The Heart of Yoga
So if yoga isn’t just a fancy exercise class, what is it?
The term Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’ which means to ‘to join, to yoke, to bring together, to unite.’ Yoga is often translated as Union.
Generally defined, the two things that are being brought together through the practice of yoga are the lower self (the personality, or that which you think you are) and the higher self (the spiritual self, the soul, the universal, or the divine / that which you are at your core).
There are countless paths and practices that can lead us to this realization. That’s why it can be difficult to encapsulate the breadth and depth of Yoga. Each of us will have our own unique experience with Yoga, and our practices may look completely different. You do not even have to practice physical yoga postures to practice yoga and attain this realization.
But what Yoga does offer, through each of its paths, is liberation from suffering, for ourselves, our communities, and the world as a whole.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the principle text of Raja Yoga, Yoga is defined as:
Yogas citta vrtti nirodhah.
Yoga is the calming of the fluctuations of the mind in order to find the unity within. (Barkataki, 2020)
“ Yoga is the calming of the fluctuations of the mind in order to find the unity within.”
When you read commentaries on this sutra, often the sentiment shared is that if you can learn to control your mind, you can achieve liberation or freedom.
Personally, I connect more with the teaching that Yoga is less about controlling the mind and more about realizing (or remembering) that we are not the mind or the ego.
The mind may fluctuate and change, we can’t control this, but we can come to realize that who we are is not the fluctuations of the mind, but rather that which is aware of the mind’s fluctuations.
As this realization grows, and is proved through our own direct observation and experience, the mind steadies and we can come to rest in the very heart of our being. This calm, still, place within. The very heart of Yoga.
So what role does the physical practice of yoga play?
Asana (the physical posture(s) of yoga) represents the 3rd limb in the 8 limb path of Raja Yoga, the Yoga coming from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
In the Sutras there are really only 2 instances where Patanjali speaks about the physical practice of Yoga. They are as follows:
Sthira sukhamasanam.
Asana is a steady, comfortable posture. (Sri Swami Satchidananda, 2020)
And
Prayatna saithilyananta samapattibhyam.
By lessening the natural tendency for restlessness and by meditation on the infinite, posture is mastered. (Sri Swami Satchidananda, 2020)
You can see here that the “goal” of the physical practice of Yoga is to come into an Asana (posture) that is steady and comfortable. We come into this posture with the intention of reducing restlessness so that we can meditate on the infinite.
It is only when the body and mind find comfort and stability in the pose that the asana is considered to be ‘mastered.’
By consulting the traditional sources of Yoga we come to realize that the physical postures are meant to help us limit restlessness so that we can unite with the still, calm, place, within - the infinite.
Yoga asana is less about strengthening the body or increasing flexibility, although these things may happen as we continue to practice, and more about using the postures to calm the body and mind so that meditation can occur and we can find unity within.
“Yoga asana is less about strengthening the body or increasing flexibility, and more about using the postures to calm the body and mind so that meditation can occur and we can find unity within. ”
Personally, I tend to lean towards slower yoga asana practices. I treat each of my personal practices like a moving meditation, often beginning with gentle movement, to dislodge stuck or stagnant energy, and ending with postures of stillness that further support my meditation.
It is important to note that there are also Yogic traditions that use more rigorous or dynamic movements between physical postures to move energy in the body for spiritual and cleansing purposes. This is an example of how yoga can be practiced in many different forms. Even the physical practice itself can look very different from practitioner to practitioner.
Yoga, much more than a physical practice.
Now that we know a little more about the heart of yoga practice and how physical postures can help guide us into the heart, let’s examine how to take our practice “off the mat.”
In the next few blog posts we will explore some of the additional limbs of Patanjali’s 8 Limb path.
They include:
Limb 1: Yama - Ethical Codes of Yoga
Limb 2: Niyama - Positive Habits to Support our Individual Spiritual Practice
The practices of Yama and Niyama are meant to be integrated into our daily life, and function as guidelines to harmonious living.
In the western world the Yama and Niyama are often overlooked, as many practitioners jump into the more tangible practices of Asana or Pranayama (Breathwork). But these preliminary practices are of great importance, maybe even more important than our physical practices.
Stay tuned as we continue to learn how to take our practice “off the mat!”
Much Love,
Hayley
Resources
Much of what I share here is knowledge about the traditions of Yoga that was passed on to me from my Teachers at Anuttara Ashram. I highly recommend their online Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training. This is a great learning opportunity even for those not interested in teaching, but simply interested in cultivating their own practice.
Link to Anuttara Ashram’s Online Yoga & Meditation Teacher Training: https://www.anuttara.org/200hr-teacher-training
Barkataki, S. (2020). Embrace yoga’s roots: Courageous ways to deepen your yoga practice. Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute.
Satchidananda, S. (2020). The yoga sutras of patanjali. Integral Yoga Publications.
