In light of all my chill and restorative offerings of late, I thought I would share some thoughts on the word yoga. In the west it is often thought of as exercise, but in fact, it comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. Yoga is the practice of cultivating greater integration, bringing body, mind, and spirit into alignment. The movements we often think of as yoga are actually yoga asana, which is one of eight “limbs,” or parts, of the practice.
When you close your eyes and notice your breath, that is yoga.
When you meet yourself or another with kindness and compassion, that is yoga.
And when you practice intentional rest in stillness, that too is yoga.