A yogi or yogin (Sanskrit: yogin-, nominative yogī (Devanagari योगी; feminine yoginī) is a term for a male practitioner of various forms of spiritual practice – Wikipedia
I love going to yoga classes. I love getting into a pigeon pose. I love breathing and balancing. I love the sound of “OM”. And I love seeing all the beautiful people in my life practice yoga with me too. Yoga has enhanced my life immensely.
Though I’m not exactly sure what it means to be a “yogi”. I feel the term can mean so many things. I do believe it means one who practices yoga. If you eat, sleep, breathe, and live as yoga, I might consider you a complete yogi. But how exactly do you define someone who is a yogi?
I do understand that yoga is not only a physical practice, but it is also a way of life. The union of myself and my world greatly impacts my well being into a reality of dreams. Yoga is a union allowing your soul, your body, your spirit, your mind, and your universe to become one balanced vehicle of high life altering enhancements.
What I have realized while practicing is that yoga has been my guide to allow me to become AWAKE. Yoga has allowed me to become AWARE of what there already IS. It is the unfolding of layers, boxes, and structure that opens my mind to see and feel how abundant and beautiful my life is. The opening of my body is interlinked with the opening of my mind; which results in a fulfillment of wellness. If I did not practice yoga, would I be able to get to this point of fulfillment? Perhaps.
I also do understand that within the culture of yoga, a lot of people connect their practice with the way they eat and the way they maintain heath.
Ayurveda (Sanskrit: आयुर्वेद; Āyurveda, the “science of life”) or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India[1] and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine.[2] -Wikipedia
Ayurveda and yoga is a common union for many people who associate themselves in the yoga community. Not everyone practices auyervedic living though. Some people will be inspired to eat much healthier in other ways that works for them. Good food does help with the overall health of your well being.
What about yoga clothes? I’ve noticed that brands like Lululemon and Hard Tail are making a scene into all the yoga studios. You’ll see a lot of women showing off the latest gear in the prettiest of colors, accentuating their curves of beauty. Nothing is wrong with that, it’s just a trend I’ve been noticing. The fashion world of yoga is coming into play.
A few months ago, I was talking to a woman in a tea lounge in San Francisco about hiking and yoga. She was really amazed that I practice yoga, hike, go to the Buddhist temples in the area and eat pretty healthy. The remark she made surprised me, “WOW you don’t seem like a spiritual person, you look like a hipster!” What surprises me is that there are a lot of expectations and stereotypes developing within the yoga and/or conscious community from my point of view, especially here in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Of course, there are MANY modules of practices out there available for us human beings to feel alive! Yoga just happened to be one of my vehicles to get me to that destination.
Now, do I have to eat like everyone else does? Do I have to follow what other yoga practitioners are doing? Do I have to look like how everyone else looks? Not at all. I have learned to accept myself the way I am a long time ago. I do not need to conform to other people’s ideals nor do I have to conform to anything I think may be “better” than who I am right now. I really don’t mind wearing shorts that I’ve had since I was thirteen years old in a yoga class. I don’t mind that I wear baggy pants and a t-shirt every day. If I look like a “hipster” to you, then great! I will still continue doing what I am doing. Being me.
I don’t classify myself as a “yogi” because I’m not someone who uses my practice of yoga to make me who I AM. I used to be a touring tennis player. Some people used to call me “Tennis”, as if that was what I was. Just tennis. I don’t want to label myself as anything. Yoga is a part of my daily practice. My daily practice is allowing myself to flow naturally. I do yoga, but I’m just Cindy. Cindy Manit.
My challenge for you is: Ask yourself what area in your life you feel you aren’t being your natural self? How does it make you feel? And what can you do to change that?
Always remember to be yourself! Your full natural self! And you are loved. =)
Loving you all.
See you soon!
-Cindy
Picture: Myself with Shiva Rea. Wanderlust Festival July 2010. Lake Tahoe. http://www.wanderlustfestival.com/
Cindy Manit 