Yoga

Like a glass of Rosé, yoga is the bridge between white (lighter) and red (heavier) spiritual sampling.

Have you ever seen pictures of Hindu deities? They’re sometimes portrayed with multiple faces and arms—not because the artist sucks, but because the images represent multiplicity. Multiple faces represent the varied aspects of the god’s personality, and multiple arms show the power and ability to perform several acts at once. This is not unlike the act of defining yoga.

Yoga comes with multiple faces and arms. It’s not one thing, but many things—which is why it’s so hard to define. Couple that with people’s stubborn definitions of what yoga absolutely must be, and you’ve got a confused population of seekers.

At the simplest and most agreed-upon origin, yoga dates back to ancient India and its sacred language, Sanskrit. The root of “yoga” is “yuj,” which means to “yoke,” “join,” or “unite” (see all those limbs growing already?). Classical texts such as the Bhagavad Gita assert that “yoga is skill in action” while the famous definition is attributed to the Indian sage Patanjali: “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.”

Modern yogis like Pattabhi Jois said yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory, while a modern quote (unknown attribution) takes a spin on the journey-destination cliche: “Yoga is not about touching your toes. It is what you learn on the way down.”

For the purpose of remaining faithful to “yuj,” we’re simplifying the definition: yoga is the yoking of mind, body, and spirit.

How to Start Sampling

  • We’re pretty good at knowing what we want—a house, flowers, fried chicken, money, romance, private jet, you name it. And most of the time, what we want brings us satisfaction. There are times, however, when what we want doesn’t bring satisfaction because it’s not what we actually need. The same is true for yoga.

    If you’re a marathon hardo who’s got tight everything, chances are you’ll gravitate to heated, intense practices. If you’re injured or feel frail, chances are you’ll choose a gentle practice to match your mindset. We get what we want because we pre-ordained the outcome.

    There’s nothing wrong with choosing want, but it could mean we’re missing out on need. For example, marathon runners hold high standards and mental toughness, so a gentler practice that challenges them to surrender is what they need (but rarely what they want).

    As you explore yoga styles, ask yourself if this is what you want or what you need. Both are perfect answers, and it’s encouraged to try one of each. 

  • For as many styles of yoga there are, you’ll find twice as many options for teachers. Some are absolute dead fish—I’m talking scripted, robotic language with expressionless “hellos” and “goodbyes” at the door. They’re there for a paycheck, and they’re eager for you to leave so they can lock up the studio. 

    There are the young influencers who care about their playlists and how many followers they have. There are the wise crones whose teaching comes naturally, like a mother swaddling her children. Then there are the muscular gurus who pull off incredible Cirque du Soleil shit. It’s an absolute universe out there, and how you feel about your teacher predicts how you’ll feel about yoga.

    So research your teachers and casually “date” them. Figure out if you’re the right match because it determines if you’ll return.

  • There are two types of people: The ones who give up and the ones who push through pain. Both are wrong.

    If you give up easily, you probably have stories about injuries, lapse of activity, and other disadvantages (real or imagined). You may be the first to come onto your knees and into child’s pose. You convince yourself that you’re just not designed for yoga because you’re too weak or too inflexible. Your brain won’t shut off. Yoga just isn’t for you.

    If you push through pain, you’re the opposite: You’ll meet discomfort with brute force, huffing your way through a pose. You care about accomplishment and that means compromising your peace. Yoga is a workout, testing your physical and mental fortitude. You’re determined to get through this, no matter what. 

    In truth, yoga is about reconciling these two extremes. Know which way you lean, and then lean in the opposite direction.

  • No one cares about your practice because they’re too busy thinking about their own. In the same way, no one’s checking your attendance (except maybe a gym or studio owner who needs the business).

    The point is that you don’t need to apologize for how much or how little yoga you practice. Just show up whenever you can and ditch the “dog-ate-my-homework” stories.