Remember that yoga just means union. The root word is yuj, meaning "to yolk" or "to unite". 'It' is not something that we can 'do', although our Western mind needs an action item to attach itself to so that we can create a purpose behind the existence, of whatever 'it' is.
That being said, what is the purpose of yoga? I'm going to approach this for two angles. The first is a sort of neo-classical viewpoint that supports what we are doing with Yoga here in the West. The second will be a post-revival perspective, hopefully offering sincere seekers a bigger slice from the pie of truth.
Yoga, as it is performed in studios and gyms across the Western world, is a brilliantly designed system of linking the body and breath together in movement using specific postures. This sort of physical practice can provide amazing health benefits, and has been seen with evidence backed research to improve immune function, reduce stress, increase strength and flexibility in a non-traditional way, and countless other very real, very tangible, and highly positive results.
I always say - the worst thing that can happen when you go to a yoga class or practice yoga is that you get a work out.
Obviously, this is not a bad thing, although the true yogis and sages and seers of ancient times had other things in mind, which will lead me to my second point. Before we get there, I'd like to say this - if yoga is performed for general health and maintenance of the body so that we can carry on living a relatively stress free and joyous existence, then F*** yeah. Carry on! Nothing at all is wrong with this. However, it is important to note that there are many, many deeper layers to this ancient practice.
Hell, even if you come to yoga for these (relatively) surface-level reasons, there is the possibility of a sort of self-discovery that happens, which opens the door to a reality beneath the one that we see on the top layer.
The questioning begins, and if you are anything like me, then you realize "holy shit", maybe we aren't just a bunch of physical machines operating in a purely Newtonian reality? Maybe there are deeper levels to our existence, beyond what is seen? Maybe, just maybe, there is a bigger intelligence than my own, supporting me fully yet beyond my comprehension. When we experience things like deja vu, synchronicities, 'the small-world phenomenon', random bouts of tremendous luck, and other seemingly coincidental or nearly impossible events, and we scratch our head and wonder... "hmmm. What if?"
This leads us down the deeper rabbit hole of what Yoga really is. Because, let's face it. Some unseen force is beating the heart in my chest. I don't need to think about it, it just happens. Same for my breath - I can either put my attention on breathing, or let go of it. Yet I remain in a space of being breathed. We are all literally "being breathed". Due to the atmospheric pressure difference outside of you, when you exhale, the inhale is pushed inside of your lungs from the entire Universe beyond the apparent limits of your body. This is the same breath that is also being breathed by every living thing on planet Earth. The first breath received as an infant is like a divine commandment, claiming Its right to embodied life so as to experience the beauty and miracle of our own Creation. If THIS doesn't provoke any thought or feeling, then I am at a loss for words. Go stare at the Sun.
Anyways. Get to the point, Grant. The seers, literally See-ers, reference the deeply wise Ones of old which had developed perceptive abilities into the true nature of our reality. This 'nature of our reality' thing has been a question which has plagued mankind since we probably learned to gossip about our problems, maybe even before. Who knows. All I know is this - it has plagued me, and if I am at all a human being than it might have plagued other human beings. Enter: religion, spirituality, etc. Organizations developed around our attempts to make sense of our seemingly bizarre yet miraculous existence. What is really going on!?
Yoga is a tool, a technology, a methodology through which we develop a direct relationship to ourselves, to our Consciousness, and through experience we connect to the whole of the cosmos. It is cool to get all New Age-y and say things like "we are all One" and through up our peace signs and try to be better human beings to one other. Really, it is great. I'm being totally sincere, because intellectually we can put ourselves in a position to generally want to do good for others and the world at large. The development of a healthy ego is necessary for our survival and evolution as a species.
Yet I'm interested in actually experiencing this One-ness. This is the essence of Yoga, or this union. Many before me have claimed these truths, yet I'm not interested in simply believing their stories. I want to know for myself; I want to be the author of my own story. I seek to validate anybody's messages before claiming it as my own truth. What is this union, anyways? Union with what? Well, how about union with everything that exists. Talk about a flow.
Is such a thing even possible? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Maybe the worst thing that could happen when I practice yoga is I get a workout and want to punch less people in the face. I'll still take it.
Join me in this pursuit. Sending love. Thanks for reading. Peace!