When watching a person practice yoga, you may notice the physical strength and flexibility that is gained through the work in the the poses. However, yoga is much more than that. In sanskrit, yoga literally means union. This has many interpretations: union of mind/body, of physical/mental/emotional, of egoic self/ spiritual self.

Yoga does includes stretching and strengthening the muscles of the body in a series of poses, however the reason the poses were created was so that the muscles would be prepared to stay still in a sitting position for hours of meditation.

The focus of yoga has always been a spiritual one, focus beyond the body and of the body at the same time. Practicing yoga cultivates presence of mind, patience, and discipline. It can bring you into alignment with who you truly are and connect you to your deepest self. Yoga promotes conscious choices in how you move and react, on and off the mat. Bringing the knowledge of Alexander Technique principles into a yoga practice can greatly deepen the experience of the poses. It can also bring more understanding of the best way to align the body and mind so as to achieve a deeper sense of presence and peace in each pose.