Why do we practice Yoga?

 
​After my last Intense Teacher Training a friend asked me over lunch, " Why do you do Yoga? So that you can do… all these fancy poses like headstand?"

More than 90% start to practice Yoga for flexibility, strength, health and stress relief.
So for many people, Yoga means to practice postures once, twice a week or even every day in order gaining better health and greater vitality.

Through practice over two thirds of yogis shift their perspective about why they do yoga.
Yoga offers continued growth and self awareness. It is a training of self-compassion, kindness and self reflection. The power of yoga is unleashed but only when we commit in yoga as part of life, 24 hours a day. It is a universal system that requires a mental and inner discipline.

The Truth is that the practice of yoga is not about changing your body, fancy poses or being perfect. If it were, it would be just like taking a gym class or go running.

Yoga goes beyond of all those things.

In our society we have an enormous pressure to conform. We live in a constant rush to meet others expectations.

So when People tell me they are not "flexible enough," I explain that yoga is not about being perfect in a pose or being "good enough."

It is more about accepting us who we are, letting go of judgment and blame and arrive in us, right here.

So why do I practice yoga?
The answer is really simple.

​I want to be present in this moment, not only on my mat but to myself and the people around me.

---

by Julia Mander ·

---

share this: