I’m pleased to present this guest post written by Sa Mut A. Scott, yoga teacher and empowerment coach, and for full disclosure, a dear friend. Her topic is “What is Pure Yoga”? A great question. If you are a yoga practitioner why do you engage in your practice? Is it for tight abs, enlightenment or because yoga is “in”?
Do you have a view on what is Pure Yoga? Read on…
What is pure yoga?
One of the most interesting things about life is that at any moment one can receive a 
revelation as to the next course of action or the next open pathway of the living journey. I recently applied to teach yoga at the local gym. After my demonstration the fitness coordinator explained that although my style of teaching was very accessible to the prospective student, it was too spiritually based and they were looking for “pure” yoga teachers.
Pure yoga?
I thanked her for the opportunity and went on my way. Later that evening during my daily review and reflection, it occurred to me that most yoga Studios, gyms etc… are teaching Yoga purely as a form of exercise. In contrast, I and thousands of other yoginis learned yoga for the purpose of spiritually reuniting mind, body and spirit. I am well aware that yoga as a form of exercise can really help the body tone up and will use muscles you never knew you had, giving the body a leaner more fit appearance. Yoga for this purpose has been popularized by many celebrities, athletes, and entertainers. And while these are all very fine additional benefits from the practice of yoga, what I want to suggest is perhaps a less popular view.
Using yoga merely as a form of exercise is like buying a Ferrari and driving it 5 blocks everyday and parking it back in the garage. There are far greater depths one can ascertain from a focused, spiritually intentioned yoga practice. Even if the practitioner focuses on the breath flow more than insisting that the body perfects bone contorting asanas or positions, the spirit will oblige with some healing revelation or other gift of the spirit the person needs for their life journey. And with the state of humanity these days we all need our “gifts” to be front and center. So continue to use yoga for exercise. Enjoy the fitness and vitality the local gym classes provide, but during your quite time, or personal practice at home really begin to focus on the true meaning of yoga which is to reunite mind body and spirit, and add your healing gifts to the collective to make a better world starting with yours. Peace Love & Joy (Namaste)
Submitted by Sa Mut A Scott of Magical Mother Women’s Coaching & Empowerment Services. www.magicalmother.com