After my first yoga class at a gym, I remember leaving right after Savasana to hit the treadmill, eager to shake off that unfamiliar feeling of relaxation. I didn’t grasp most of the words the teacher used, and I couldn’t understand why we gathered for what seemed like a nap at the end of the session. It made me slightly nervous, in fact.
Just a couple of days ago, when I invited someone to join my class, they responded, “That sounds nice, but I'm not very flexible.” Both instances, from my early confusion to now inspiring and teaching others, have shown me that unfortunately, yoga is often one of the most misunderstood practices around.
The silver lining, however, is that once you grasp the philosophy behind the practice, it opens doors to new perspectives and a fresh outlook on your entire existence in this world. Yesterday, I began my class with an explanation of what yoga truly is, and I want to share this knowledge with you in the following paragraphs.
"Yoga chitta vritti nirodhah," or in English, "Yoga is the stilling of the turnings of the mind," says the second Sutra, sometimes described as the yogic bible. "So that the seer can see its true nature," "Tada drastuh svarupe avastanam." These two Sutras shift the focus from what is often seen as a physical practice to the mind and spirit, explaining that yoga is less about the physical state and more about seeing oneself, the soul.
In yoga, we distinguish between the soul, the body, and the mind, highlighting the issue of over-identifying ourselves with our bodies and minds. The practice of yoga is there to illuminate our true being in a meditative and blissful state, which we may see as a "goal" in the practice, where we are not distracted by our senses and the material world, but can perceive our souls instead.
In Ashtanga Yoga, we describe the "8 Limbs Path of Yoga" toward that blissful state, where Asana, the physical practice of postures, is just one aspect. We practice Asana to prepare the body for a comfortable seat, where the body is at ease and the spine is long, allowing the mind to be free. Regarding my student’s statement; flexibility is not a requirement to practice yoga but rather an outcome of the practice itself.
It took me an entire teacher training and philosophy classes to truly understand the meaning behind yoga after years of practice. Since then, I have reevaluated my relationship with my body and mind, and to what extent I identify with them.
Understanding yoga goes beyond just physical exercise but take a holistic approach to wellbeing that impacts every aspect of your life. Balancing the body, mind, and spirit through the practice of yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation, you learn to harmonize these elements and tune into the essence of your being. So, while improving physical health, it also brings about several mental benefits, such as a calmer mind, mental awareness, and clarity. Yoga teaches you to listen to your body, become aware of your thoughts, and connect with your inner self, to create a deeper sense of peace and contentment. The practice teaches you mindfulness, helping you live more fully in the present moment and detach from the concept of time.
Engaging in a yoga teacher training program offered me so much from personal development to knowledge about my own body and how it functions. Even if you don't intend to teach eventually, the insights gained during such programs have a meaning that go far beyond professional intentions. Firstly, you delve deeply into the study of anatomy and body mechanics, gaining an understanding of how the body moves and functions. This knowledge not only changes your own yoga practice but also helps prevent injuries and promotes physical health in everyday life. Moreover, you explore various aspects of yoga philosophy and psychology, which will bring room for personal insights and growth. Learning about topics like the yoga sutras, meditation techniques, chakras, and the subtle energy body can broaden your perspective on life and deepen your spiritual understanding. Additionally, the training often involves self-reflection and introspection, encouraging you to confront limiting beliefs and cultivate self-awareness.
A training isn't just about learning poses and sequences but about gaining new perspectives on yourself and life as a whole. This process of self-inquiry and self-discovery teaches you to reassess everything that you believed you are and dive deeper into new thought patterns and new world views, gaining insights into universal truths and principles that can be applied not only on the mat but also in your everyday life. Ultimately, undergoing a yoga teacher training is a journey of self-exploration that opens doors to new ways of thinking, being, and living.
Maybe you are curious about learning about the yogic lifestyle, yoga philosophy, alignment principles, and how to properly structure your practice as per yogic principles. In between mudras, chakras, and gunas, there is a whole world to discover. If I may give a personal recommendation, I’d like to share the yoga teacher training that I enjoyed, which is fully online and gives you lifetime access to any resources:
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