WHAT IT IS

Yoga is one of the six ancient systems of Indian philosophy, known as darshana in Sanskrit. Darshana means a way of seeing — a point of view, perspective, or insight.

Our understanding of classical yoga is shaped by various yogic texts, of which the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is key.

The purpose of yoga is to provide tools, techniques and insights for us to explore, play and become closer to our truer nature.

WHAT IT ISN’T

Yoga is cannot be defined as a series of postures, even if that is what comes to mind in association with the word yoga.

There is great benefit and enjoyment to practicing yoga through the exercise of postures. This can improve our health for sure. However, the greater part of yoga is the practice and cultivation of attention and contains the study of specific frameworks in order to harmonise the mind and life experience.

Yoga is also an academic discipline dealing with history, culture, sociology, anthropology, philosophy and so on.

In terms of the physical practice of yoga, it can be harmful to practice incorrectly. Without the proper foundations, all the benefits we might gain from yoga, remain transient in the course of our lives, they come and go. Sometimes we feel ‘fit’ and can maintain a ‘disciplined’ routine, only to find that we have taken a longer break than expected and ‘lost’ all our gains.

We may find that inadvertently, even after years of practicing headstands that we have developed a brain tumour, or that we have hurt our spine, or torn ourselves through over doing it, or an accident during practice. We may practice the asanas one after the other in all kinds of flows and dances, but we still visit the chiropractor, or recover from overuse and disturbed joints.

We may even be tempted to have our chakras ‘opened’, or the kundalini awakened for a fee. Often, such concepts and practices can be easily misunderstood, while the true scope of yoga remains unknown.

It is important to know what you’re getting into when it comes to yoga. Incorrect practice or misunderstanding can lead to injury, health issues, or just plain confusion.