Recently, I've been coming across some commonly held beliefs about yoga that I'd love to take a moment to set the record straight about. I hear people say things about themselves that sound something like:

• I'm not flexible enough
• I'm not strong enough
• I'm not hippie enough
• I'm not _____ enough

And it hurts to hear because yoga is for all people.

In the west there is a bit of a preconceived notion that yoga is nothing more than a workout, where flexible people make a bunch of cool shapes. And sometimes they do it in a hot room. Sometimes they do it in a pretty place and take pictures. Sometimes they do it outside, when the weather's nice.

At its core, yoga is a philosophy and practice that aims to help us "tame the fluctuations of the mind, so that we may abide in our own form". Another credible take is that yoga is about "union between the lower self and the Higher self."

There are 8 limbs of yoga that are offered to those of us who don't already have full control over our minds. The 8 limbs of yoga are:

1. Yamas (Ethical-restraints) - For avoiding the causes of suffering
   1. Ahimsa (non-violence)
   2. Satya (truthfulness)
   3. Asteya (non-stealing)
   4. Brahmacharya (Right use of energy)
   5. Aparigraha (non-greed)
2. Niyamas (Observances) - For cultivating bliss
   1. Saucha (cleanliness)
   2. Santosha (contentment)
   3. Tapas (self-discipline)
   4. Svadhyaya (self-study)
   5. Isvara Pranidhana (devotion to God / sovereignty / the ideal)
3. Asana (The physical postures) - For cultivating comfort and ease
4. Pranayama (breathwork) - Breath control
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) - Turning the attention inward
6. Dharana (concentration) - A practice of refocusing the attention
7. Dhyana (meditation) - One pointed awareness
8. Samadhi (Union with the Divine) - Blissfull absorption and oneness with the universe

Notice how asana (the postures) is number 3 on the list?

Furthermore, yoga is focused on your own personal journey, therefore should not be performative.

A good yoga class ideally makes everyone feel welcome, emphasizes that cues are only suggestions and to always listen to your body, and offers plenty of modifications so that nobody feels pushed beyond their limits, left out, or judged for anything they do or do not do.

I have much more to say... but I'll stop right here for now.

Check out this podcast in case if you are hungry for more. Jump to 50 minutes if in you want to skip to hear the most directly relevant section to this blog specifically.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882323/episodes/16576834-yoga-alone-isn-t-enough-the-power-of-ayurveda-tantra-yoga-therapy-with-suzanne-martin

• Suzanne Martin is one of the teachers in my YTT. I'm currently in a yoga nidra course that she leads.