What is yoga?

11/27/2024 | xoxo, brittany

oh heyyyyy, 2025 :)

Student Spotlight: Jill & Dave!

does the pose make it ‘yoga’, or is there more to it?

What do you think of when you think of yoga? If you’re like most people, you might think of crazy, contortionist-like movement, expensive leggings, young, already-fit college-age people, and juice cleanses. (eeeek!) Or maybe the first thing that crosses your mind is “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga!”

(Feel free to replace ‘flexible’ with your limiting belief of choice:

-I’m not young enough
-I’m not strong enough
-I’m not disciplined enough
-I’m not skinny enough
-I’m not wealthy enough
-etc etc etc)

But what if there was more to it than that? What if we were to strip away all of the limiting beliefs, and all of the super cute Western-type-A-rich-soccer-mom-yoga-needs-to-be-an-intense-workout-to-be-worth-my-time bastardization that so often happens?

What would we be left with, if anything? Based on 18 years of consistent practice & research, 16 years of teaching, and 14 years of owning a studio, this is what I’ve come up with:

yoga.

the process of learning to question my own thoughts, and choose which ones I want to give my attention
developing a habit of gentle self-inquiry
learning how to become the eye of the storm amidst a hurricane-brain
the awareness to recognize the moment-to-moment magic of this life
remembering my inherent worth
developing the habit of being kind to myself
mindfulness/the ability to stay focused in the present moment
recognizing the powerful ways in which I create my own reality
acceptance of everything exactly as it is, while being eager for more
remembering that I have the ability to regain sovereignty over my own life
reconnecting with my body, intuition, and desires
seeking inward connection, with my higher self/inner being/universe
reviving my ability to feel joy, and remembering that I am so worthy of it

Did you know that 90% of the movement we now know of as yoga was adapted from Swedish gymnastics & Danish contortionism in the 1950’s? That doesn’t mean the movement is bad – not at all, in fact I love it! – but it does mean it’s not the point.

So then, what’s the point?

Peace. Self-love. Connection. Joy. Freedom.

To use an analogy from one of my favorite movement specialists, Ido Portal: if true yoga were the most delicious, satiating glass of water – are you drinking the water, or chewing on the cup? Are you fixated on the rigid movement and your limiting beliefs, or are you ready & willing to be open, to drink the most delicious cup of peace & love?

My challenge to you is to take a few minutes to think about what yoga means to you, and perhaps open up a conversation within yourself to invite the movement and the look of it all to be secondary to the feelings of connection, peace, and joy. I promise: it feels so much richer, more life-giving, and way more fun.