philosophy

beyond stretching

Yoga is a science of life.

It is something you can only know the benefits of by practicing - we have to give it a try to know how it feels and if it works!

The further a person walks down the "yogic path," the more they realize that yoga happens more off the mat than on it.

the extinct language of yoga

Sanskrit is a dead language, like Latin or Ancient Greek. Because one word can mean many things, Sanskrit adds a lovely poetic component to yoga practice. While no living native speakers exist, we sprinkle Sanskrit words into our classes to acknowledge the ancient roots of yoga and the Indian culture it came from.

Any foreign language can feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable. But as we learn about what words mean and how they are used, they can add beauty and meaning to our lives without being threatening.

spiritual but not religious

Yoga can serve as a spiritual path, but it is not connected to any religion.

Buddhism also uses some Sanskrit and offers its own separate eightfold path to liberation.

Yoga postures (called asana) are named after shapes, animals, plants, anatomy, and some Hindu gods, because both Hinduism and yoga share India as their birthplace.

While many feel connected to their Higher Power when they practice, there are no religious teachings or rituals taught in yoga.

If you practice Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, or no religion at all, yoga has space for you, your faith, and your spirituality. The words yoga means to yoke, or unite. Classes and practice should connect us, not divide us.

ancient wisdom

Yogic teachings were originally shared orally. The first categorization and writing down of this wisdom is attributed to the sage and scientist Patanjali. They are called the yoga sutras.

The yoga sutras are the heart of yoga practice. The Sanskrit word sutra means "stitch," and these threads offer a framework for how to live a more meaningful and connected life. Like verses from the Bible or Tao Te Jing, the 196 sutras have been translated and commented on by many students over thousands of years. 

The sutras are organized into four chapters, which build upon each other: the purpose of yoga, the eightfold path, the benefits of yoga, and the definition of liberation or freedom.

eight branches

The second chapter in the sutras teaches the eightfold path, or the eight limbs of yoga. These can be (over)simplified into four basic categories: ethics, postures, breathwork, and meditation - all of which lead us to peace and bliss.

atha yoganusasanam

Like the first sutra reads, this is yoga. Yoga is more than philosophy, more than words, and far beyond stretching on a mat.