People often confuse yoga for what it appears to be prima facie, yet this misperception couldn’t be further from the truth. To the uninformed, the word “yoga” alone connotes a plethora of beautifully tan and fit bodies performing awkward and physically grueling postures. Hatha yoga or “power” yoga as it’s better known in the West, is absolutely a physical practice; however the physicality is a necessary aspect of the Hatha yoga tradition to successfully free yourself from the limitations of your mind, the human condition and therefore your “little old self.”

ince yoga literally means “to unite” or “to yoke” the question is what are we yoking? Not eggs. How can little old me find my place in this big world? Where do I fit in?  Or better yet, why don’t I fit in? These questions are variations on the same theme resulting from a disconnect between a limited understanding of self and the Infinite Universe. Call it God, call it Divine Spirit, call it Self-Realization, call it Nirvana (not the band please). I implore you, please call it whatever the heck you want to, but the reality is that there is something “out there” we as humans desperately seek to identify with. The disconnect experienced by some is often so profound that the only viable solution is an unhealthy one like smoking or binge drinking. Then again, a rare breed of tolerable and well adjusted people who come across as whole, pure and authentic do exist. Do you twinge with a wee bit of jealousy and wonder, “How is so-and-so such a well adjusted individual and why can’t I be more like that?!” Here is the kicker: this "well adjusted" individual doesn’t even practice yoga!

When observing people who practice yoga regularly, dare I say religiously, I notice a disproportionately high percentage of them work in a creative field. Many are artists, writers, designers; many are performers, musicians and dancers. Many are athletes. Athletes are especially masters at honing their attention on their “craft” because winning is everything for them. All these creative people have one thing in common: passion. Both artist and athlete merge and become one with their chosen craft. The ability to transcend earthly and fragmented consciousness is the cornerstone of sucess for any artist or athlete; some call it “being in the zone,” Britney Spears sure did.

If bridging this disconnect is possible through other means, then why do we yoga? Wrong question to ask! Yoga is only one of many modalities available that assist with getting in “the zone.” Yoga is a tool. While it’s nice to know we have options, it’s important to recognize that yoga might not be for everyone and this is perfectly acceptable. In fact, this recognition aligns nicely with yoga philosophy. In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras the niyamas are the second limb of the eight limbs of yoga. Santosha or contentment is the first niyama. So if what you do in life does not bring you contentment or joy then why do you do it? It’s unfortunate that so many people have such difficulty understanding this very simple idea.

Personally, the allure of yoga is that it is in all things everywhere at all times. Yoga is ubiquitous, which is why I often use metaphors when I teach or speak about it. Yoga is all things yet it is nothing simultaneously. A yoga practice extends far beyond the physical sequences of contorted postures. Yoga-ing means creating a genuinely deep connection to something other than self. Sri Chinmoy, an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete leaves us this little gem of wisdom: “Ultimately, it [yoga] is a state of consciousness beyond name and form and the limitations of the mental world.”