I Don’t Know Yoga
I Don’t Know Yoga.
(Not Really, Anyway.)
Sure, I’ve had years of teaching, practicing, and studying yoga, and one would think I have a solid foundation. But the truth is — I don’t know yoga. Not really. Not in the way it’s meant to be known.
Here’s what I mean…
The Game of Yoga Telephone
Yoga, in its true form, is an ancient system. A philosophy. A science. A cultural lineage that runs deep — and runs far beyond downward dogs and cute (and expensive) leggings.
There’s Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga — all intricate branches of yoga, plus practices shaped by Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh influences. And then there’s Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, a medical system so complex that Westerners often reduce it to dosha quizzes and kitchari cleanses. (I will admit, I am guilty of just focusing on the Dosha parts to support my work with clients. What! It helps!!)
The version of yoga we often experience here in the West is like playing the game of telephone. A deep message is whispered in one person’s ear at the start, which is then passed to others, through generations, cultures, gurus who put their own spin on things, and commercial fitness classes — until what we actually hear has little resemblance to the original message.
I Honestly Can’t Relate
I wasn’t born in India. I didn’t grow up in the Himalayas. And I’m not here to pretend I understand or even relate to the cultural experience there. Even a month-long yoga teacher training immersion in India doesn’t make someone deeply know yoga, sorry.
What I Do Know
I know how the nervous system responds to breath — and how certain breath patterns can either calm or soothe you, or fire up sluggish energy.
I know which yoga postures / movements support muscular functioning, and create strength and stability, and which ones put stress on the body, especially if you’re already dealing with pain, tightness, or artificial parts and pieces.
I know that many people turn to yoga not because they want their butt and abs to look good, but because they’re looking for relief — from anxiety, burnout, disconnection, and pain.
I know that chanting mantras in Sanskrit (shoot, even in Italian), sounds and flows way better than doing so in English.
And I know that Patanjali’s teachings in the Yoga Sutras are a guide to living a productive, fulfilling, and joyful life. There are also other brilliant philosophers and teachers such as Jesus, Rumi, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius that in their own right, came up with similar conclusions.
A Note on Spirituality
Many come to yoga seeking spiritual guidance. But spirituality is a very general term, and it’s not exclusive to yoga. Spirituality boils down to the idea of letting go of the personal mind (which causes suffering) and living in a blissful state of present awareness instead. To be honest, watching a beautiful sunset in Key West can be a spiritual experience. Spirituality is a connection to Source Energy, no matter the avenue you choose to get there.
Appreciating Yoga
Yes, I teach yoga. But I don't claim to know yoga — at least not in the deep, embodied, ancestral way that honoring its roots would require.
I am not trying to poo-poo yoga either. My point is that we can appreciate yoga for what we know about it and how it personally supports us. There is a difference between appreciating it, though, and disrespecting the original culture by pretending to understand it. This is why I never wore all white, wrapping a scarf around my head in a Kundalini yoga class. It wasn’t me, nor was it representative of my own cultural identification.
My Own Take
As I’ve grown as a “yoga” teacher over the past several decades, I’ve now settled on offering a blend of science-backed nervous system support, movement that builds strength and stability (not just flexibility), movement that is inclusive of all body types and injuries, and practical ways to live with less chaos in your head and more connection in your life. I’ve actually become more focused on targeted movement, strengthening, and joint support versus achieving proper alignment in downward dog or mastering more “advanced” level poses.
This might not sound like traditional yoga to some. But for those of you looking for:
authentic yoga without spiritual bypassing
more than just surface level wellness
movement that is safe and supports your whole self
practices that foster spirituality, but also make physiological / psychological sense
and a teacher who is grounded in practical spirituality…
— we might just be a good fit.
I love teaching. I just want to NOT pretend I know it all, and to share what I do know, with humility, curiosity, and a healthy respect for where these practices come from.
Join me for a class.