So what actually is Yoga?

I mentioned to someone the other day I was a yoga teacher in training and they asked what I thought was a surprising question “So, what actually is yoga?’ 

Having fallen in love with yoga myself 16 years ago, I have seen it become more and more popular and from my point of view it seems everyone is at it. But, that’s not actually the case, there are still many, many people who don’t really know what yoga is and think it probably just isn’t for them. But yoga is for every single body. 

Whether you want to work up a sweat, chill out and relax, or discover your spiritual side, there is a yoga class to suit you and what’s more you don’t even need to be flexible.

And that’s why it’s so hard to answer the question ‘what actually is yoga?’ Because yoga is everything to every body. It’s adaptive, inclusive, all-encompassing. 

Ultimately, yoga is an expression of simply being. It’s breathing, it’s moving, it’s stillness, it is life itself. 

And the other stuff? The everyday stuff that we get so worried about, so stressed and worked up over? Yoga puts all that into perspective, reminds us of our basic humanity. Whatever the style of yoga, you’ll leave the class feeling lighter, brighter, happier, more contented and connected than you were when you came in, and that amazing feeling is yoga. If you haven’t tried it yet, then please take a step out of your comfort zone and have a go, it’ll be the best thing you ever did for yourself.