What is Yoga, Anyway? A Deep Dive into the True Meaning of Yoga

Yoga is a practice that nearly everyone has encountered in some way, from kids practicing along with YouTube videos to older adults stretching in retirement communities. But while many of us have experienced a form of yoga, how well do we truly understand what it is?

Yoga: A Subjective and Ancient Experience

At its core, yoga is subjective. Whatever yoga means to you, whatever you’ve felt in your practice—yes, that’s yoga for sure. But we mostly know yoga in a modern, physical exercise context. We think of it as breathing, stretching, and feeling a bit more peaceful afterward, even if we don’t quite know why.

That’s where the conversation begins. The practice of yoga has roots that are at least 5,000 years old, possibly even older. One of the clearest and most enduring definitions of yoga comes from a text called the Yoga Sutras, written around 2,000 to 2,500 years ago by the mysterious figure Patanjali. This text doesn’t just define yoga; it provides a roadmap for achieving it.

Yoga is the Cessation of the Mind’s Fluctuations

In the Yoga Sutras, yoga is defined as yoga citta vritti nirodha. This Sanskrit phrase can be broken down like this:

• Yoga: Union, stemming from the root word “yug,” meaning to yoke or unite. Think of two oxen yoked together to pull a cart—this symbolizes the union of body, mind, and spirit, all working in harmony.

• Citta: The mind or consciousness, encompassing thoughts, emotions, memories, and everything happening in your mental landscape.

• Vritti: The fluctuations or modifications of the mind. These are our thoughts, feelings, and mental activity—the swirling snowflakes in the snow globe of our minds.

• Nirodha: Cessation or control. It’s the ability to calm, quiet, and still the mind completely.

Simply put, yoga is the calming of the mind’s fluctuations. It’s about letting the snow of your thoughts settle at the bottom of the snow globe, leaving the mind peaceful and still.

Why This Matters in Modern Life

Though this definition comes from ancient times, it’s incredibly relevant today. The human mind has always been full of thoughts, but our modern world bombards us with more information than ever before—through media, jobs, and constant notifications. All of this contributes to the mental noise or vritti we experience daily.

Yoga offers a path to stillness, helping us navigate through this mental overload. When we quiet the fluctuations of the mind, we experience peace and clarity. But beyond that, yoga offers us a way to remember that we are not our thoughts. We are not the fluctuations of our mind—we are something else entirely.

Then, the Seer Abides in Its True Nature

Once the mind is calmed, the Yoga Sutras tell us that “Then the seer abides in its true nature.” In other words, when the snow settles, what’s left is pure consciousness—our true self. This state is often described as pure bliss. It’s always there, but it gets clouded by the fluctuations of the mind.

This deeper sense of peace and connection might be something you’ve already glimpsed in your practice, or something that’s still on the horizon. It’s a process that takes time and dedication, but it’s available to everyone.

How Do We Get There?

If calming the mind sounds easier said than done, you’re not alone! Sitting down and trying to think about nothing is incredibly difficult. Thankfully, Patanjali didn’t just tell us what yoga is—he also gave us a roadmap. The Yoga Sutras outlines what’s called the Eight-Limbed Path (Ashtanga), which I’ll explore in future posts.

This path covers everything from ethical practices to ways of harnessing the mind and energy, with posture (asana) being just one part of the journey. There’s so much more to explore beyond the physical poses we often associate with yoga.

Final Thoughts

Yoga isn’t a religion; it’s a philosophy and a science that has been practiced and refined for thousands of years. It’s meant for anyone and everyone who wants to connect with their true nature and find peace in this noisy world. If that resonates with you, yoga might be the key to finding clarity and calm in your life.

If you’d like to dive deeper into this topic, listen to the full episode of Deepen Your Practice here.

Om Shanti. Om Peace.