Yoga means Union.
There is no separation between body and the mind and everything is related and connected. The aim is to heal the body in order to quiet the mind and finally to connect to the soul (Purusha). ‘Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah‘ (to cease the fluctuations of the mind) as Patanjali wrote in Yoga Sutras.
The real aim of Asana (physical aspect of yoga poses) is to make body flexible and strong in order to allow prolong sitting in meditative pose to achieve Samadhi.
The western world sees yoga mainly on physical aspect and the real purpose of yoga in West in quite often ignored. It does associate yoga with beautiful models in challenging but yet beautiful poses.
If the performing of the advanced poses was the real aim of Yoga all gymnasts and Circus de Solei performers would be the advanced yogis and yoginis, but this is not the case. The yoga in Western word just become another product for consumerism and fashion. It is mainly about look, clothes, accessories and Instagram models.
But Yoga should be and is available for everyone. It will improve your physical body but this is just the side effect. Do not worry that you will never be able to do certain poses. It does not mean anything. It is not about the competition with others or yourself. Yoga will make you a better person and you will notice this for yourself. You will become more connected to your body and mind. And this is the biggest benefit to the world and people around you. When your friends and loved ones notice the change in your personality as you will become a more patient and understanding they will ask you how you did it and everyone around you will benefit from it. Maybe you will be able to convert few of them as well 🙂
On the other hand if you manage to picture yourself in difficult yoga Asana and post it on Instagram or other social media platform it will look beautiful but everyone just look at it for couple of seconds and scroll it down to see others doing the same thing. It does not change anything. So do not be scared to start. Yoga is not about advanced yoga poses. The first thing you need to do is to follow your breath while you practice and this will connect you to your inner self. You can practice Yoga with simple poses but with the connection to your breath and it will be sufficient. However if you practice difficult Asana when you are not ready for it and without connection to your inner self and to the breath you just perform some gymnast exercisers. It will do nothing. It is not Yoga.
And remember you will improve through time like with everything. We have to be beginners once to be advanced one day. Yoga is a long journey so make it fun and worthwhile.
Picture below was painted by my friend Claire . I received it from my fellow yoga friends in Mysore as a Birthday gift last March. Love it. Now it hangs in my living room.
Magdalaya Yoga 