Living Yoga

In Western culture, yoga is often seen merely as the physical practice. Yoga is much more than the physical postures: it is a way of thinking and being.
The word yoga has many meanings, one of which is "unity." Yoga unites the physical body with the breath, the emotional, and the spiritual aspects of the body. One might also take that a step further by saying that yoga helps the practicer to take himself/herself out of the center of his/her own awareness and better unite self with community and action with thought.
The physical practice of yoga is meant to be an instrument to get to better know your true self or your inner self. These postures and asanas are meant to help one focus his/her mind inward and create an environment to reflect, focus, and connect with awareness and the current moment.
Living in the present and observing the current situation and the very moment are very important to yogis. One ought not dwell on the past or get ahead of him/herself by making future plans. By doing the asanas one must take time to feel how the body responds.
Inner stillness and awareness of the current being exactly as it is can help one rid oneself of the six evils of sloth, greed, envy, delusion, anger, and desire. By being focused on what the body is telling us and noticing how it responds to movements and thoughts, can help the yogi pinpoint situations or ideas that might be contributing to one of these six evils. 

The end goal of yoga practice is freedom of mind and body. One can find this the more one is flexible in all circumstances and lives only within the present moment, not going back into the past or looking ahead into the future beyond what he/she can see. Through yoga, one can accept that life is a constant state of ever changing circumstances--and that the more we feel detached from these things and accept that they are fleeting and constantly changing subtly, the more freedom we will feel. 


Yoga is another way of experiencing God and finding your calling and happiness. With lots of practice and time devoted to it, many improvements and positive consequences can come. 
Even the casual yogi, who drops in for a class one or two times a week can feel the benefits and may experience more mental flexibility, inner calm, or a deeper sense of connection with God or the Earth. 




--Megan


My favorite yoga in the city? Try Yoga District!