September has been dubbed “National Yoga Awareness Month”. The intention is to raise awareness of the practice of yoga and it’s numerous health benefits. While I tend to agree, yoga is a practice many may find useful and the benefits are immeasurable in my own personal life, I’m wary to join into the monthly “celebrations” honoring yoga as I find the western tendency to segment yoga into “parts” is antithetical to what yoga really is.

Yoga is a practice with multiple pieces. Many follow the eight limbs of yoga:

1. Yama – duties directed towards others
2. Niyama – duties directed towards the self
3. Asana – physical postures
4. Pranayama – breath practices
5. Pratyahara – withdrawal of one’s senses
6. Dharana – focus
7. Dhyana – meditation
8. Samadhi – enlightenment

All these limbs have further practices within them. Individually, they may have numerous benefits for the mind, body, or spirit. Together, they have immeasurable benefits to the mind, body, AND spirit. See the difference?

When we take one piece of the puzzle, it may be interesting, but we aren’t really understanding the bigger picture or how that one piece fits into the puzzle. However, when we take all the pieces together, with patience and time, we see the beauty of it all, we see the full picture. The practice of yoga, incorporating all aspects of the practice, allows us to live our full selves, grow into our fullest beings. These practices give us the tools to be the best versions of ourselves, live with empathy, love, and grace, embrace all that humanity has to offer while understanding the bigger, spiritual picture.

So this month, as we raise awareness of the practice of yoga and it’s numerous benefits, I challenge you (and myself) to focus on those aspects of yoga where you may not have as much practice, where you may see minimal emphasis, and try to dig deeper into that practice. See what it opens up for you.