What is Yoga?

Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means "yoke" or "union". The practice aims to create a union between the body, mind, soul and universal consciousness. Such a union tends to neutralise ego-driven thoughts and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening. The ancient founding yogis developed the original yoga postures with the sole aim of calming the mind.

Yoga helps us in a number of ways.

On a physical level, yoga can help to lengthen and strengthen the spine. The spine is the axis of our whole body and stretching it releases lower back pain and balances and harmonises the body’s physical organs. Yoga improves both posture and spine alignment, keeping your body flexible, mobile, supple and upright.

Yoga needs to be practised slowly and subtly with a focus on the breath. This contrasts with how yoga is often taught in the western world, which is akin to an aerobic workout.

A well-taught yoga session will leave you feeling calm, relaxed and grounded. A 10-15 minute relaxation at the end allows the body to retain the benefits from the postures and to tranquilise our unsettled, restless or confused minds (“monkey minds”).