The Power of Movement

Why Asana Is So Special to Me

Asana is not the whole of yoga. In fact, it is only one-eighth of the yogic path, a single limb among the eightfold path of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The other seven limbs—Yama (ethical restraints), Niyama (self-discipline), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (ultimate surrender), form the holistic foundation of yoga as a spiritual discipline. And yet, asana is the most popular limb in the Western world, often reduced to nothing more than a workout, a flexibility contest, or an aesthetic pursuit.

There’s an undeniable colonizing rhetoric in the way yoga has been packaged and sold, particularly through the image of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, 90-pound yogi, effortlessly holding a pose in perfect lighting. This image has turned yoga into a commodity rather than the deeply spiritual practice it was intended to be. The truth is, yoga was never meant to be just a physical practice, it is a philosophy, a way of life, a journey inward.

The Spiritual Nature of Movement

Despite the way it has been diluted in the mainstream, asana holds a deeply personal and sacred space in my life. I notice when I’ve missed my practice. My body starts carrying heavier loads, my mind begins to wander, and my emotions take the reins. The moment I step back onto my mat, I am reminded: movement is medicine.

Having been disconnected from my body for nearly 20 years, asana has become an intricate dance of re-connection. Where do I feel this? How does this affect my thoughts? Where does my mind go in this pose? I have always used movement as a tool to measure and survive the storms of my emotions. I remember, during the heaviest years of trauma and PTSD, how running became my lifeline. I would tell myself, "If I can make it to this stopping point, then I can survive the pain inside me." It was mind over matter—if I could push my body through, then surely, I could push through the emotions, too.

Movement has always been sacred. Dancing, shaking, running, and asana—each culture around the world has its own understanding of how movement heals the mind and soul. The Western world has gravitated toward asana because, for many of us, movement is the gateway. Once you can control the body, you can control the mind. As B.K.S. Iyengar once said, "The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in."

But we can’t stop at asana. Movement is the door, but the rest of yoga is what helps us walk through it.

Beyond the Mat: Yoga as a Way of Life

Asana alone is not enough. We must move, stretch, and heal, but then we must go out and live the rest of our dharma. Svadhyaya (self-study) asks us to reflect. Pranayama (breath control) teaches us to steady our emotions. Yama and Niyama guide our ethical and personal discipline.

Without these, asana is simply exercise.

But with them, it becomes a sacred practice—a way to align with something greater than ourselves.

For me, asana is a reminder. A reminder to come home to myself. A reminder that my body is not my enemy, but my guide. A reminder that movement is not just for performance, but for healing, for worship, for survival.

So yes, asana is just one limb of yoga. But it is special. And for those of us who have felt lost in our own bodies, it is the first step back home. With Love and Gratitude, Niah Blue