What Is Yoga Really? Beyond Poses, Hot Pants, and Hippie Hair

Modern yoga is everywhere, in gyms, on Instagram, and yes, wrapped in stretchy pants and scented candles. But yoga wasn’t always about perfect poses or beachy waves. Long before it became a lifestyle brand, it was a path to freedom, of the mind, body, and spirit. So let’s roll up the mat for a second and dive into what yoga really is… beyond the leggings and the beautiful long hair. 

Yoga, at its core, is a practice of union; of mind, body, breath, and spirit — and it begins with something beautifully simple: observation. That ability to pause, to become aware, is the first step to a deeper life. And while most of us are introduced to yoga through physical postures (asanas), that’s actually just one small part of an ancient system, a system designed not just to stretch our bodies, but to stretch our consciousness.

To get to that expansive state, some call it Nirvana, others Samadhi or Shunya — where the mind is calm, grounded, and deeply aware, yoga offers a clear path. 

But what is that path? And where did it even begin?

The Roots of Yoga

Yoga has been around for thousands of years. The first mention of it comes from the ancient Vedas, but it was Sage Patanjali, sometime around 400 CE, who codified this practice into what we now know as the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text that describes the eight-fold path to liberation.

Before Patanjali, it is said that Shiva, the first yogi, Adiyogi, was the originator of yoga. In deep stillness, he observed and embodied the ultimate potential of the human being. He passed on his knowledge of Hatha Yog to seven sages, known as the Saptarishis. These sages went on to spread the teachings across the Indian subcontinent through Diksha, the sacred teacher-to-student transmission.

So what we practice today, whether it’s an hour on the mat, or a moment of breathwork in the middle of a busy day, is part of a living lineage.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

If you’re looking for the full experience of yoga, here’s the roadmap Patanjali laid out:

1. Yama – Ethical restraints or how we interact with the world
2. Niyama – Internal disciplines or how we live with ourselves
3. Asana – The physical postures
4. Pranayama – Breath regulation
5. Pratyahara – Sense withdrawal or not reacting impulsively to every little thing
6. Dharana – Concentration or single-pointed focus
7. Dhyana – Meditation or awareness without distraction
8. Samadhi – The ultimate union, bliss, or stillness beyond mind

Yamas: Ethical Foundations

Think of the Yamas as boundaries that keep your energy clean and your relationships kind:

• Ahimsa (Non-violence): Don’t harm — not just physically, but in your words, thoughts, and choices. This includes things like not eating animals and being kinder to yourself.
• Satya (Truthfulness): Be honest — with yourself and others. Speak your truth, but don’t weaponise it.
• Asteya (Non-stealing): Don’t take what isn’t freely given — time, energy, ideas, or possessions.
• Brahmacharya (Energy moderation): Use your energy wisely. That means sexual energy too, but also your attention and focus.
• Aparigraha (Non-hoarding): Take only what you need. Let go of the impulse to collect, cling, or control.

Niyamas: Personal Practice

These are the everyday practices that help you live with clarity and purpose:

• Saucha (Cleanliness): Clean body, clean mind, clean surroundings. Clear intentions.
• Santosha (Contentment): Be grateful for what you have — it’s enough.
• Tapas (Discipline): Show up for yourself even when it’s hard.
• Svadhyaya (Self-study): Learn about yourself. Read, reflect, grow.
• Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender): Trust something bigger than yourself — whether you call it the Universe, the Divine, or simply life.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says:

“Satu dirgha kala nairantarya satkara asevitah drdha bhumih”
It means that Yoga becomes firmly rooted when it is practiced with consistency, dedication, and devotion over a long period of time.

Practice is what transforms knowledge into wisdom. The more we walk this path, slowly, mindfully, the closer we come to that mysterious but very real place called Shunya. A space of zero… that holds everything.