why yoga?
Why Yoga? What’s the Point of It All?
When I first became interested in yoga, these were the questions that kept swirling around in my mind: Why? What does it all mean? What’s the purpose of sitting in meditation, practicing sun salutations, holding mountain pose, balancing in warrior postures, twisting intricately, bending our backs backwards, or bringing our legs behind our shoulders? Why do we balance on our heads?
What are we doing when we come into a seated meditation, or lie still in Savasana? Why do we do it?
These questions were there from the beginning—questions I think many of us ask when first stepping onto a yoga mat. What is it really about, and what are we ultimately trying to achieve?
“Sthira Sukham Asanam” Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: 2.46
One of the teachings that helped me begin to understand the essence of yoga comes from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The sutra “Sthira Sukham Asanam” translates to:
"Our seat (or posture) must be both steady and easeful."
Sthira means steadiness or stability.
Sukham refers to comfort or easefulness, and more recently, I’ve come to think of easefulness as finding joy.
Asanam means seat, though we often think of it as a physical posture or pose.
At its core, this sutra offers us insight into the deeper purpose of yoga: finding balance between steadiness and ease. When we pause in a “seat” — whether it’s a physical posture or a moment of stillness — we invite ourselves to become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. We tune inwards to tune outwards, connecting not only to our inner world but to the world around us.
The Power of Stillness and Connection
When we “sit,” we ground ourselves closer to the earth. In stillness, we become more connected to the planet and everything it holds — its water, dirt, air, energy, and all the beings that share this world with us. Yoga is not just about physically contorting the body or mastering a posture. It’s about grounding, finding rest, stability, and connection. In that stillness, we become more attuned to the goodness that surrounds us — within and beyond.
The act of sitting, pausing, or simply being present in a posture brings us closer to our own body, to the earth, and to the interconnectedness of all life. This practice isn’t just about flexing muscles or achieving the perfect pose; it’s about tuning in to the world we’re a part of.
What is Yoga, Really?
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, which means to bind, to bring together, to connect, to join. Yoga is not just about your sun salutations or seated meditation. It’s about connection — with yourself, with others, and with the world around you. Yoga is how you show up for your life. It’s about being present in the smallest moments, in every action, and in every relationship.
Yoga is:
The way you wake up and greet the day with gratitude.
The mindfulness with which you brush your teeth or drink your morning tea.
The awareness you bring while walking to the bus stop, appreciating the gift of your legs and public transportation.
Noticing your thoughts and choosing which ones you wish to focus on.
The care and creativity you put into what you make with your hands, how you prepare your meals, or pack your bag.
The respect you give to your body when it needs rest or nourishment.
The way you speak, listen, observe, and honor the world and all beings around you.
Yoga isn’t confined to a yoga studio or a 60-minute class. It extends into every facet of your life, shaping how you move through the world with awareness, presence, and compassion.
So, Why Yoga?
For me, yoga has taught me how to find joy within grief, love within anger, and calmness within chaos. It’s taught me how to cultivate gratitude in all things — even in the smallest, most “boring” moments of life. Yoga has helped me find balance between the external noise and the internal quiet, between striving and letting go.
And, perhaps most importantly, it has taught me how to live with passion — to feel life fully, to experience it all: the highs, the lows, and the in-between. It has shown me that yoga is not just a practice, but a way of being — a way of connecting with the world, with others, and with myself in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Ultimately, yoga is the practice of coming home to yourself, embracing the whole of who you are, and learning how to move through the world with greater ease and presence. It is the ongoing journey of connecting to what truly matters, in every posture and every breath.
December 2024