration and meditation. Moreover, it is a practice of linking and uniting various aspects of onesself, including the true self and a specific goal or task. It teaches self-observation and consciousness to prevent repeated mistakes and brings individuals closer to a higher power or their inner selves, depending on one's beliefs. It is essential to note that classical Yoga has been influenced by numerous Indian and Eastern wisdom traditions and philosophies, which can be studied and applied to improve oneself and others.
Union :
Your True Nature
Learn More About Yoga's Meaning
"The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships"
The Deeper levels of Yoga :
Darśana
What is a Darśana?
Reduce the Confusion (Dukha)
Yoga aims to reduce confusion or Dukha, which refers to suffering, stress, pain, or unease in the Yogic System. To experience the benefits of Yoga, it is essential to understand what causes confusion and leads to the absence of Yoga. The confusion or suffering is caused by Kleshas, which are several kinds of confusion that arise from how we see ourselves and others, and how we process and cling to our life experiences and impressions. Identifying the Kleshas, reducing the confusion or suffering (Duhka), recognizing it, and improving our ability to discern can help us make better choices, leading to more joy and contentment.
Your Yoga vs. Modern Postural Yoga
Today’s International Yoga Landscape is Vast and Extremely Confusing…
There have been several waves of Yoga gaining popularity in the West, each contributing to its many interpretations, projections, fusions, and inevitable distortions. These include Swami Vivekananda's speech at the World's Fair in 1893, the arrival of many Swamis and Eastern teachers at Western shores, Krishnamacharya’s profound effect on modern practice, psychedelics, the hippie movement, the West's obsession with aerobics, exercise, the gross body, and a myriad of brands. All of these factors have led to a state of confusion, making it difficult to differentiate between what is authentic and what has been created, elaborated, and manufactured as a commodity to sell training and fill group classes, leading to a 20-billion-dollar industrial complex.
To navigate this confusion, it is essential to start by differentiating what comes from actual Yogic texts, such as the Yoga Sutras and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. It is also essential to understand the system of Indian philosophy being purported and whether you are following a brand, path, lineage, or style, such as Hatha, Tantra, Ashtanga, or Vedanta.
Get clear on Indian Philosophy or the Six Classical Orthodox Darśanas.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How do I find MY Yoga?
Group Classes?
Group classes are a popular way to start practicing Yoga, but it's important to approach them with discernment, self-awareness, and safety in mind. Practicing Asanas in a group setting can be a wonderful and unifying experience. However, it can also bring up feelings of inadequacy, competition, and past trauma for some practitioners. It's important to remember that everyone's body, experience, and practice are unique and should not be compared to others.
Since each individual's body is different, not everyone's pose, flexibility, or approach will be the same in a group class. It can be difficult for instructors to address each practitioner individually in a group setting, and it can also be challenging for practitioners to focus on their own practice without getting distracted by others.
Some practitioners may become overly competitive and disrupt the energy in the room. However, participating in community Asana practice can still be beneficial as long as one uses it to strengthen their personal practice and practice discernment.. read more
Yoga Adapted to the Individual: Discernment and Self-Observation (Vivekas and Svādhyāya)
Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar were strong proponents of adapting Yoga to the individual. They evolved into teaching Asana one-on-one in a more personal, therapeutic, and confidential manner based on each practitioner's unique experience, needs, and healing. In most cases, the instruction focuses on their condition and how the yoga techniques can help them feel better or improve their function rather than processes or methods of yoga practice. These ideas have evolved into the field of Yoga Therapy, which seeks to relieve some symptoms or health conditions troubling the practitioner.
Yoga is about cultivating a profound discernment
of the difference between
the Nature of our Being and
the Being of our Nature.
– Pātañjalayogaśāstra Chapter One verses 12-16
As we develop our practice, we learn to observe our minds and bodies more closely as they teach us about our patterns, experiences, and healing. This practice of self-study is known as Svādhyāya and is paramount in Yoga as one of the tenets of the Niyamas. read more
Is Yoga Physically Painful?
Our answer is NO. From a textual perspective, there are no references to Asana being painful. Quite the opposite. The perfect balance of gentleness and strength through breath-centric movement is encouraged and displayed through Sutra 2.46
“Sthira Sukham Asanam Asana (posture) is a steady, comfortable posture.”
- Pātañjalayogaśāstra
Sthira and Sukha are two concepts from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Sthira is a Sanskrit word that means ‘to have steadiness and stability.’ Sukha is a Sanskrit word that means “with ease and comfort.”
Our culture's emphasis on physical perfection, competition, success, athleticism, and militarism has led many of us to push ourselves to the brink in order to achieve our goals. Unfortunately, this mindset often leads to injuries during yoga practice due to exaggerated and unsafe movements. To avoid this, it is crucial to cultivate discernment or Vivekas. If you ever experience physical pain during your practice, this is a sign that you need to slow down and take a break. Additionally, it's important to focus on your breath and pranayama techniques throughout your practice to keep your body and mind supple. By observing and using your breath to guide you and lsyening to your body, you can avoid getting caught up in the potentially harmful mindsets that often accompany physical competition. Ultimately, this is what yoga is all about. Discernment.
Finding a Teacher & Power Dynamics
As a yogi, connecting with people and practitioners on a multidimensional level is essential. One of the fundamental principles of yoga practice is the importance of having a good teacher representing a lineage or traditional parampara. However, after two decades of practicing yoga, I have seen many well-known and respected teachers and lineages fall into controversy and disgrace due to teachers abusing their power and students projecting their expectations onto the teachers. This has fundamentally changed how knowledge, physical contact, and relationships are viewed and expressed between wisdom keepers and aspirants. In many cases, it is no longer appropriate to physically adjust other bodies in a yoga asana setting due to the possibility of causing trauma or injury. This approach is now commonly referred to as being "trauma-informed." If someone has a history of abuse, incarceration, injury, or body sensitivity, physically adjusting them or approaching from behind during a yoga practice could disturb their practice
Being Culturally Aware
As we explore the world, it becomes evident that cultures, ethnicities, and people have different customs, behaviors, sensitivities, and collective histories. As responsible global citizens, we strive to increase our levels of cultural sensitivity. Yoga is one of the most significant contributions Indian civilization has made to the world. We must approach our relationship with this practice with cultural sensitivity, awareness, and grace. India has a long history of experiencing multiple waves of colonialism, invasion, and suppression of its traditions, temples, and wisdom culture by imperial powers and invading neighbors.
In the West, we have a desire for spirituality and come from a melting pot of cultures, which has led to the common practice of grouping various wisdom cultures and native traditions and using them in our spiritual repertoire, often for profit. However, it can be harmful to simply take from India without proper understanding, sensitivity, and respect, given that India was colonized for two hundred years under brutal imperial rule. Therefore, it is essential to approach these practices with respect, understanding, and sensitivity, rather than merely taking and appropriating them for our benefit.