The benefits of yoga in modern life
Yoga is first and foremost an extraordinary way to regain fitness, restore balance and let go of everyday worries. It is practised gently and fluidly — although some forms can be highly dynamic — without any concern for performance or competition, and with respect for each person’s physical characteristics, strengths and limitations. Yoga can be practised throughout life, and it is never too late to begin.
Through postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama), we strengthen the body and joints, improve flexibility, learn to relax and concentrate, and develop posture, balance and coordination. Each posture acts on a particular limb, joint, muscle or organ; but as practice develops and we learn to refine our alignment, we gradually become aware of the effect each posture has on the body as a whole. The various breathing techniques, meanwhile, can have calming and cleansing effects.
Yoga is therefore a genuine physical activity that engages the body and can require real effort.
But beyond its physical benefits, yoga is also an immense pleasure: a pause in the day, a moment for oneself, and an aspect that should never be overlooked.
But what exactly is yoga?
It is a recurring question, and the answer — if there truly is one — is complex. For some, yoga is almost a sporting activity. Others see it merely as a form of relaxation, while others describe it as a philosophy or even a belief system. If nothing else, this shows one thing: yoga is a personal journey and a practice that each person makes their own according to their needs and aspirations.
But first, a little history and etymology.
Yoga is rooted in an Indian tradition that is several thousand years old. The word itself comes from the Sanskrit “Yug”, meaning, depending on the translation, “to unite”, “to join” or “to connect”. This suggests a practice concerned with both body and mind, and one that recognises the constant interaction between the physical and the mental. Linguists point out that many Sanskrit words lie at the roots of our own vocabulary: “yoke”, for example, or “pada” for foot, and “tri” for the number three…
There is no need to look for metaphysical examples. Quite simply, when we are feeling low, the body feels it too and we become tired; and when we have a physical problem, it weighs on our mood.
If we take the idea a little further, we also encounter notions of harmony, calm and serenity: the idea of a healthy body and a peaceful mind. We are not very far from the old ideal of a sound mind in a sound body.
Of course, to unite, join or connect also evokes our relationship with the world around us and with nature.
Yoga is therefore a discipline that goes back several thousand years — around 6,000 — and one of the earliest collections of texts devoted to yoga appears to have been written between 200 BCE and 500 CE. It consists of a series of short aphorisms attributed to a yogi named Patanjali and known as the “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”.
The text can sometimes seem rather obscure to Western readers, it must be admitted, but one essential idea emerges from it: the purpose of yoga is the “stilling of the fluctuations of the mind”, the calming of mental activity. It is therefore easy to understand why, in our contemporary world where everything moves too fast and where we so often feel scattered, yoga can appear so attractive.
As a first approach, yoga may therefore be described as a set of physical, intellectual and mental techniques that help us feel better. But this is a very brief and simplified summary, because yoga is infinitely subtle, and the postural practice with which we are all familiar is only the visible tip of a vast iceberg.
Yoga has eight pillars, or eight “limbs”:
- Yamas — principles governing our relationships with others: non-violence, truthfulness, selflessness…
- Niyama — principles governing our relationship with ourselves: moderation, observance, perseverance…
- Asana — postures
- Pranayama — breathing
- Prathyara — inward awareness, consciousness of sensations
- Dharana — concentration
- Dhyana — meditation
- Samadhi — state of unity
There is clearly a progression, with the final limb representing the ultimate state of bliss. Everyone is free to decide how far they wish to travel along that path.
Yoga is not a religion, but it is certainly a philosophy and a spirituality. There is therefore always a symbolic dimension to yoga practice: an element of introspection, certain codes, mantras and a particular language. A similar context exists in traditional martial arts, and no one would enter a dojo or a fencing hall without bowing or saluting.
Practising yoga therefore involves respecting this age-old discipline, and no yoga teacher is indifferent to that dimension. A class is of course centred on practice, but philosophical ideas are also conveyed in the background, without any form of proselytism.
Out of respect for the tradition, at FM Flow the postures are referred to primarily by their Sanskrit names, followed by their English equivalent (for example, Halasana — the Plough).
