The Word Yoga comes from Sanskrit, the scriptural language of ancient India. Its root is the verb “Yuj”, meaning “to yoke” or “to unite”.

(Yoga is actually two things. First, it is a state of being in which the individual practitioner experiences a cellular connection with that which is the Universe, the Source, (or God), or Self. This state is sometimes described by athletes as “being in the zone”. For Yogis or yoga practitioners, this is Samadhi. Contrary to popular belief, Samadhi is not a trance: in fact, it is the opposite. It is a state in which we experience total clarity of awareness. But for most of us, Samadhi does not seem relevant to our daily lives. Here is where the second aspect of yoga - the practices associated with that deeply connected state of being - comes in.)

Most of us have heard of yoga's poses, its Pranayama or breathing exercises, and its meditation techniques. Less known is the fact that these techniques are rooted in a moral code that is the very foundation of yoga. This moral code is made up of Yamas (restraints) and Niyamas (observances):

The Yamas are: Non Violence, Truth, No stealing, Clarity about sexual intentions/Moderation in all things, and non greed.

The Niyamas are purity/cleanliness, contentment, consistency (austerity), study and devotion. Although we may enjoy our personal yoga practice or classes, it is only when we make yoga's foundation a part of our daily lives that we will be transformed.

It is important to understand what transformation means in relationship to your inner life. At first blush, it would seem that transformation is about changing. However, it does not mean that you use yoga to change into something different. Rather yoga takes you back to your true self.

(The practice of living your yoga uses the psychology of yoga to uncover this self, or what yoga calls atman. To do this, you must understand what it means to practice.)

Many of us have a negative reaction to the word practice, probably because it reminds us of being coerced into piano lessons or some other detested activity in childhood. (For me) Practice can have a different meaning: it is the consistent willingness to open to life in all its joy and pain. This definition certainly includes what you have always thought as your yoga practice, such as poses, breathing exercises, and meditation. But it also casts a wider net to encompass frustration with your temperamental car, the argument you had with a friend, washing your dinner dishes, and your apprehension about an important meeting. In other words, to practice is to pay attention to your whole life: your thoughts, your bodily sensations, and your speech and other actions. As you do, you will discover that nothing is separate from anything else. Thoughts are the sensation of the mind just as sensations are the thoughts of the body. Each moment of your life is a moment of potential practice.

From “Living Your Yoga, Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life” by Judith Lasater, PhD., P.T

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