Is Yoga Enough?

A question that often comes up for practitioners of yoga is whether it is enough. The answer to this really depends on why you are choosing to practice yoga and what you are looking to get from it.

Why are you practicing Yoga?

I believe this is a better question for practitioners to ask themselves to be more specific about why they choose to roll out thier mat and practice. We all come to yoga for different reasons. When my teacher asked me this question early on in in my journey I went away and thought about it for some weeks. My answer was:

To know myself better

This has not changed.

Initially we come to yoga for many different reasons, and more often than not it is because we have some pain and stiffness in the body and we want to feel better. But is yoga enough in terms of exercise?

More on this answer to this here:

On a personal note I can say that my daily practice has served me very well over the years maintaining my physical and mental health. I routinely get my blood work done which is excellent, and am stronger and more flexibile than I was in my 20’s. Yoga definitely works if you have a practice that focuses on strength as much as flexibility such as Ashtanga Yoga / The Element Series.

Cross training in yoga?

If you have a practice that is balanced in this way I would say this is more than enough physical exercise to embody. In terms of adding strength work to help your yoga pracice, this is not something I usually recommend. A common question I am asked by students is whether it’a a good idea to add weight training or some other kind of strength training on top of thier practice and usually this is not necessary.

We live in a world where people are encouraged to do more and by adding more we will improve. This can be advantageous in some cases, but this can also exaggerate the sense of not being good enough or that we aren’t ok as we are. I have experienced emmense physical and mental health improvements by practicing once a day. This can range from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Whatever happens that day happens that day. It’s enough. Tomorrows’ another day. We don’t have to do so much. Less is often more, and a lot happens in the space between practice.

For Ashtanga practitioners for example who are looking to get stronger I will always encourage them to work on their jump back and jump through. These vinyasa’s are more than enough strength work for the body and challenging enough for even the more advanced athletes out there. It’s enough.

If you are struggling with your vinyasa’s, check out the following post:

If you are someone who loves running, lifting weights or doing any other variety of sports then I would say go or it. Doing what you love shouldn’t be stopped by your yoga practice. It should aid it.

More on balancing yoga with sports here:

Follow your bliss

Having a daily yoga / meditation practice is life changing and was for me. It’s why I dedicated my life to it and to teach and share it.

For some of us I woud also say that yoga is not enough. What I mean by that is what comes up for some practitioners that is much deeper and potentially traumatic. Yoga will bring to the surface whatever is below. It’s a type of digging that whether we like it or not we are met with on our mats. This is essentially theraputic and elevates students lives but it can also be confusing and distressing.

If you are experiencing very heavy, dark and instrusive thoughts or memories that are recoccuring in your practice, this is something that could be best dealt with outside of the yoga room with a therapist.

Some experiences in our lives can be very complex, especially with family members and may need help to fully understand from someone who is experienced with complex trauma. On a personal note I worked with someone for some years along side my yoga practice that helped me with experiences from my own life. Yoga mirrors what is there and we can seek help to understand that truth. Yoga is the pursuit for truth. Inside and out.

Yoga will reflect what is under the surface

This inner journey for truth and understanding is at the heart of any authentic yoga practice. Many students initially can be put off by this mirror as it can bring up very uncomfortable feelings. Being uncomfortable, learning to lean into this discomfort and come out the other side is transformational and life changing when practiced correctly with the right help and supportive space.

This topic is covered in my podcast The Yogi Within which you can find here:

The Yogi Within Podcast