what is yoga?
WHAT IS YOGA?
yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to yoke” or “to unite”. yoga is union.
union of what, you ask? your mind, body, and soul. the union of you with the world around you; the union of your will, with the will of God. when you are not affected by praise or criticism - this is the state of yoga. with yoga, you are at peace with yourself.
PATANJALI’S 8 LIMBS
the word yoga was first mentioned around 4,000 years ago in the “rig veda”, (the rig veda is a collection of hymns that praise a higher power, B.C. 1500). however, patanjali’s “yoga sutras” were the first to codify the practice into the eight-limbed path that we know more commonly today. the eight limbs give us actionable tools to practice with. it is important to note that asana means seat - you can have an extremely strong and stable yoga practice without ever doing anything other than sitting (while focusing on other limbs).
1. Yamas: external observances or restraints (how we engage with the external world)
Ahimsa: non-violence
Satya: truth
Asteya: non-stealing
Brahmacharya: sexual restraint or energy conservation
Aparigraha: non-hoarding, non-coveting
2. Niyamas: internal observances (how we relate to ourselves)
Saucha: cleanliness
Santosha: contentment
Tapas: austerities, literally “heat”
Svadyaya: self-study
Ishvara Pranidhana: surrender to God/higher power
3. Asana: seat (modernly defined as posture)
4. Pranayama: breath control
5. Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses or detachment from the world
6. Dharana: concentration or steadying the mind
7. Dhyana: contemplation or mindless attention
8. Samadhi: union (pure bliss)
WHAT IS #YOGAWITHDIVS?
#yogawithdivs takes things one step further, and adds “business” into the mix. we align soul + mind + body + money. (because yoga means union, technically business and money are already in the mix! especially with the yamas and niyamas). BUT as a businesswoman who is passionate about financial empowerment, I believe it is important to create a separate lane for a problem I see many people all over the world dealing with: money anxiety. therefore, my money themed classes incorporate practices where we work on achieving financial wellness.
I wholeheartedly believe that if you can dream it, you can do it. yoga give us the tools to dream, business gives us the tools to do - that is #yogawithdivs
follow me on youtube to practice! ✨