Yoga - Yuj - Unite

Clarissa
Mar 8, 2018
2 min read

Updated: Mar 16, 2018

Hi everyone,

"Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it."

- Margaret Atwood -

As some off you may know, today is International Women's Day. And as some of you may also know, I class myself as a feminist. Feminism has got a lot of bad rep, but if you look up the actual definition of feminism: The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. (According to the Oxford English Dictionary) Feminism is about the fight for equality between all genders, not man hating and burning bras. If you want more information about feminism, there is a great article on Bustle.

Now, how does this link to yoga you might ask... Yoga as a practice was created by men, and most gurus are male. However, the majority of participants are females. Sound familiar? Today is all about celebrating the women in our lives, so lets celebrate the feminine side of yoga. Celebrate the yin, the moon, the tha (from Hatha). The feminine side of yoga is receptive, cooling, and soothing. The feminine side is Yin yoga and Meditation, why not do moon salutations in place of sun salutations today.

A lot of people, women in particular, are insecure about things such as body image. I know I am, I put on weight after finishing unand over summer was called chubby by a stranger on the street. My yoga practice is very personal, it helps me feel more confident about my body. Everyone's yoga experience is unique, which to me makes yoga even more interesting. Next time you are in a yoga class, ignore what everyone else is doing, who cares if there's someone in front of the class holding a headstand like its nothing! Everyone starts as a beginner and it takes a lot of hard work to get to where you want to be. But if you focus on your own practice, you will get more from the class, trust me.

As I have already said in my 'Ancient Practice for Modern Life?' post, yoga comes from yuj, which means unite. Typically this refers to the mind, body and soul. However, I would like to think it can refer to community as well. And as all my text books keep telling me, yoga is more than just a practice, it is a way of life. Yoga teaches us a love for all. This refers to society, and most importantly and most often ignored: ourselves.

My challenge for you: in your next yoga class, be it yin, flow or meditation; your first class or your thousandth. Make your focus yourself. My meditation and asana practices are for me, the rest of my time is for everybody else.