what your asana practice is missing
There’s no shortage of voices extolling the benefits of yoga āsana (the physical postures). There are even plenty arguing for the practice of āsana as exercise, to the exclusion of all other aspects of yoga (I’m particularly haunted by an ad I saw in London for the “No-Om Zone,” advertised as a “no-chanting no-granola no-Sanskrit” yoga workout …😳). So if you’re already practicing āsana, why should you learn the philosophy of yoga?
the part you already know
First and foremost, cultivating awareness of yoga’s history and philosophy counteracts the appropriation and erasure of root culture in modern yoga and in the wellness industry. This is a basic practice of ahimsa - non-harming; reverence for the divinity in everything and everyone.
Second, quite simply, if you only practice/study āsana, you’re missing out. There is just so much more here for you. Let’s just say whatever benefits you feel from āsana alone, triple that and stretch it across your every day, endeavor, relationship, sphere of influence. (yes really). AND your understanding of philosophy will change how you approach and experience asana. More on that below.
the part you probably haven’t thought about
As teachers, our individual yogic education and experience will of course influence how we talk about yogic philosophy (or don’t), but it also colors how we teach āsana - from the language we use to the alignment cues and physical assists we offer (or don’t). Your understanding of yoga, then, is shaped by the understanding of your teachers. And because even the most sanitized corporate yoga offerings are derived (somewhere along the line) from the vast field of Yoga-with-a-capital-Y, many of us become students of a particular lineage, influenced by a particular philosophy, without ever knowing it!
Maybe it’s just the precocious hand-raiser in me, always asking the teacher “ok but why??” but for me, I’d rather practice in a particular way on purpose, for reasons other than because a teacher says so.
the ‘why’ behind our practice
For the teachers on this platform, most of our yogic roots are steeped in Tantric philosophy (Nondual Saiva Tantra, if you want to get specific), which asserts that the divine permeates - rather than transcends - the physical realm. Applying that to āsana practice, then, your body isn’t an obstacle to be overcome in order to connect to spirit, but is already and inextricably connected. Bliss is attainable in this lifetime, in this body. This encourages us to move with joy, and guides our effort toward steadiness and suppleness, rather than strain and rigidity. ( You can imagine how this might differ from the way teachers/students of dualist lineages approach asana, influenced by a philosophy of hierarchical separation between the physical and the divine ).
As students, we should get curious about the underlying philosophies that guide our yoga practices. As teachers, we should talk about yoga philosophy and name it as such. We should cite our sources, as it were, to honor the roots of our practices and also so that students can easily find more information and other perspectives on a concept that resonates (or doesn’t!). We should, all of us, reflect on and think critically about the ‘why’ behind what we do. With deeper understanding, we can move with deeper intention, on and off the mat.
psst. { you can read more about the Tantric philosophy behind our offerings elsewhere on the blog } 💓
resonance for study and practice
One of my favorite mantra, especially when I am rededicating some energy toward study, is known as the teacher-student mantra, from the Taittiriya Upanishad. I’m sharing it below as an offering to guide us in the life-long study and practice of Yoga.
Om Saha Navavatu | Saha Nau Bhunaktu | ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
Saha Vīryam Karavāvahai | सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
Tejasvi Nāvadhītam-Astu Mā Vidvišāvahai | तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
Om Śāntih Śāntih Śāntih || ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
may we be safe + protected together
may we enjoy and be nourished by the fruits of study + practice
may we become strong + courageous together
may our learning be full of light
may we never feel division, discord, enmity, or hatred for one another.
peace within, peace without, peace all around.
/*/ reminder /*/ It’s not always possible to directly translate the Sanskrit syllables and phrases of mantra into english, and you will find many different translations of mantra (as with other translated and transliterated texts). I offer here an english version of this mantra as it has been shared by my teachers, and as it has resonated through my practice. // michelle