In the modern world Yogis are revered as calm bendy enlightened figures with enviable physical and mental stability. This can be a far journey away from the distractions and limitations of everyday life. The pictures we see online do not always seem attainable. If you want to begin on the path to becoming a Yogi know that your Yoga path isn’t about following one strict set of rules or changing around your entire life to become a Yogi.

It is my wish that at least an element of being a yogi comes into people’s lives. Otherwise something very fundamental is going to waste. Bending and twisting your body has its benefits for your physical health but there is much more to being a yogi. Some sense of being a little more than the physical body is the important thing.

To be a yogi means to live without the coffins that people build around themselves. Yoga means union. It means you have breached the boundaries of the physical and have the ability to touch and experience everything in the universe. Unless a human being acquires this quality they are somehow trying to hide from life.

No pain no gain does not apply to yoga. While you want to find your edge you’ll do more harm than good if you push your body too far. Self-care is part of yogic philosophy and knowing when to back off is just another way to show yourself some respect.