Yoga as a Spiritual Practice, Not an Exercise

I get a lot of questions about the definition of yoga because people are surprised when I tell them that yoga is not an exercise. “Well, what is it then?” they ask me. 

In my blog entitled “What is Yoga,” I discuss the misconception about Yoga and how it’s misunderstood because it has been cut up and repackaged inauthentically as an exercise. This is not only false but also highly problematic as it is ironically the opposite of the authentic goal of yoga. 

Oftentimes, you see yoga teachers, and even wellness brands, doing impressive poses that show off how flexible their bodies are. They promote yoga as an aspiration toward physical fitness, and it comes off as just another performative practice. However, what I want to share with you is how yoga can help you find balance and harmony in both the physical and spiritual senses. Because I see these as equally important for wellbeing.

What we see today as yoga is the modern sterilization of yoga at its best. It’s as if they said, “Let’s cherry-pick this one aspect of yoga, make it the new face of yoga, and forget the rest.” At that point, should we even still call it yoga? Maybe it should be called acrobatics (just a thought).

According to Yoga Sutra 1.2, the definition of yoga is “the cessation of mental fluctuations.” Practicing asana, or posturing of the body, is meant to help us develop strong muscles so that we could be able to sit and meditate. So that in meditating, we could practice overcoming the fluctuations of the mind. So that we can enjoy the fruits of enlightenment and freedom from our prolonged suffering. 

Isn’t that wild? That the West has made asana the goal of yoga, but really asana has always been a means toward the goal of yoga. Yoga was meant to be a beautiful science for experiencing spiritual growth but it has been reduced to yet another form of torturing ourselves. 

Yoga means to “yoke” or “unite” the mind and body.

Not to prove you can master a pose. 

Not to lose weight. 

Not even to gain flexibility. 

So we have to ask ourselves, each time we are practicing, why are we showing up to our practice? What is the intention of our practice? As we move through our practice, checking in with ourselves to make sure we are practicing the other limbs of yoga during our asana. 

Ahimsa (Non-harm). Are we pushing past our limits or are we honoring where our body is at presently?

Santosha (Contentment). Can we find contentment with our practice as it is today? 

Self-Knowledge (Svadhyaya). Are we examining our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves? Our perceptions of others? Of our practice? Where did those perceptions come from and are they based on truth?

Brahmacharya (Moderation). Can we find the middle path? 

Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to God/Something greater than ourselves). Can we let go of what we can’t control? Can we trust that life, through its ups and downs, is happening for us, not to us?

And most importantly, am I leaving my yoga practice on the mat, treating it like a physical workout? Why is that? How can I bring yoga into my everyday life? How can I unite my mind and body off the mat?

Yoga is a spiritual practice and a journey toward Self-Realization, consciousness, or awareness. This quote by Yogananda is a summary of where your yoga practice can lead you. If you let it.

Practicing yoga without an end goal will bring nothing, but chaos and imbalance. You might wonder why after all these years of perfecting the poses and twisting your body in beautiful ways, your mind is not at peace. That is because yoga is not just a physical practice.

If you traced back yoga to its roots, the primary goal of yoga is to integrate your inner being and become one with your Consciousness. This way you can transform and awaken your true self. Integration entails aligning our diet, lifestyle, and practices of the eight limbs of yoga.

If you are interested in learning how you can take yoga off the mat, you can sign up for a class to reserve your spot. However, if you want a self-paced learning experience, watch out for my online course registration announcement.