Yoga is Being

I’m currently received my Yoga Teacher Certification and I am super excited! Excited because I love yoga and I love teaching/contributing to the development and growth of others. I love the practice of servitude.

In rallying up my supports and future students for my classes, I let people know that I’m in school. They are always happy for me. Then I ask will they be a student and most times I hear yes, followed with a series of what they believe yoga to be.

Mostly I hear that yoga is to help you quiet your mind and reduce stress. I’ve heard people state that they don’t know what yoga is. And last, but not least is that it’s a conflict with their religion.

The various different responses made me really think about the role I’m about to undertake in becoming a yoga teacher. Here, I original thought that I was just going to instruct people on a series of poses to assist them in creating better health and speaking on some yoga philosophy throughout the class. While I’m sure the majority of my actual class will surmount to poses and meditative benefits, I’m learning that I am becoming a teacher of what yoga is or isn’t.

Yoga was to me a series of poses and meditation. It was meant to relax me and create a since of harmony and well being throughout my mind, body and spirit. This was something I felt I needed in my life.

Yoga is partially what I thought of it to be and more. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. Yoga is meant to unite the individual’s body with mind and then mind with soul, and spiritually, uniting the individual with the supreme. Per
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali there are eight disciplines or limbs of yoga (Astanga yoga - 8 limbed yoga) that one must practice in order to perceive one’s true self, which by the way is the ultimate goal of yoga. Those eight disciples are:
1. Yama - Universal ethics: Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, sexual restraint and non-acquisitiveness.
2. Niyama - Principles of self conduct: purity, contentment, intense dedication or austerity, study of self and scriptures and self-surrender.
3. Asana - practice of the postures.
4. Pranayama - Breath control.
5. Pratyahara - withdrawal and control of the senses.
6. Dharana - concentration.
7. Dhyana - meditation.
8. Samadhi - a state of higher consciousness where the sense of self (ego) dissolves in the object of meditation and the individual self exists in its own pure nature.

Yoga to me now is simply just being. Being in tuned with ones self through learning the reason or intention behind your doing. Being at peace with the person you are and who you are not. Being able to be your best self in all situations faced.
And the above mentioned disciplines of yoga are just pathways to help you get to your best you. If they resonate with you cool, if they don’t, find another pathway or not. Namaste, the divinity in me recognizes the divinity in you!

Liv your truth!