Why Yoga?

“In today’s rush, we all think too much – seek too much – want too much – and forget about the joy of just being.”

– Eckart Tolle

Find Your Balance

We live in a world full of places to be and things to do, often moving on autopilot throughout our day. All this “busyness” pulls us away from the present and into the past and the future.

Yoga, meaning to “yoke” or union, is an ancient, spiritual mind-body practice rooted in Indian philosophy and devoted to uniting the body, mind, soul and spirit. We are in balance when these facets of our being are in sync. When life pulls us out of the present, it becomes much harder to access this connection. Yoga helps us live more presently so we may enjoy our best life.

Create Space in Body and Mind

Yoga provides us an avenue to create space both physically and mentally so we can explore what inspires and motivates us as well as what doesn’t. It invites us to get curious about how we life our life, where we spend our energy, what are our recurring habits and patterns, how we communicate with others and how we show up for ourselves.

There are often preconceived notions about what a yoga practice has to look like. In fact, yoga did not originate in the form most know it as today. In Patanjali’s (Indian sage) Yoga Sutras (threads), which was composed more than 1,500 years ago, the eight limbs, or branches, of yoga are introduced. The physical postures, or asana, are just one branch on this eight-limb journey. Incorporation of all of the limbs allows for a more balanced yoga practice, on and off your mat.

Yoga is for Everybody

We all seek yoga for different reasons, such as mastery of the physical poses, to rest and restore, to manage stress, to obtain a deeper understanding of yoga philosophy, belief of something bigger than ourselves and community. Yoga is a deeply personal practice, and ultimately, everyone’s practice looks different given our own unique needs. Yoga encourages us to move and breathe in a way that feels good for us, and in some cases this is to not move at all. The only thing yoga truly asks of us is that we show up.

Some Common Yoga-Based Tools

Movement

Yoga classes or sessions often consist of a series of physical poses, or asana, that we utilize to:

Breathing

Breathing techniques, or pranayama, help us with controlling the breath and can further aid in:

Mindfulness/Meditation

Meditation, or dhyana, is the practice of focusing on the present moment and accepting it as it is without judgement. We can explore meditation through mindfulness exercises to train the mind to stay present more often. While mindfulness is not always easy to practice, we keep trying, and over time, it may:

Reduce agitation, reactivity and anxiety
Help us live more presently
Assist us in finding acceptance of the moment we’re in
Build more compassion for ourselves and others
Quiet the mind
Help us recognize habits and patterns, good and bad

Community

Our social well-being is just as important as our physical well-being. Community, such as a group yoga class or a hike with friends, can provide an outlet for us to be a part of something with other like-minded individuals. Community can:

Life-Style Guidance

We all have areas of our life that we would like to improve, but sometimes it can be hard to facilitate change. With the support of a yoga teacher, you may uncover fears, unhealthy coping mechanisms, habits and patterns, some of which you are aware of, and others you are not. While we will not make diagnoses or draw hard lines in the sand, during this process, we encourage: