What is yoga? It’s more than the poses you can see.

Lately, I have been encountering a common question: What even is yoga? While yoga has become more accessible than ever, many people still believe it’s not within their reach.

I am here to tell you that literally anyone can do yoga. You might have heard “yoga is good for you” from a friend or seen an impressive pose on Instagram, but you don’t know much more about yoga than that. You can still get all the benefits of yoga without contorting yourself into a pretzel or having the strength to do a push-up.

The yoga poses, called asanas, are just one of the ways to practice yoga. Although many people are introduced to yoga in gym or studio classes, it can also be found through meditation, daily values, or breathing exercises.

You may decide to incorporate additional practices as you learn more or you might not. It’s your practice so it’s up to you! There is no right or wrong way to practice yoga.

Yoga Definition

Let’s look at the meaning of yoga. Translated from Sanskrit, yoga means “union”. Yoga is the union of mind, body, and soul which leads to the understanding of our truest Self (aka self-realization or self-liberation). This is the ultimate goal of yoga and what the practices are helping us to achieve.

To me, yoga means practicing quieting my mind and finding peace. All of these practices are what help me get there.

8 Limbs of Yoga

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are one of the classic yogic texts that provide guidelines or practices on how to reach self-realization (inner peace). These are the limbs or practices of yoga:

1. Yama

I like to think of the yamas as things I can do to create the best relationships with others (and myself). The yamas allow us to better relate to the world around us. They provide a moral code for how we should treat others in the form of restraint. For example, non-stealing (asteya) is one of the yamas and practices of yoga.

2. Niyama

To me, the niyamas are a form of self-care. They help to create peace from within through personal values or observances. Cleanliness or saucha is one of the niyamas embodied in yoga practice.

For me, these practices have changed the way I show up for myself and for others. My thoughts and actions are much kinder, more thoughtful, and intentional. The yamas and niyamas are the first two limbs of yoga and the foundation of yoga practice on and off the mat.

3. Asana

The yoga poses are called asana. This limb is the most well-known, but it is only the third limb of yoga and might be a small portion of a yoga practice or someone’s whole yoga practice (again it’s personal to you!).

Adho Mukha Shvanasana or down dog is a common asana. When I concentrate on the poses my mind has something to focus on so I can let go of other thoughts, while also gaining strength and flexibility in my body.

4. Pranayama

Pranayama is the quickest and easiest way for me to clear my mind and reset my mood. It taught me how to be in control of my reactions. The translation of prana is “life force” or breath and yama means “control.” Breathwork or breathing exercises are the practice of pranayama.

5. Pratyahara

Pratyahara is sensory consciousness or the withdrawal of external senses. A natural occurrence of this is when we are asleep we are not aware of smell, hear, touch, see or taste. When we practice pratyahara we bring our focus from the external to the internal world.

I find pratyahara to be a bit more challenging, but I had a lot of practice with this when my building was going through major construction – instead of letting all the noise brother me, I practiced tuning it out which really did help my mental health!

6. Dharana

The direct and complete focus of the mind on a single point is called dharana. My favorite practice of dharana is trataka or candle gazing. To do this, focus completely on the flame of a candle, close your eyes, and continue to visualize the flame. You’ll notice how focused you must be to continue seeing the flame.

7. Dhyana

Dhyana is moving from concentration into meditation. It’s a subtle difference, when the concentration is sustained or absorbed into the point of focus. You no longer realize that you are focused and may lose all track of time and space because you are so absorbed in your concentration.

My meditation practice ebbs and flows more than any other practice. Honestly, I have gained a lot of insight into myself through this practice by noticing the thoughts that pass through in meditation.

8. Samadhi

Samadhi is feeling total and complete bliss, all mental activity has ceased to create a feeling of oneness. This is the ultimate goal of yoga!

Obviously, there is much more to yoga than the physical postures that it is so well-known for. Let me assure you that yoga knows no boundaries and can be enjoyed by anyone. Regardless of your age, fitness level, or body type, yoga offers many benefits that extend beyond physical flexibility and strength. It is a holistic practice that nurtures the mind, body, and soul.

Yoga can be a lifelong practice with a clear goal of reaching self-liberation and finding peace. A yoga practice could include asana to help keep the physical body healthy, but it is not necessary to practice the advanced poses. Your yoga practice might include more of an emphasis on meditation or breath work and that’s great.

It’s about which practices work for you to eliminate overthinking and help you come into the present moment. 

How to Incorporate Yoga Into Your Daily Life

1. Awareness

Awareness is the foundation of yoga practice and can be integrated into every aspect of your life. Start by being mindful of your actions, thoughts, and surroundings.

As often as possible, notice your thoughts. You do not have to judge them or stop them. Just be aware of what you are thinking.

Be curious about your thoughts. Is this thought true? Is it kind? Is it helping me in this moment? Where did it come from? Is it in alignment with the yamas and niyamas?

And when you are ready take a big breath and let the thought go and come into the present moment. I like to do this by noticing your senses. What colors do you see? What do you hear? What can you feel? What do you smell? What can you taste?

2. Breath and Poses

To improve your physical and mental health, add yoga poses and breathwork into your routine.

You have to figure out when the best time of day for you to do yoga is. Sometimes, it’s easier to add it in after work or before bed though.

Try different times of day and styles of yoga to see what works for you! If you are practicing yoga in the morning or afternoon, I recommend trying more energizing styles like hatha or vinyasa. However, if you are practicing before bed, I recommend trying a yin style class or calming breathwork.

If you need free yoga classes, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and try the class below.

3. Meditation

Develop your concentration and presence with a meditation practice.

An easy way to add this into your daily life is through a walking meditation. Whenever you are walking – to the car, store, bus stop – wherever it may be – choose to be present.

Start by matching your breath to the pace that you walk. Count how many breaths you take for your inhale and how many steps for your exhale. They don’t need to match, this will depend on your lungs. You might take three steps for inhale, but only two for the exhale.

Continue focusing on your breath as you walk and notice all the tension slip away.

Conclusion

Yoga is so much more than just the postures you can see; it’s a journey inward. These eight limbs might start as practices, but with enough time and repetition, they become a way of life. If you want to create more peace and joy in your life then I highly recommend trying yoga.