What is the deeper meaning of yoga?

It should come as no surprise that yoga has evolved well beyond its traditional roots, particularly in the West. Somewhat unfortunately, yoga has lost contact with its subtle beginnings and is now largely a physical practice.

But that doesn't mean that the subtleties aren't as important now as they always have been.

Stick with me here (even if you're not a 'yogi').

A few days ago, I was filming some content. As I edited and posted the content to various destinations, it occurred to me how important this is to raise.

The footage was me practicing a sequence of yoga poses, looking precise, flexible and somewhat elegant. And whilst that can look great on the internet, it's important to remember, that isn't always yoga. Just because I am performing poses, it doesn’t mean I am practicing yoga.

The funny thing is, you cannot SEE yoga. Yoga is in-visible. The yoga is my attitude. It is the kindness I show myself in each moment (to the best of my ability). It is the awareness of my body and breath and the attention that I give to both. Yoga is the felt sense of my own energy as a reminder that I am not seperate from all other energies. It is the intention of connecting to these things that makes yoga, yoga. (And once we get really good at this, we can start to manipulate and direct our energy through the subtle practices, as per classical yoga.)

But here is the best part, this is what makes yoga a translatable practice. You don't have to practice yoga, to be practicing yoga.

Take my husband for example, he is the kindest, selfless and most generous person I know. He doesn't 'practice yoga' but he is a yogi.

So whilst the practice can be important to help us cultivate these states of intentionality, insight and awareness, they aren't the only way to live a more harmonious life. Whatever tools you have in your belt to sharpen your capacity for kindness, generosity, selflessness, love and joy, use them and build on them with intention.

I don't care about how you show up on my screen, I care about how you show up in your life. In my eyes, everyone has the capacity to be a yogi.

Practice, practice, practice.

Zo x

P.S. Lets practice being yogi's together, on a tropical island, sipping on coconuts under the sun. Sri Lanka Yoga Retreat 2023