What is Yoga?

That is a big question, so there is no a short answer and there shouldn't be. Since yoga as a practice is probably about 5000 years old, if not older. The practices were traditionally passed down verbally from teacher to student so we have no date for the creation of a practice called yoga. However it is thought Patanjali wrote the yoga Sutras around 200BCE. These lay out what we think of as the basis for yoga today. 

Yoga the word means to unite, to bring together. It comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj which means to Yok, like ye olde English farmers used to Yok their oxen to their plough. 

So what are we uniting? Well body and mind, mind and consciousness, our consciousness to the great universal consciousness. Did I lose you? Hang on there is more. 

Yoga, before it became popular in the West as a way to maintain a healthy physical body, and giving us a much needed sense of calm, through asana classes. Was first a practice which encompassed pretty much all aspects of life and its main purpose was a route to enlightenment. A way to merge your consciousness with the rest of consciousness and stop the reincarnation process which many eastern religions teach. The physical asana practice, although one part of a route to enlightenment, was part of a bigger process and asana was not thought to be the only way. 

When Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras over 2000 years ago. He laid out the eight limbs of yoga which is thought of as Raja Yoga.

 The other forms of yoga and ways to reach the goal of enlightenment include:

Bhakti Yoga, which is the practice of devotion to a God, or something greater than you. You do this by offering thoughts, prayers and actions to this higher power. 

Karma, a word I am sure you recognise, Karma in Sanskrit means action so Karma Yoga is taking action in the right direction. To do good deeds, without the expectation of reward or praise. 

Jñāna Yoga, knowledge, the act of gaining knowledge. Through teachers, peers, then self study. The knowledge is believed to be stored within everyone; you just have to find it. 

What we are doing when we take an asana class is part of a Raja Yoga practice. The eight limbs Patanjali wrote about are what classical yoga was founded on. In case you are interested here they are. 

There are 5 Yamas, this is how we interact with others or within a community, and includes 

Ahimsa - non violence / to do no harm, in words, thoughts or deeds. You might have heard of this in association with Gandhi and the methods he and his supporters used to end British rule in India. It is also why some yogis are vegetarian or vegan.  

Satya - truthfulness, you should tell the truth, unless that truth will break Ahimsa. 

Asteya - non stealing, 

Brahmacharya - right use of energy / celibacy

Aparigraha - non greed / non grasping 

Niyamas, this is how we take care of ourselves, our positive duties.

Saucha - cleanliness

Santosha - contentment

Tapas - discipline 

Svadhyaya - study of yourself and continuing to learn from others.

Isvara Pranidhana - surrender to a higher being, or contemplation of a higher power.

After these come:

Asana - the physical practice of yoga. 

Pranayama - mindful control of the breath. 

Pratyahara - drawing your focus inwards, rather than being distracted by everything going on around you. 

Dharna - concentration 

Dhyana - being able to focus without concentrating on something external. 

Samadhi - enlightenment, bliss state of mind. 

Our asana, pranayama and meditation practice  with each of these elements working to clear blockages in the energy channels within the body. The energy channels are called nadis; nadi means channel or stream. In traditional thinking there are thousands of nadis through the body but there are three main ones:

 Ida, Pingala and Sushumna.

Ida and Pingala are our left and right, male and feminine, sun and moon. When we balance these, the energies can run freely. This in turn allows energy (this energy is often referred to as Kundalini) to run through Sushumna and it is thought when energy rises fully through this central channel we reach enlightenment and gain that union, if that is what you are aiming for.  Or you could be doing your weekly yoga practice just because it makes you feel good, look good and helps you chill. What ever the reason you get on your mat well done, keep it going!

Kate x