yoga for beginners: part I

WHAT IS YOGA?

Yoga is from the Sanskrit word yuj meaning union or yoke. 

So, what the hell does that mean?  To you as a beginner…nothing.  This is the first sentence of any text seeking to answer the question “what is yoga” and I didn’t want to be left out!

Just to skim the surface, yoga seeks to join the body and the mind, the self and the Self.

When most of us think “yoga” we aren’t thinking of metaphysical things, we are thinking of physical things.  This physical part of yoga is called asana.  Asana is the postures of yoga.  Think downward dog.  I know you’ve heard that one.

The physical part of yoga, or asana, is the part of yoga that I will focus on in this little series.  For me, the path to the rest of yoga started with the physical.

So, what is asana?  Asanas are the postures of yoga that create balance in the mind and body, in the energy centers, and make practitioners look like pretzels…  Asana is the physical practice and what you think of when you think of a yoga class.

Asana practice usually involves two additional aspects of yoga:  meditation and pranayama.

Meditation may or may not become a part of your yoga practice.  Or it might be your entire practice.  Meditation is not the process of making your mind blank.  It is the process of quieting the mind.  Turning off the tv.  Leaving your cell phone in the other room.  No texts.  Just some quiet.  More on meditation later.

Pranayama is the regulation of the breath.  Ancient yogis referred to the breath as prana, or life force.  Cause think about it…no breath = no life!  Pranayama is breathing exercises.  Think about the last time you were really nervous about something.  Could you feel your shallow breath?  And, then you probably took a deep breath to calm yourself down.  You were already doing pranayama.

Breath in yoga is very important.  When you begin to practice the postures, you will use your breath to move from pose to pose.  You will use your breath to work deeper in each pose.  If you are holding your breath, you aren’t doing yoga.  And, do you know what becomes amazing about the breath?  You begin to notice it.  That is just one baby step toward awareness.

You will hear a lot of talk about “being present” in your yoga journey.  And, while most of us, myself included, will not be able to yoke my individual consciousness with the universal consciousness, I can bring a little awareness to my life.  To my breath.  To my movements.  To the way I interact with people.

To me, that is yoga.  That awareness.  Just simple awareness.  Your yoga practice will allow you to slow down and experience that awareness.  That awareness might lead you further into the philosophy and practices of yoga and it might not.  But that is for you to decide.  You might just stay with your asana practice because you need exercise and you can immediately notice a difference in your body. 

I think that is one of the most important things to understand as a beginner.  Your yoga practice is yours.  In whatever form.  Don’t worry about any of the other stuff.

Next in Part II:  Asana and resources for beginners.