I haven’t talked about yoga lately, but I really want/need too. I lost the inspiration to write about yoga for a while there; my practice even felt a little lack-luster for a few weeks. But I think I have my connection to the practice back. Yoga itself, the “practice” of yoga, is exactly what I’ve been wanting to talk about since I got my mojo back.
People tend to throw around the word “yoga” all the time now. They say things like, “o yea, I did some yoga today,” or “you should try yoga for that **insert ailment here**.” Or simply, “I do yoga.” But what does “yoga” really mean? Yoga isn’t just one thing, one action. It’s a Hindu philosophy of disciplines and literally means “union with one’s self”. So no one does yoga. You practice the philosophy and lifestyle and try to create a balanced union within. Yoga is not just a physical workout like so many American’s believe it is. They think that if they take one or two classes a week for 70 minutes at a studio, they do yoga and are somehow enlightened. They think yoga is a cure-all. The physical practice is amazing, and I do hope that one day everyone will give it a try. But there are so many styles of the physical practice and the simple term “yoga” is not one of them. Ashtanga, Bikram, Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa. You can practice any and any one can have a physical practice.Read More
