Yoga is the amazing discipline and practice that changed my life. It helped restore my health after a very serious illness of fibromyalgia over 10 years ago.

But first, before I tell you more about what yoga really is, I need to tell you what yoga is not, as there are many misconceptions about it. It is not a religion, not just a physical exercise designed to create a ‘yoga butt’, you do not have to be flexible to practice it, and one is not truly certified or qualified to teach the complexity of this science in two weeks.

Yoga is an integrated system of education designed to evolve the mind, body and inner spirit. In classical Indian philosophy, the body is seen as a vehicle for the soul in its journey towards enlightenment. Yoga ultimately helps personal evolution through self-discipline and self-awareness.

Human beings are mind, body and spirit. As “whole” human beings we have a physical need of health, a psychological need of knowledge and a spiritual need of inner peace. When all three are present and in balance, there is joy and harmony.

At the physical level yoga relieves our countless ailments, creating a feeling of well being. On a psychological level, yoga sharpens the mind and helps concentration. It balances the emotions and helps us have compassion for others. Pranayama (breathing techniques) calm the mind. Philosophically, it helps put things in perspective and brings inner stillness. Increasing one’s awareness helps us deal with major decisions and life changes. Spiritually, yoga deepens our awareness and works through layers of samskaras (impressions of the energetic body and mind that occur through karma, life experience and trauma) that bring us closer to our true nature.

This ancient system of holistic health even predates religion, as a discovered statue of a meditating figure that is over 7,000 years old has proven. Before formal religion, human beings were very much aware of Spirit and they used meditation techniques to connect to higher spiritual planes. However (then as now) stiff, tired, tight bodies and minds prevented them from comfortably sitting to meditate and from being open and relaxed enough to have the energetics of the body become receptive. Thus, the ‘invention’ of yoga.

Yoga has evolved to what is called Ashtanga Yoga (different from the practice of Power Yoga) or Raja Yoga. Asht means eight and anga means limbs while raja means king. It refers to yoga that prepares one for meditation.

The 8 limbs are:

• Yama - Universal ethical principles: truth, nonviolence, control of sexual energy, non-stealing, non-covetousness
• Niyama - Rules of personal conduct: austerities, purity, contentment, self-study, surrender of the ego.
• Asana - The practice of steady yoga postures.
• Pranayama - The practice of breath (prana) control.
• Pratyahara - Control of the senses.
• Dharana - Concentration of the mind.
• Dhyana - Meditation.
• Samadhi - Absorption of the Infinite: the superconscious state.

North American yoga has concentrated mostly on the 3rd and sometimes 4th of the 8 limbs. I absolutely recommend a yoga practice, yoga classes and yoga teachers that include all 8 limbs. Keeping this in mind however, I want to briefly explain the 3rd (Asanas) and 4th (Pranayama) limbs.

Asanas are physical exercises (postures or poses) that provide gentle steady stretching that acts to lubricate the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other parts of the body. Asanas tone the nervous system, improve circulation, release tension and increase flexibility. When performed slowly, they will also develop and broaden the mental faculties and enhance spiritual capabilities.

The physical body is cleansed and nourished by deep breathing (called Pranayama). When you inhale fully, you are supplying an abundance of necessary oxygen to every cell of your body. When you exhale, waste products are being expelled from your body. Breathing also helps to connect you to and balance your solar plexus (3rd chakra), which can be used to increase your physical and mental rejuvenation. This breathing also cleanses and strengthens your chakras (the seven energy centers in the astral body).

There are three main parts of an effective yoga practice: knowledge/depth/ability/experience of one’s teacher, awareness during practice and consistent effort. More is not always better. Quality is what counts.

Yoga is ancient and took lifetimes to develop. To really experience its benefits, find a qualified teacher whose practice involves all 8 limbs. The teacher should have his/her own teacher(s) that he/she continues to study with, a daily personal practice, and be certified and/or registered by a recognized national or international body.

First of all, we want to heal, not hinder the body. As yoga can cause injuries and has contra-indications for particular medical problems, it is important that your teacher is qualified and certified. Look for their credentials. Yoga Alliance (RYT) and the International Yoga Teacher’s Association (IYTA) are two organizations that set standards so this is a good place to start.

Secondly, the quality of your teachings will determine to some degree the quality of your home practice and the inner/outer awareness you can develop through yoga.

On a physical level I have found my grounding through yoga. Finding stability in poses has helped balance my vata dosha. Yoga has helped energy that gets stuck in my joints open up so that the meridians, chakras and nadis flow more freely. With my senses heightened I have also been able to feel these energies within and around the body, both when they are flowing and not.

With these energies running more freely, my physical body is not sore or stiff and my emotions and thoughts are calmer. I feel joy and peace that I have not ever felt before on such a regular basis. I have learned to respond from my soul/spirit rather than my head (or just react).

With increased awareness I have been able to feel an illness in my energy field before it begins and then make the necessary changes to prevent “dis-ease”. I have even learned how to mentally dissipate pain or stuck energy in my body using concentration alone without the use of posture.

Thirdly it is very important to be consistent and go to a class once a week. Regular practice will create a discipline, keep you interested and transform you far more quickly than intermittent practice. Then, when you are ready to do more, begin simply by incorporating more into your own home practice. There are a variety of workshops and retreats also available that will expose you to different teachers and techniques. Let your spirit guide you.

Lastly, make sure the beginning and end of your yoga always has some “still” or quiet time. Still time at the beginning helps one to go from external to internal and at the end it allows the extra chi flow you have developed through your practice to integrate into the body. Quiet time at the end of the class helps one to absorb the benefits of the practice and move from the internal to the external. Om Shanti!

Katherine LaBonte, RYT500, SOYA, IYTA, SYVC, YAA.