The International Day of Yoga is fast approaching. When I did a quick search online to see what was going on for the weekend, it seems there are so many events to choose from:
- Silent Disco Yoga
- Puppy Yoga
- Beach Yoga
- Rooftop Yoga
- Yoga in the Park
- Father’s Day Yoga
- Beer Yoga
- Hot Yoga
And so much more!
My first thought was, wow there is an overwhelming amount of activities around this “holiday”. Then I wondered how these events are actually talking about yoga, sharing about the spiritual practice and how it can be not only a physically supportive practice, but a lifestyle.
It seems like every year, as we approach this day, I find myself circling back to how people learn about and practice yoga. I know there are a lot of thoughts about this “holiday” and how it was established, and I won’t really get into those political points here. But one thing I will say is that I believe this is an opportunity to broaden our collective understanding of yoga. Rather than go to an event that focuses on the physical aspect of yoga, try to find a group that is bringing awareness to other parts of yoga, maybe focusing on pranayama or meditation. Maybe pick up a book about the history of yoga and learn about its roots in South Asian culture and spirituality.
Saying “there is so much more to yoga than asana” is just me being a broken record. Maybe asana is your entry into the space, your gateway to the practice. Eventually, though, I believe people should become aware of the depth of the practice and the true disconnection is has with the stereotypes and misconceptions most people have. I think the best thing folks can do if they are interested in yoga is to really look for communities that promote the full scope of what yoga is. They are out there and not hard to find.
My hope is that eventually, there will be a collective shift in Western Yoga, where there are more spaces where conversation, connection, and liberation are the focus over asana. Because to me, that is what yoga is all about.
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