What is Yoga? By Nicoline Valkenberg

This is not an easy question to answer and can scarcely be addressed in the course of a 60-minute flow class. Many of us have an implicit understanding of Yoga, largely shaped by the physical practices prevalent in Western culture. We may also have a vague sense that Yoga is an ancient tradition rooted in India, connected to meditation and spirituality. There is a growing awareness of different styles of physical practice, ranging from more intense forms (like Vinyasa or Ashtanga) to gentler options (like Restorative or Yin Yoga).

Having a clear working definition of Yoga can infuse your practice (and teaching) with intention and meaning. Recognizing what Yoga means to you and understanding its historical context can enrich your experience. As meaning-making creatures, we thrive on context and intention. I therefore include reflection on this question as an ongoing part of my practice. The answer, like many insights, can be elusive, making it valuable to revisit repeatedly. With Yoga’s vast history, grasping its essence can take a lifetime, especially for those of us from non-Eastern backgrounds. This pursuit is both rich and worthwhile!

The yogic scholar Georg Feuerstein notes in his book The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory & Practice: “In the most general terms, the Sanskrit word Yoga stands for ‘spiritual discipline’ in Hinduism, Jainism, and certain schools of Buddhism. Viewed more narrowly, Yoga is a particular branch on the huge tree of Hindu spirituality. Probably arising from archaic shamanism, Yoga developed into an immensely complex tradition with rather fuzzy edges…”

Within this tradition, various lineages and schools have developed over the last five thousand years, such as Raja Yoga (Classical Yoga), Hatha Yoga (Forceful Yoga), Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action), and Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion), among others. While there is too much to cover in detail, a key takeaway is that, beyond the physical and mental techniques, all approaches to Yoga traditionally aim to facilitate a transformation in the individual, so they may realize the true nature of Reality and eliminate suffering (duhkha). This transformation is often referred to as enlightenment (bodhi) or liberation (moksha, nirvana).

When one of my teachers first asked me to define Yoga, I followed up with the question, “Yoga as a state or as a practice?”, because the term Yoga points to both a set of practices and a unitive state of consciousness. Its etymology traces back to yuj, meaning “to yolk” or “unite.” To be in a state of Yoga is to experience union, where our individual consciousness merges with universal consciousness, dissolving the suffering that arises from a sense of separation from each other and the Divine.

The Yoga tradition essentially posits that we suffer from a case of mistaken identity, misidentifying with our personal selves and the circumstances of our material world. We often perceive our finite bodies, individual personalities, and transient thoughts and emotions as the entirety of who we are, which can provide only limited satisfaction contingent on specific conditions. Yogic practices—postural, breathwork, meditative, ethical, and ecstatic—aim to harmonize the limited aspects of our being with our underlying Essence or Spirit, the dimension of ourselves connected to the Source of all things. Feuerstein articulates this beautifully:

“When we have realized our true nature, as pure Consciousness or Awareness, whatever we do will be infused with the freedom and bliss of that realization. We are all right in any circumstance and can enrich all circumstances with wisdom and compassion so as to benefit other beings.”

One of my main teaching influences, Tom Alden, introduced this question and various reflective practices as regular components of my sadhana (spiritual practice). He identifies four aspects of Essence/Source/Spirit within us: awareness, vital energy, intelligence, and kindness. I view Yoga as a means to attune ourselves to these qualities—what he calls “the traces of God in us.” By recognizing and enhancing these aspects throughout our body-mind, we can remember our true selves and our capacity for contentment, independent of external circumstances. 

I’m uncertain at this point in my yogic journey whether enlightenment is a steady state to be achieved or something we simply practice remembering regularly. However, after 22 years of practice, I can confidently say that enough “remembering” (as described in Tantric Yoga as “the splendor of recognition”) allows me to trust my life and live more comfortably in the unknown. It helps me heed the inner calls of my Spirit and enables me to act from my essential goodness consistently. It reminds me that even in life’s storms, the blue sky remains present behind the clouds. The visible reality isn’t all there is; there’s an unseen order at play. This awareness enhances my ability to live and teach with greater clarity and purpose.

Whether your practice serves lofty spiritual goals or aims simply to provide exercise, calm your mind, relieve anxiety, or balance your nervous system, I encourage you to clarify your purpose in Yoga. Understanding its meaning to you will infuse your practice with intention and depth. Ultimately, we all benefit from meaning, whatever form it may take for each of us.


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