What is Yoga?

What does it mean to you..

Everyone has their own idea of what yoga is.

Some think yogi’s drink green juices and sit cross legged all day spouting mantras to live by. Whereas other think Yoga is for girls. which is far from the truth. Yoga is for everyone and everyone should do it.

What is Yoga? Where did yoga come from?

A great book to read is, The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V. Desikachar, it’s written by, in some opinions, the son of the grandfather of Yoga – Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya was an amazing yogi and lived to be over 100 years old. Krishnamacharya knowledge and teachings echoes in today modern yoga and throughout the world. His influence is visible through the work of Pattabhi Jois, Indra Devi and B.K.S. Iyengar, who all studied with Krishnamacharya in their early years of learning yoga.

I bet you thought yoga was just physical movement and breath with fancy clothing and a matt, right? Oh no ...there are 6 branches of yoga!

Just a little curious?

The 6 branches of yoga:

Raja- Considered the “royal” or “classical” yoga. Includes meditation and the study of Yoga Sutras (which we will talk about later).  Think of it as “king of yoga”!

Karma- We all know what Karma is, right? Well Karma yoga is the path of service and being selfless and how selflessness can change your destiny.  

Jnana- Yoga for the intelligent. The path of Yogic wisdom and knowledge. Some refer to it as “philosophical” yoga.

Bhakti- Is the path of heart and devotion. My favorite! The “yoga of love”. Along with prayer and devotion it’s about seeing the divine in everyone.

Tantra- Ritual yoga and seeing the sacred in everyday activities.

Hatha- Most familiar and I’m sure you have heard of this! It’s the physical yoga and includes Asanas (posture or poses) and Ujjayi Pranayama (breath). Considers the body as a vehicle for the soul and temple of the sprit.

Pretty interesting, right?

I challenge you to choose a branch, explore and practice it. Let me know what you find.