‘Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.’ – The Bhagavad Gita
Yoga literally means union and is understood and interpreted on many different levels. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root word Yuj, meaning to yoke or hitch something together.
It is often widely debated just how old Yoga is, some scholars say over 5000 yrs with its origins in the East ranging from India to Nepal.
The ultimate goal of Yoga is Self-Realization, or Oneness with God, the True Source, our Divine Energy – through the attainment of Samadhi, a state of Enlightenment.
Yoga is a pathway to Peace, Happiness, Healing, Abundant Health, Self Discovery, Vitality and Longevity.
We are not separate – we are part of the whole and everyone is connected..
Om Shanti.✯
A Yogi or Yogini – is simply one who has dedicated their life to Yoga.
Back in the day, one Teacher or a Guru traditionally taught Yoga to one student or disciple known as Shishya in Sanskrit. The Shishya would follow a strict set of Yogi practices and principles to attain Self-Realization.
This was how the knowledge and wisdom of Yoga was passed down. The ancient Yogis understood the importance of working with a student on a one to one basis, and in small group settings, giving the student specific dedicated individual attention.
All physical styles of yoga today reside under the umbrella name of HathaYoga, a branch or pathway to Oneness. Todays modern Yoga practice connects the body, mind and spirit through different body postures Asana’s,Meditation and controlled breathing called Pranayama.
An online group or public Yoga class is often a student’s first connection to Yoga. These classes will include a vast array of students from all walks of life attending for many different reasons.
First time Yoga practitioners are generally drawn to come for the health benefits and advanced dedicated students or seekers come in search of the truth, to know themselves at a deeper level.
Group classes are beneficial for learning correct posture alignment and form, for pose modifications, for developing your power-practice, for learning new sequences, for building your confidence and most importantly developing your-self growth. The Yoga community is a great resource and network for connecting with other like minded people and making new friends.
Namaste.✯
‘Step into the fire of self-discovery. This fire will not burn you, it will only burn what you are not.’