Yoga Philosophy - Asana is only one piece of the big yoga puzzle

Like many, I started practicing yoga to help me destress and get a bit of exercise. I loved the way it felt to create various shapes with my body and I also loved the messages my teachers shared during class with themes like kindness, patience, and strength. When I left my mat and headed out into the rest of my day, their words of wisdom stayed with me. What I didn’t realize was their messages WERE yoga. The poses (asana) were only one piece to the big yoga puzzle.

The philosophy behind yoga is deep and complex. Yoga started in India more than 5,000 years ago, and the practice has evolved over multiple millennia to become what we know it as today. There are many lineages and styles of yoga one can practice including Hatha, Ashtanga, Bhakti, Jnana, Raja, Kirtan, Yin, Restorative, and more. Some of these are more physical, while others are more mental or spiritually focused.

Yoga philosophy encompases amazing tales and epics, and some of these stories are present in the practice as yoga poses. For instance, eagle pose is called garudasana in sanskrit. It is named for Garuda the Eagle Warrior who rescued his captured mother from the top of a mountain, but to get there had to successfully complete three deadly obstacles. How fun is that?!

In sanskrit the word yoga means “to join together.” The basis of the practice is joining, or connecting, your body, mind and spirit. There are many ways to form this yogic connection that go beyond asana. From chakras (internal energy wheels) to koshas (external energy sheaths), to pranayama breathwork and meditation, there is an array of topics one can study to learn more about themselves, others, and how we are all connected.

One of my favorite pieces of yoga philosophy is the Yoga Sutras. Composed by a great sage, Patanjali, the sutras provide a set of guidelines (called The Eight Limb Path) to help an individual navigate the material world and find connection. An example of a sutra is ahimsa, which means respect for all living things and non-violence toward others (Golden Rule anyone?) The sutras were many of the themes and messages my teachers shared at the beginning of class. Little did I know that when I returned to these messages I was practicing yoga.

What I love most about yoga and yoga philosophy is that it is a lifelong practice, there is always something new to learn or something to immerse yourself in more fully. There are so many pieces in the big yoga puzzle, that there truly is a style of yoga for everyone! I like to call my personal yoga journey The Kate Limb Path, and as I continue to deepen my practice, I am excited to share what I discover about yoga and yoga philosophy with you.

If you are interested in learning more, here are some of my favorite resources on yoga philosophy:

• The Path of the Yoga Sutras by Nicolai Bachman - There are countless versions of interpretations of the sutras out there, but this is a great one to start with. I like to begin each morning by reading one chapter and then carry that sutra with me throughout the day.

• Wisdom of the Sages, a daily yoga podcast - Two yogis, Raghunath Cappo and Kaustabha Das, discuss the yoga tradition and philosophy, specifically related to Bhakti Yoga (one of the various styles.) It’s sort of like CliffsNotes for ancient vedic texts!

• Yoga Journal - Both the magazine and website are great. I like to peruse the Yoga 101 section and see what I can discover!