Contemplating the Meaning of Yoga

Yoga is defined as union, the union that is ever present in this universe; the union that ties all things together. It could be considered a synonym for the Dao and Christ Consciousness. Many people see enlightenment as the only true achievement of yoga. In its purest form, it is indescribable, the Ultimate,  ever-present. This yoga is the base of the universe, the glue that ties all things. Love, perhaps.

To practice yoga is to practice being in the space of union and connection. We bring our body, heart, mind and spirit in sync. Find union with ourselves, each other and the divine. In a way, yoga is ever present, in every moment and everywhere. The practice of yoga helps us realize this truth.

The Faces of Yoga

Yoga can refer to many activities intended to improve our health. Most people around the world know yoga as a form of exercise with spiritual components. That being said, there are many yoga teachers and classes that do not focus on the spiritual side of yoga at all. There is nothing wrong with that, variety is the spice of life.

Yoga practices may be some of the biggest blessings for those who are not feeling well. People with physical, mental, emotional or spiritual challenges can approach their yoga practice with confidence, knowing that it has improved millions of lives over thousands of years. A consistent yoga practice can bring potential healing to any area of our lives.

When it comes to building community, yoga is an excellent tool and practice to share around. Regular yoga practices not only improves the life of individuals in the community, but also the relationships among them. This can foster peaceful exchanges and non-violent communication.

Yoga Through Time

Yoga could be considered relatively new to humans, especially if you believe that our early ancestors walked this plane a hundred thousand years ago. It could also be a simple turn of the wheel, considering the Vedic and Mayan calendars.

The first yoga scriptures are dates around 5,000 years old. At first, the teachings were passed orally from teacher to student. Fast forward to modern times and you can find hundreds of books and countless articles on the topic of yoga.

Perhaps there was a time when every human was fully conscious of their connection with themselves, each other and the divine. Perhaps that “fall from grace” was a falling from our own understanding of unity. Maybe we forgot our true essence and got lost in the material world.

Eventually, humans became disconnected from nature, god and themselves. Spirit, however, has always lived inside of every being. It was the ancient teachers who developed their ability to reconnect with the spiritual world. We needed to forget in order to remember.

These ancient teachers were able to reconnect to their true nature by achieving deep states of trance and meditation. This practice wasn’t unique to the yogis of India. Across the world, throughout time, individuals and groups from different cultures have practiced similar approaches to reconnecting with all that is. In some places, they are called shamans, kahunas, monks or simply, healers.

The last few decades have shown a trend towards the growing popularity of yoga. It is true that much of the focus is on the physical aspects of yoga and not so much in the spiritual. Some may see this as a dilution of the practice and teachings. I prefer to see it as a branching out, a network of openings and invitations to find yoga whichever path may be. My confidence is that all paths will lead to the same place and through loving practice, we may all meet there one day.

• Bruno Treves