What is yoga?
If you ask this question to an average person on the street, they will answer something like ‘erhm, it’s an exercise where skinny people can do some of those funny poses like putting their leg behind their head...’
Traditionally, yoga is not an exercise – well, not physical at least.
If you want me to go ‘deep’, I can refer to Patanjali’s quote (the Godfather of Yoga ):
‘’CHITTA VRITTI NIRODHA’’
'’The restraint of the modifications of the minds stuff is yoga’’
- In a simple language it means that you wanna bring your body and mind into stillness. Once you are able to do that, you will be able to see your True Self (Atman) and once you realise that, you’ll be able to reach the enlightenment/liberation (Samadhi) – which is the ultimate goal.
It sounds very simple, yet the opposite is true. Especially in the world we live now – stress, bad diet, hectic lifestyle...
Coming back to yoga in modern world – as I said, to most people it is a physical exercise. Personally, I know people who started with the physical aspects of yoga and eventually, they became more interested in the deeper site of it, in the philosophical point of view. But I also know people who love yoga as an exercise and don’t want to have anything to do with anything else, or maybe the time is not right for them yet.
Yoga is not here to dictate anything to anyone. Only you know what is best for you, what you or your body needs. In the end, even if you do only some parts of yoga – you still follow your goal – the ultimate happiness, the break from your ordinary life even if just for the one hour you spend practising yoga. If you think of it, most exercise will make you feel better about yourself as you will tone up, you will feel more energised, maybe more flexible, or perhaps calmer and peaceful, so why not? What do you have to lose?
I am here to simply guide you through your own journey. It’s up to you how far you wanna take it.
