What is Yoga?
by Cathy Johnson

Literally meaning “to join” or “to unify,” yoga is anything that leads someone to experience oneness. If you are experiencing a feeling of oneness with your body, mind, and spirit or energy you are doing yoga.

Wait a minute- that happens to me sometimes when I’m not at yoga class!

I think that yoga can be experienced in many ways. For instance, if you are truly experiencing oneness dancing, laughing, praying, giving, or even surfing, then this can be classified as yoga! Many things or even a moment of grace can lead to oneness. You will know when you feel it. It may last for a fleeting moment or for an afternoon.

Traditionally and historically, there are several paths of yoga or union. Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion and karma yoga is the yoga of service to others. All physical posture and breath practice is called ‘Hatha yoga.” This is what we call “yoga “at The Zen Room.

Recently, in class, Margaret asked what type of yoga we practice so that while traveling she could attend a similar class. Within the tradition of hatha yoga, there are yoga classes named after the teacher that has passed their knowledge and personal exploration of the asanas on such as Iyengar or Bikram. Many yoga teachers have drawn inspiration from one or more teachers or styles, like my class. It’s kind of like a yoga smoothie; a blend of yoga. And yoga nidra? What is that? It’s a guided meditation bringing awareness to the subtle energies in the body! Like a really long savasana or final relaxation. Yey!

Since there are so many ways to experience yoga; just about as many ways as there are people, it’s easy to see why you have such a wide range of class names and choices. Hatha yoga is like learning how to play and instrument. The instrument is your body in all its intricateness, and each instrument has a unique and glorious sound.

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“Neither knowable, knowledge nor knower am I, formless is my form, I dwell within the senses but they are not my home. Ever serenely balanced, I am neither free or bound. Consiousness and joy am I, and Bliss is where I am found,” —Sankaracharya

Photo: Honey Smith Walls