Yoga Beyond Asana

by Jessie Dwiggins

In this country, it is very common for our yoga practice to begin with the physical. With prominent practitioners like Jennifer Aniston and Gwenyth Paltrow and promises of a “yoga-butt” and toned arms, it’s easy to be attracted to the physical benefits of the practice. And additional therapeutic benefits like pain relief are icing on the cake of our. Yoga practice. However, the physical practice of yoga poses (asanas) and breath (pranayama) is only one component of yoga. 

Yoga means “to yoke” or “to unite” and refers to the union of a person’s own consciousness and the universal consciousness. It was developed on the belief that for a person to be in harmony with oneself and their environment, body, mind, and spirit must be integrated, thus action, intelligence, and emotion must be balanced. To achieve this, an array of physical and spiritual techniques were created for regular practice including, postures, breathing, meditation, and ethical and moral guidelines. If the practice of yoga is exclusively physical, it is different from how yoga was originally intended. 

Don’t feel bad if your yoga practice is solely physical, yoga practice has to start somewhere and this also might be enough for you. Consider too, there might be other elements of yoga practice that would deepen your connection to yourself and others. For instance, learning to access the Chakras, or centers of energy and awareness within each person, can lead to considerable improvements in physical and mental health. Exploration of the Yamas, or ethical and spiritual observances such as kindness and truthfulness, can help us to develop more the profound qualities of our humanity. 

You might hear aspects of emotional and spiritual practices alluded to in class.  However, the depth of knowledge beyond this and the physical practice of asana are fascinating and crucial to strengthening your connection to yourself and others. Are you ready to deepen your practice and ignite your inner yogi? If so, join Stephanie and Jessie for a three-part series that will explore the movements of Prana, the Chakras, the wisdom of the Yamas and pillars of yoga, and more. Take your yoga practice off the mat and learn to live your yoga! 

Yoga for all the surrounding towns is available at USMMA in Belligham MA.  Franklin, Medway, Milford, Wrentham, Mendon, Holliston, Hopkinton, Millis, Uxbridge, Upton, Norfolk.  Share this information with someone you care about.