Yoga Is More Than a Workout: Reconnecting With Its True Purpose
"Stay in each pose for a few breaths and let it nourish you," my teacher Jasmine said as she moved through the room, gently adjusting students in their triangle pose. That moment stuck with me.
In today’s fast-paced, Western take on yoga, Power Yoga and fitness-based classes have taken over. It’s all about how much you can sweat, how many calories you can burn, and how intense the practice can get. Somewhere along the way, yoga became just another workout. It turned into a physical challenge, a goal to strive for, another box to check off on our fitness tracker.
But that’s not what yoga was meant to be. Yoga is about nourishment—true nourishment—from the inside out. The poses, the breath, the attention, the intention… they all exist to feed the mind, body, and spirit.
So, where does that leave us in today’s “no pain, no gain” culture? And what about you—why did you start practicing yoga? What made you show up to your very first class?
My First Yoga Class: Expecting a Workout, Finding Something More
When I first stepped into a yoga class, I was only thinking about my body. As a professional dancer, I was obsessed with staying fit and lean. I saw yoga as just another way to work out—a low-impact alternative to the gym.
I was expecting an intense sweat session, but instead, we just sat—breathing—while the teacher read a passage from a book. The class started slow, with soft, intentional movements, and I kept thinking, Okay, but when does the hard part start?
I did end up sweating, thanks to the thick NYC summer humidity, but not because I was doing endless jump-backs to chaturanga. And yet, by the end of class, I felt... different. I walked out feeling whole. Happy. Lighter. Taller. Completely mesmerized by what I had just experienced in my mind and body.
And that was it—I was hooked.
Within weeks, I was showing up to class every morning at 7:30 AM, not for a workout, but for something much deeper. The practice became my church. I wasn’t there to burn calories; I was there to connect with spirit, to appreciate my body, to feel that post-class glow. And the community? The energy? The way yoga made me feel alive? That’s what kept me coming back.
What Happened to Yoga’s Soul?
These days, something feels missing in modern yoga.
Walk into most yoga studios today, and you’ll likely find a room full of people moving quickly through sequences, dripping sweat, and pushing their bodies to the limit. The teacher might cue the poses effectively, but how often do we hear about the deeper aspects of yoga—the why behind the practice?
Where is the philosophy? The spirituality? The teachings that have been passed down for thousands of years?
Yoga is an ancient practice, not just a trendy fitness routine. It was never meant to be just a workout. Yoga was designed as a path to self-discovery, a way to calm the mind, open the heart, and cultivate a deep sense of peace. But in the West, we’ve stripped yoga down to its most basic physical form, leaving behind the very essence that makes it so powerful.
Yoga Is More Than Just Asana
The physical postures—asana—are just one limb of yoga. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali outlines the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which include:
Yamas (ethical guidelines)
Niyamas (self-discipline)
Asana (physical postures)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (spiritual enlightenment)
But in many modern yoga classes, we only focus on one—asana.
Don’t get me wrong, moving the body is important. Asana prepares us for stillness, strengthens the body, and creates a healthy vessel for the soul. But yoga is so much more than just movement.
Without breathwork, meditation, self-inquiry, and spiritual reflection, we’re missing the full experience. It’s like reading only one chapter of a life-changing book and thinking you know the whole story.
Why the Spiritual Side of Yoga Matters
When we ignore the spiritual and philosophical aspects of yoga, we miss out on its true gift. Yoga isn’t just about getting stronger, more flexible, or learning to balance on one leg—it’s about deep transformation.
The practice teaches us to:
Slow down in a world that never stops rushing
Breathe deeply instead of holding tension
Be present rather than dwelling in the past or future
Accept ourselves as we are, not just when we reach a certain level of flexibility
Find peace in the chaos of everyday life
Yoga philosophy gives us tools to navigate life with more grace. When we study concepts like Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), and Santosha (contentment), we start to see how yoga isn’t just something we do on the mat—it’s how we live.
Reclaiming Yoga as a Practice for the Soul
If you feel like something is missing in your yoga practice, I encourage you to explore beyond the physical postures. Here are some ways to bring more depth into your yoga journey:
1. Bring Intention to Your Practice
Instead of just flowing through poses, set an intention before each practice. Ask yourself: What do I need today? Peace? Strength? Self-love? Then, let your practice reflect that intention.
2. Explore Breathwork and Meditation
Even just five minutes of deep breathing or quiet meditation can shift your entire state of being. Try practicing Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) or sitting in stillness after your asana practice.
3. Read the Yoga Sutras or Bhagavad Gita
Yoga philosophy is rich with wisdom. Reading texts like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali or the Bhagavad Gita can help you see yoga in a whole new light.
4. Practice Off the Mat
Yoga isn’t just about what happens in class—it’s about how we show up in life. Can you practice patience in a long line at the grocery store? Can you respond with love instead of frustration when someone upsets you? That’s yoga, too.
5. Find a Teacher Who Teaches More Than Just Poses
Look for a teacher or a class that incorporates yoga philosophy, meditation, and breathwork. A truly holistic yoga practice goes beyond the physical.
Yoga Is an Inner Journey
At its core, yoga is about coming home to yourself. It’s not about touching your toes—it’s about what you learn on the way down. It’s about quieting the noise of the world so you can hear the voice within.
So the next time you step onto your mat, remember: yoga isn’t just about the body. It’s about the mind, the heart, the spirit.
And if you let it, it will nourish you—inside and out.