This Is Not Yoga
Beyond leggings and lattes—the true practice happens within.
There’s a strong misrepresentation of yoga—especially in the United States.
“Namaste” has been reduced to bumper stickers, and the image of a woman in Lululemon leggings, Starbucks in hand, has somehow become the highest bar for an American “yogi.”
But a true yoga practice doesn’t live on the surface. It happens within.
Yes, you might lose weight, tone, and sculpt your muscles along the way. But those outward changes are nothing more than by-products of the deeper work.
The inner practice is where the magic happens—the real work. And let’s be honest: this inner practice is far harder than lifting weights or running a marathon. But the reward? It’s so much sweeter.
When life becomes about honoring and caring for your mind, body, and soul together, the world shifts. Your days grow brighter. The impossible begins to feel possible. And slowly, people around you start to notice the changes you’ve been quietly cultivating inside.
Maybe you find yourself more physically stable. Maybe your mind feels sharper. Maybe you even have better control over your body in ways you didn’t before. But what’s certain is this: you sleep better, you wake up lighter, you move through your day with patience, with love, and with a quiet joy that radiates from within. It’s a feeling of eternal sunshine.
That is real yoga.
It’s the Yamas and Niyamas—the self-accountability, the reflection, the discipline, the work that doesn’t show up in a mirror. When you devote time to the mind—the central hub—the body naturally follows. Mind, body, and spirit begin to work in harmony, carrying you into health, balance, and wholeness.
This is a practice for no one but yourself. The world doesn’t see or measure it. There’s no boasting, no preening. It is both a sole and a soul practice—yours alone.
The first step in this practice is calming and quieting the mind. Some call it meditation, others mindfulness, and others prayer. Whatever the name, it’s about one thing: learning to guide your mind instead of letting it control you.
Even monks had to learn to meditate. Just like walking or speaking, it’s a skill—something practiced and refined daily. Their training teaches them to settle the mind, soften racing thoughts, and witness emotions as fleeting visitors rather than permanent truths.
I’ve found that mindful meditation gives my brain the space it needs to rest and heal. And as a beautiful bonus—it allows me to hear the voice of God. After all, how can we hear anything sacred if our minds are always on high alert?
It’s in the daily practice that the shift happens. You begin allowing your mind to steer the ship—gently, intentionally, and with purpose.
When practicing meditation, science confirms what yogis have known for centuries. According to Stanford Magazine, “Levels of dopamine (the neurotransmitter of pleasure), serotonin (the neurotransmitter of happiness), and GABA (the neurotransmitter of calmness) all arise in response to meditation. And in people who practice on a daily basis, they send signals more routinely.”
This is the beauty of real yoga: it is both ancient wisdom and modern science, converging in the simple act of quieting the mind. Through daily practice, you’re not just calming thoughts—you’re literally reshaping your brain, creating pathways of peace, joy, and balance.
And that’s where the magic lies. Not in the clothes you wear, the poses you perfect, or the image you present, but in the unseen discipline that transforms your inner world—until, eventually, it shines through every part of your outer life.
✨ This is real yoga. A practice for your soul, your mind, and your body—working together, in harmony, every single day. ✨
Share the Light.
Christi
P.S.
If you are interested in learning more about the Yamas and Niyamas. This is a book I love: Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele
If you are interested in learning more about meditation. This is a simple introduction:
Learn to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Self Discovery and Fulfillment by David Fontana