Yoga 101: the what and why of yoga
When we hear the word yoga, it often conjures images of bendy, flexible humans holding reality-defying postures with serene expressions on their face. And yes this can be part of our experience of yoga, but yoga is at it’s essence, about the full spectrum of our inner experience, and is a pathway to see the awareness that our inner and outer worlds are more one than divided.
Yoga is an entire tradition informed by 5,000 years of eastern philosophy, knowledge and wisdom. This article lightly skims the surface - for those who are curious about the 101 of yoga.
Yoga: Union and Wholeness
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke” or “to unite.” At its heart, yoga is about union, the connectedness or bringing back togetherness of body, breath, mind, spirit and soul. It invites us to remember and truly experience and surrender into our wholeness and to live in greater harmony with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. These words may seem esoteric - and the power of yoga is the way is experientially teaches these more esoteric-seeming concepts.
Beyond the Poses
The physical practice of yoga helps us build strength, balance, and flexibility. But equally important are the more subtle layers:
Breath practices (prāṇāyāma): cultivating vitality and calm.
Meditation (dhyāna): training our awareness to rest in presence.
Philosophy and ethics (yamas & niyamas): living with compassion, truthfulness, and self-discipline.
Together, these practices form a toolkit for navigating life with more steadiness and clarity.
Why People Practice Yoga
People step onto the mat for many reasons:
To ease stress or find calm in a busy world
To improve physical health, mobility, or recovery from injury
To connect with a community of like-minded people
To process and heal from trauma
To explore spirituality and inner growth
To create moments of stillness and self-care
Over time, these reasons often deepen. What begins as stretching for the body can become a practice that stretches the heart and opens the mind.
A Lifelong Journey
Yoga isn’t about perfecting poses, it isn’t a linear path towards perfection, but it’s about cultivating presence, compassion, and resilience, both on and off the mat. Each breath, each movement, and each moment of awareness is part of the journey.
Whether you come to yoga seeking strength, stillness, or something you can’t yet name, it has a way of meeting you right where you are — and inviting you gently, step by step, towards a fuller experience of your own life, and feeling the wholeness that underpins connection and bliss in this world.
