Yoga: What's It to You?

Last night I tucked in with some popcorn and a movie -- Enlighten Up! It was fun to watch the main character, Nick,  search for the meaning of yoga and the ensuing frustration of the filmmaker when Nick wasn't serious enough in his practice for her liking.  As the movie progressed I could feel Nick's determination to find something deeper through the practice of yoga -- and his skepticism that he would.

The end of Nick's journey resulted in a simple idea -- that yoga is different things to different people. After the words "transformation" and "enlightenment" were repeated numerous times at the start of his practicing yoga, Nick seemed almost disappointed with this simplistic idea.  I think he was looking for levitation, visits from a higher power, or at the very least an orgasmic experience.

As I stepped onto my mat this morning, I thought about what yoga is to me (I sheepishly admit that when I heard the question "what is yoga?" posed during the documentary, I found myself mentally stammering to answer the question -- odd being that I've been practicing for 12 years) and what it is that keeps my practice regular. I didn't come to yoga looking for enlightenment or God (another word used quite often in the movie). Instead, I was coming for a little peace of mind. I wanted to slow down a bit, get in touch with my body. The result of 12 years of practice - all of that and more.

I tend to stick with what I deem the classic definition of yoga as laid out in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras -- yogah citta vrtti nirodhah. Translated this means that yoga is the focusing of the mind in a chosen direction and maintaining it without distraction. To me, it boils down to changing the quality of the mind. It's like we're looking out a cloudy window. The window has acquired the dust and grime of our memories, previous experiences, education, prejudices, etc. The practice of yoga cleans this window so that rather than look at something as we perceive it, we actually see it as it is.

Since I'm also a believer of the holistic Indian model (which is reflected in the pancamaya model), I believe that the body, breath, mind, emotions, and personality are all connected. When one changes, they all change. Therefore, changing the quality of the mind through yoga would have far reaching changes for a person beyond the mind. Think throwing a rock in a pond -- the ripples extend outward, with motion occurring beyond the point of the rock hitting the water.

That, in short, is what yoga is to me. I find this definition a hopeful one, as it's full of potential. I think that the word "transformation" is an appropriate one to use in relation to yoga (although Nick might disagree with me). Throughout the years, I've seen myself transform in little ways. By no means am I "enlightened" or perfect. But I do like to think that my window is a little less crusted with gunk and that I've improved the quality of my mind a bit.

I realize that not everyone's definition of yoga is the same as mine. It was obvious from watching the various teachers and students being interviewed in the documentary that the definition varies greatly. So, what is yoga to you? Why do you practice? Those are two good questions to ask yourself as you start another year of yoga practice (or if you find that your practice is waning/has waned). After all, if a team of producers working on a yoga documentary comes up to you on the street and asks you "what is yoga," don't you want to be prepared?

And for those of you who would like another look at what yoga is in America, check out the movie Yoga Inc. You can watch it for free on SnagFilms.com.

Here's to another year of yoga practice and to finding what you seek in your definition of yoga.

Namaste!

Comments

[Sanjay]

I did not see Enlighten up. The point i would like to convey is we can take some valuable lessons by watching Good movies like Enlignten Up. Though I did not see the movie. I had watched "Peace Warrior". Its pretty hard to instill the lessons from the movie.

[Jan McFadden]

Nothing beats the warrior series1

[Prayer Wheel]

Your article makes my understanding of Yoga much better. It is a real enlightenment to me.

[Emma]

i think it makes sense to stumble over that "definition." i mean, people write books to answer that, right? i'm not sure there's a one sentence solution/answer...

[Brett]

This can be used as inspiration to us all! http://yogablocks.org/

[brad]

great post! thanks so much for all the profound inspiration. happy new year and all the best.

namaste,

brad

[Rebecca]

I watched Enlighten Up! over the holidays also. I thought it was interesting to watch the woman who made the documentary get frustrated with Nick's take on yoga. She seemed to want him to undergo a major transformation via yoga and, I'll admit, I was rooting for that also. It was a good reminder that even though lots of us love yoga, it holds a different place in each person's life. For me, I just know I feel better when I practice. And I'm pretty sure I'm nicer to be around!