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What (exactly) is yoga? by Ranny

When you’re always at a yoga studio, it’s easy to assume that the majority of people live and breathe yoga just as much as you do. We forget that the yoga community is quite small—and depending on where you live, relatively new.

After being a regular practitioner for almost five years, I took my relationship with yoga to the next level and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training with Expand Yoga. As a result, I’m constantly flooding Facebook feeds all over the world with my passionate devotion for the practice. And for some reason, my family and friends have decided that I am some sort of guru (which I am not by any means).

Even though I’ve been practicing regularly for almost five years, I still consider myself a newbie in the yoga-sphere. I struggle calling myself a “yogi.” Honestly, I still don’t know what it means to be a “yogi.” I try not to get caught up in jargon so much (especially when I’m still learning the English language). But you know what? That doesn’t stop me from taking myself into trikonasana and sharing the experiences that I’ve had up to this point in my practice.

So now, when I see friends, yoga almost always comes up in conversation, which is cool—because I can talk yoga all day. The common theme: “What (exactly) is yoga?” Personally, I don’t believe that there are misconceptions about yoga—false accusations maybe—but for the most part, I find misconceptions to be more of a limited (or expanded) perception of the ancient tradition. Limited perception: “Isn’t yoga just stretching?” No, and at the same time, it is. Expanded perception: “Yoga is a spiritual practice.” Traditionally, yes, but nowadays, it doesn’t have to be.

It’s been said by Ashtanga guru Pattabhi Jois that yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory. As a practitioner, I’ve learned not to tell people what yoga is because yoga is my personal practice, and my experience is completely unique as the other person’s practicing next to me. As a teacher, I’m only there to help expand the students’ perception of yoga by offering different perspectives that resonate. A teacher can tell us exactly how to get into a downward facing dog position, but we won’t truly get it until we find it for ourselves.

What (exactly) is yoga? Well, to know truly begins on the mat. The answers are there in the practice. I, myself, am currently living in that inquiry. The moment I think I know, I realize that there’s much more to learn. I could have it one day, and not get it the next. I don’t think it’s possible to learn everything about yoga in a single lifetime, or even two. And I’m okay with that.

Deconstructing and Demystifying Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: A practical 4-week series with Troy Lucero

Week 1- Sun Salutations and Vinyasa: Learn to practice and understand the value of breath in your yoga and movement practices.
Week 2 – Standing Poses: Learn how to use your feet and legs effectively to develop strength, balance, and stability in your yoga practice and your life.
Week 3 – Seated Poses and Ground Work: Unlock your understanding of the nearly infinite ways your body can fold, twist, squeeze, and open to create health, vitality, and intelligence in your life.
Week 4 – Inversions: Learn and practice strategies for developing your handstands, head stands, and shoulder stands – Arguably the most important category of postures for establishing longevity in your yoga practice.

Energize Your Practice…

Maybe you won’t be able to match these moves after one workshop, but being upside down is beautiful, exciting and good for you. Come to the Headstand & Handstand Workshop Saturday, May 12th from 2pm -4pm. $35 in advance. Sign up at the studio or through MindBody.