The Scene staff
I was commuting to Forest Park and noticed that my bus passes several yoga studios. Like Starbucks coffee houses, they seem to have popped up all over the place.
It’s believed that yoga has been commonly practiced for more than 2,500 years. That’s right, 25 centuries! I’ve come to think that if it has been around for that long, there may be something to it.
Today, yoga is a household word, but many people don’t understand its history, even those who practice it with regularity.
It is important to know these things. If we do not understand where yoga came from, how can we guess where it is going? And certainly this age-old practice is heading in a direction that concerns many people.
Hindu tradition dates yoga as far back as 10,000 years. The first complete, detailed, technical presentation of practical yoga as a spiritual science was the Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Patanjali, believed to be at least 2,500 years old.
Historically, yoga was more than a particular teaching. It was a way of life, a culture and a lifestyle that encompassed not just techniques, practices or ideas, but also eating and bathing habits, prayer, social interaction and work.
In simple terms, yoga is a fantastic system for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. It’s also an exploration of ourselves on all these levels.
There are many types of yoga: Hatha, Vinyasa and Ashtanga, just to name a few. All are based on the same poses and, according to most definitions, all help people release from the physical world.
The goal is to focus your mind on breathing, energy, posing and even Zen meditation.
I recently attended my first yoga class at Webster Yogaworks, 7919 Big Bend at Webster Groves. It is one of St. Louis’ few “donation” yoga studios, meaning people donate rather than pay a set fee for classes.
One of the instructors is Forest Park student Christy Lin, who happens to be in my Drawing I class. She invited me to try yoga, and I thought, “Why not?”
Christy is originally from Taiwan. She has lived in the United States for seven years and in St. Louis six years. She has been my only yoga instructor, so I can’t make comparisons, but she is a miracle worker.
For her to get this old dog to learn a new trick – breathe, just breathe – is amazing in and of itself.
“It’s not about being good at something,” she told me. “It’s about being good to yourself.”
I think that is a pretty cool attitude.
“Breathe, just breathe,” she instructs. “Child’s pose. Stretch. Cat/Cow. Balance. Be in the moment. Breathe. Feel the heat within. Tree. Downward facing dog. Breathe. Sitting position. Cobra position. Breathe. Massage your temples. Breathe. Find your heart position.”
If you take a yoga class, I guarantee you will be in a better place after one hour. Physically and especially mentally. Relaxed and refreshed, with an optimistic attitude for the rest of the day.
Who knew? I certainly did not. Oh, I had heard that yoga was this and that, but I was kind of skeptical. Until I tried it. Now, I’m a fan, a big fan.
The studio I visited is spacious, with large windows letting in the sun and a view of trees, giving it a very good vibe. Tasteful and sparsely decorated, it is all about calm. Soft, soothing music sets the tone.
Interested in taking yoga? You can stop by PuraVegan in the Central West End from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Fridays for another donation-based class. See what you think.
Seriously, tear yourself away from “Tom and Jerry,” or whatever you watch on TV and go get your mind right. Body, too.
We’re talking 60 minutes … 3,600 seconds. No matter how you break it down, it will be the most fulfilling and rewarding hour you ever are likely to experience. Don’t believe me? Try it. I dare you.
You can thank me later!