Why do we do yoga? What is its true purpose?
In today’s world, yoga has become deeply conflated with asana (the physical postures), and by association fitness. While yoga can increase strength and flexibility, the fact is, there are many other movement modalities that are superior for fitness goals. However, if we solely prioritize physicality, we miss out on the deeper internal benefits that yoga uniquely provides, such as sustaining attention, compassion for self and others, and inner peace.
When I first started teaching, we used to joke that asana was what got people in the door. Now it seems to be all they experience and even the “definition” of yoga..
Yoga is so much more than fitness. Yoga is meant to be the through-line that guides us along life’s path, meeting our ever-changing needs.
I started practicing as a busy dancer in my teens. Dancing was already so physical that I didn’t need a sweaty workout. I sought yoga as a place to relax. At Integral Yoga, where I studied into my late 20s, the classes were often quiet and calm. There were lots of philosophy chats, pranayama, and the all-essential savasana. It was also an extraordinarily welcoming community, which was the antithesis to the competitive world of dance.
Later in my career, I started to practice Iyengar. I loved the specificity and the alignment bits. As dancing faded, I went all in for Astanga Yoga, which was quite physically-demanding. Years later, my home practice has evolved into something very personal. I weave bits and pieces of all the traditions together, in addition to my Buddhist meditation studies.
Looking back now I think the different schools and various emphases in my yoga history were inconsequential. At the end of the day, I now see the through-line: yoga is a ritual; it is a rite.
Anything we do day in and day out, can have a profound effect that may not be realized for many years. We needn’t know the big picture when we are young. We can simply trust that by showing up to our mat in some way through all of life’s stages, our practice will evolve again and again. That is the magic of the practice. It’s cumulative.
Whether you are meditating, breathing, moving, or studying philosophy, yoga is a daily practice that asks us to pause and see ourselves clearly.
Ritual is built on repetition. It survives only with a core essence of purpose.
Our daily practice is an honored custom and an ongoing training. It is both tradition and preparation. It is a path to be followed, and a path to be created anew, day in and day out. As we bring attention and intention to our daily rite, its effects grow.
As your practice inevitably evolves, I invite you to regularly inquire:
- Why do I practice yoga?
- What is the guiding through-line that keeps me returning to the mat every day?
Personally, my daily meetings on my mat help me grow patience and kindness. They help me build a sense of self that is not dependent on the highs and lows; neither the missteps nor the successes. In showing up through all phases of my life, I have learned to be steady with the easy, fun practices, and the tough ones too. I have sensed the habits that I have, accepting and adapting some, and slowly unwinding others.
In times of pain, I have learned to accept that “I” am not this body, and so, not its pain. In times of grief, I have sensed what is real, and what is ever-changing.The ongoing check-ins and seeking of clarity and truth creates a true relationship with one’s Self.
My practice might well be described as a mirror that helps me see my truth. It’s like having a best friend. A friend that knows my history and loves me no matter what, forever.
What a gift.
Be sure to check out Annie’s Hip Study Hatha for a deep dive into pelvic alignment and healthy hips.