Yoga is Movement for Mind, Body, and Spirit

It's not just exercise

As I sit here in my happy place in Vermont, on the screened in porch, listening to the trees, birds, and wind chimes outside, I am reminded that yoga is a mindset, not just physical exercise. While many people, including myself, practice yoga poses on a mat, breathing, flowing, and being in the moment is not all that yoga is.

Yoga means “union” or “to yoke,” a bringing together of all into one. Mind and body, movement and breath, all and one. I always feel more whole after practicing yoga, and that is by design. Yoga is a science that was created thousands of years ago, the purpose being to live a more harmonious life. We all could use more of that.

The purpose of practicing yoga poses is so that you can sit more comfortably in meditation. This is what I was taught, and what feels true.

When I sit in meditation, without having moved my body first, it takes me a while to settle my mind, as I find my body distracting. I often fidget to get into that “right” position where nothing hurts and I feel supported and comfortable. When I move first, however, I can often “find my seat” right away and drop easily into meditation. Moving my body first, gets me out of the swirl of my mind and connects me to my body and to the moment I am in.

It all works together

We all have a body and we all have a mind. You can’t use one without the other, as they are connected. Even if you lie on the couch all day “not moving,” you are still breathing, your heart is beating, and your senses are taking in information.

Practicing yoga actively connects the mind and body so that they support each other. Moving the body while breathing calms the mind. Focusing the mind gives you more control over your body. The science of yoga has 8 Limbs which all work together to bring you closer to that union. Union with the divine, union with ourselves, union with all beings… you can decide for yourself what resonates.

Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yoga poses (Asana) are only one branch of the 8 limbed yoga “tree,” and are not even the first limb, but the third. Ancient yogis didn’t prioritize they physical aspects of yoga the way current yogis do. How you live and think was more important. Here are the 8 limbs in order:

1. Yama (5 principles that affect to how we relate to others—and ourselves)

   • Ahimsa (Non-Harming)

   • Satya (Truth)

   • Asteya (Non-Stealing, Boundaries)

   • Brahmacharya (Non-Excess, Enough)

   • Aparigraha (Non-Greed, Non-Attachment)

2. Niyama (5 principles that focus our attention on how we lead our lives)

   • Saucha (Purity, Cleanliness)

   • Santosha (Contentment)

   • Tapas (Discipline)

   • Svadhyaya (Self-Inquiry, Self-Study)

   • Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

3. Asana (yoga poses)

4. Pranayama (breath control)

5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses—directing the yoga practice inward)

6. Dharana (concentration)

7. Dhyana (meditative flow)

8. Samadhi (state of oneness, “enlightenment,” union with all)

All limbs are interrelated

While these limbs are numbered, they are often practiced together, or flow into each other. It’s not a linear step to “enlightenment” but rather an integrated practice toward finding more peace and ease in your daily life.

I often say, “what you practice on the mat, you take with you off the mat,” and that is the whole point of all of these practices. The point is not to perfect your Tree pose, the point is to be who you are, authentically and genuinely.

Practicing Tree pose might teach you to be kinder to yourself so that you can spread love into the world. It might teach you patience and gentleness, while also making your body stronger. You can feel stable on your foot which allows you to let go of the nonsense floating around in your head. If you can quiet the mind while standing on one leg, you can do it while interacting with a challenging family member. It’s all interrelated.

When you practice physical poses and use your breath, it’s easier to sit still. Sitting still allows you to notice what’s happening in your mind and heart. Feeling the feelings and noticing the thoughts gives you agency over yourself. Being in control over yourself allows you make choices in your day that serve you and don’t harm others. And so on…

I have practiced yoga since 1995. It has helped me heal from my childhood wounds, feel more comfortable in my skin, and be gentler with myself and others. Through the practice of poses and meditation, I have learned more about myself and how my mind works. I have learned about the stories I tell myself and what is actually true. I have learned self-kindness, what contentment feels like, and how to feel like enough.

I have always believed that if the whole world practiced yoga, there would be no war, no destruction, no “us vs them,” because we’d all live from a place of love, generosity, and peace. That might be naive, or maybe it’s overly optimistic. Either way, it is what I teach in my classes, and how I live my life. Love feels so much better than hate.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King Jr.

More on the 8 Limbs of Yoga

I wrote about the Yamas and Niyamas in my book Living Yoga: One Yoga Teacher’s Journey to Surrender. Many of the chapters in this book came out of the essays that I linked above. They are infused with other essays, plus writing about journaling, meditation, and other related topics. Each chapter gives you the opportunity to explore each principle through journal prompts and mindfulness exercises. Click the button below to learn more or get the book!

What is your experience with yoga, on the mat, off the mat, or both? How do you feel that it has influenced your mindset or how you approach challenges in your life? Comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with yoga.