YOGA. IS. EVERYTHING!
"The practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature."
-Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi
Ok. Let me start by saying, YOGA. IS. EVERYTHING!
LOL...ok. Just kidding, it's not EVERYthing.
Aaaah...no that's a lie.
It is. It's everything. Yoga is everything!
Now, that we have that out of the way...
Lets start by clarifying what yoga is and isn’t
Yoga is…
a science and an art
derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj' meaning 'to join' or 'to unite'
a state of liberation and self-realization
older than the Christian religion
commonly known as exercise, mindfulness and wellness practice
Yoga isn’t…
a religion
just stretching
Owned by any one demographic
a trend or a fad
Simply put yoga brings us back to ourselves.
In a world driven by external validation, like career titles, possessions, social media likes,
Yoga invites us to stop seeking outside approval and instead turn inward.
It teaches us that true satisfaction isn’t found in the next big achievement or purchase; it’s cultivated from within.
This inner connection is simple, but not always easy.
It requires practice, intention, and surrender to the present moment.
If you’ve ever been in a yoga class, one of the first rules is to not look to your neighbor and compare yourself.
Yoga is the antidote to the rat race, a way to find fulfillment in who we are, not what we achieve.
Can you lose weight doing yoga?
Yes…but it’s so much more than that.
Most yoga classes are 75-90 minutes of mindful movement and deliberate breathwork. Yoga…
Recruits deep muscle groups, requiring energy (calories) to sustain engagement.
Promotes mindful breathing, which signals your body to access fat stores for energy rather than glucose.
Improves your relationship with food, helping you make more conscious, nourishing choices.
Yoga, especially forms like Ashtanga, Vinyasa, or Power Yoga uses the entire body to engage your muscles, increasing core strength, and improving bone density, builds muscle.
These forms can be very vigorous creating a cardiovascular effect.
Other forms, like restorative yoga, is a deeply relaxing practice designed to promote recovery for both the body and mind.
It involves holding gentle poses for extended periods, typically 5-10 minutes, using props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to fully support the body.
The focus is on calming the nervous system, reducing stress, and allowing the body to rest and heal.
And then there’s Yin Yoga that targets the deep connective tissues, including fascia, ligaments, and joints, through long-held passive stretches.
Poses are held for 3-5 minutes or longer, allowing the body to relax and "sink" into the stretch over time.
The practice helps increase flexibility, improve joint health, and facilitate emotional release, creating a meditative like experience.
Yin Yoga emphasizes stillness, patience, and surrender, offering a calming, introspective approach to movement and mindfulness.
Yoga’s slower calorie burn compared to high-intensity workouts is balanced by its ability to reduce stress and cortisol levels, both being a common culprit in weight gain.
Yoga is known to increase mindfulness, improving the connection and relationship we have with our body.
This relationship creates an awareness that results in better choices that make us feel good, rather than choices that make us feel sluggish or tired.
As we practice yoga we are more likely to honor our body’s needs.
While many begin yoga to learn about stretching, the practice inevitably evolves into something much deeper.
Yoga integrates physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, touching all areas of our life.
Yoga is a practice.
A journey of self-discovery and healing.
It’s not about touching our toes.
It's about touching our soul.
As we move through poses, we’re also moving closer to our true Self, creating a sense of harmony, clarity, and peace.
While stretching is a physical act, yoga is a state of being.
It’s the ongoing experience of adjusting ourselves to be in alignment.
Can you practice yoga without experiencing all of this?
No.
That’s just stretching.
Yoga transforms, not just our body, but our entire approach to living.
Yoga invites us to recover from the noise of the world, to rest in our own essence, and to live according to our intentions.
So, unroll your mat, take a deep breath, and step into this ancient practice.
It’s not just exercise—it’s everything.
If you are looking to start your yoga journey, here is a list of our favorite yogi’s!
Welcome to The Body Ministry Blog. A sanctuary for women seeking to reconnect with their bodies and align with their purpose.
In this final month of December we explore the 9th Pillar of Wellness - Movement, elevating our consciousness, spirituality, and physical well-being.
With love,