Emma Newlyn Yoga

There are countless blogs ‘out there’ telling you why yoga is good for you, why you should be practicing it, and what you might experience.

The truth is, everyone’s experience of what yoga is to them differs a little. Yes, we are all agreed on the definition of yoga, derived from the root word ‘yoke’ meaning ‘to unite’ – so by many people’s accounts, yoga means ‘to unite’. But ‘to unite’ with what? Some say, with the divine, others to a higher power. To me, and to many others, it means to unite with who you really are. Your ‘true Self’.

I can’t tell you what you will experience, I can’t tell you why it is good for you, I can’t even tell you why you should be practicing it. I can only tell you what it means to me:

‘Yoga Chitta Vrtti Nirodaha’. In the well known philosophical texts the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’, yoga is said to ‘calm the fluctuations of the mind’. The first time I ever remember my mind stopped going at 100 miles-per-hour was in one of my first yoga classes. Yoga has transformed my mind and body from weak and fearful to strong and positive. It allows me to actually live in the present moment, rather than caught up in thoughts about the past or future – concentrating on the breath, moving and listening to how we feel in a particular moment allows us to fully be there in reality, instead of somewhere in our minds which doesn’t even exist. It teaches me to trust myself and the decisions I make. It has taught me that the more you learn, the more there is to learn. It always teaches me that the most important moment is now. It has taught me that everyone is so different. It is not about touching your toes and doing handstands. It is also not about lying down and shutting your mind off. It forces me to listen to things I have been ignoring. It has opened my eyes to more things than I thought possible. Yoga makes me want to share everything I have learned so far, so I trained to teach it to anyone and everyone. It puts me in the most unexpected circumstances. It brings me back together. It has taught me all of this and about a thousand more things that are unexplainable. It can teach you too if you’re willing to learn.

I want to share everything I have learned and continue to learn about living fully, healthily, honestly and in the present moment.