Everyone seems to be talking about yoga, but what is yoga really? Yoga means union in Sanskrit, which is a language spoken in native India, where the practice of yoga originated.
The main goal of yoga is to unite the mind, body and spirit. What the western world basically calls yoga can clearly be described as asana in this same Sanskrit language.
Asana simply refers to the practice of physical poses and postures. Of the eight branches of yoga, asana is only one of them. Most of these members strongly aim for the mental and spiritual side rather than the physical side. These two words, “asana” and “yoga” are commonly used as substitutes in the Western world.
While yoga may seem like an endless stretch to anyone, the reality is that this stretch is only meant to balance the body by making it strong and flexible. This is usually achieved by performing these postures and poses. Each of these poses and postures brings its specific physical benefit.
When it comes to performing yoga, these poses can be done in quick succession or a bit slowly to build energy and get the alignment of the pose perfect. When the poses are performed in quick succession, heat is generated in the body due to the movement. While the poses may be constant, the focus may vary. This is largely due to the specific tradition in which the trainer was trained.
As your individual experience with yoga broadens in due course, your teacher or trainer will often refer to it as your practice. Your practice should evolve and change over time, which means you can hardly get bored with yoga.
However, this does not mean that the poses will change, but rather that it is your relationship with them that will change regularly. To start practicing yoga, you don’t have to be extraordinarily fit, strong or flexible, anyone can start doing yoga. In fact, it is the practice of yoga that will improve your physical condition and flexibility.
While it is true that the yoga will focus heavily on poses and postures, the practice will also offer breathing instructions, call-and-response chants, inspirational reading by the teacher/trainer, and meditation. However, this will all depend on the trainers and the type of yoga training they underwent.
Generally, a yoga session at the gym will likely lean towards the physical benefits of yoga; on the other hand, a session in a yoga center can focus entirely on the spiritual area. There are people who confess to feeling spiritually recharged after a physical yoga session while others will only be aware of the physical benefits. The good thing about yoga is that it is very possible for anyone to find a yoga class that suits their preferences.
