When I first started attending yoga classes at my local studio, I would always say, “I’m going to a yoga class.” Like many people, I came to know yoga through asana. And, again, like many people, yoga began for me simply as a replacement for exercise. I was there to move, to sweat, to burn calories, and to keep my body healthy.
I was intrigued, though, by why my teacher would always say, “Welcome to your practice,” as she guided us into class. Before I knew it, I had adopted the same phrase: yoga practice. I started changing my language from “I’m going to a yoga class” to “I’m going to practice.” And so it was—I had officially begun practicing yoga.
But what does that mean? Why do we call it a yoga practice?
After all, this isn’t the terminology we use when we talk about other forms of exercise. I would never say, “I’m going to practice weightlifting,” or, “I’m going to practice running.” People don’t practice going to the gym or practice stretching. They simply say, “I’m going to the gym to lift weights.”
At the beginning of my journey, I didn’t fully understand why it was called a practice. However, through my personal practice, my trainings, my self-study, and my commitment to both myself and yoga, I now understand what that word truly means in relation to yoga itself:
There is no finish line.
In so many areas of life, we are taught that mastery, completion, and achievement are what we should be seeking. We need to arrive somewhere. There is a goal to reach, a certification to earn, a box to check. These are finish lines.
And, at least for me, when there is a goal ahead, the journey can easily become secondary. Completion becomes the focus.
Yoga invites us into something different.
There will never come a day when I wake up and decide that I have completed yoga. There is no final posture. No perfect meditation. No ultimate graduation from the practice. There is no endpoint.
Instead, there is the opportunity to return.
Again and again, I can return to my body, my breath, and myself.
The Sanskrit word abhyasa, often translated as “practice,” appears in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Patanjali describes practice as a steady effort maintained over a long period of time, undertaken with dedication and sincerity. Not a burst of motivation. Not perfection. Not intensity.
Consistency.
Understanding this is what shifts yoga from a destination into a journey.
When we view yoga as a practice, we can release the pressure to perform. Instead of needing to be stronger, more capable, or “better” than we were the day before, we learn to accept that some days we feel tired, stiff, or even sluggish. We release the expectation that every meditation should feel peaceful and learn to accept that some days are filled with restlessness and resistance.
We begin to understand that the purpose of practice is not to become perfect. It is to become present.
Each time we step onto the mat, we meet ourselves exactly as we are in that moment. Through practice, we learn to observe our habits, our reactions, our stories, our strengths, and our struggles. The asanas become less about achievement and more about understanding. The breath becomes less about technique and more about awareness.
As we change, our practice changes.
The same posture can teach us something entirely different ten years later. The same meditation can reveal new layers of insight. The same breath can feel brand new.
Because a practice grows as we grow.
And that is the beauty of yoga: we carry it with us. It is always available to us. Always waiting for us. Always ready to welcome us back.
Not perfect.
Never finished.
Always available to hold us, carry us, and support us.
And if today’s practice feels difficult?
Tomorrow, you can begin again.
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If this reflection resonates with you and you’d like to explore what it means to cultivate a sustainable, meaningful yoga practice, I’d love to invite you to join me in Bali for The Art of Practice.
Co-hosted with my dear friend and fellow teacher, Shan Maher, this immersive retreat will take place in beautiful Ubud, Bali, from April 17–23, 2027, just minutes from the city center. Together, we’ll explore the many dimensions of practice through movement, philosophy, self-inquiry, connection, and community.
Whether you’re completely new to yoga, a dedicated practitioner, or an experienced teacher, this retreat is designed for curious minds who want to deepen their understanding of yoga both on and off the mat.
For yoga teachers, the retreat also includes 30 hours of Yoga Alliance Continuing Education credits.
Early Bird pricing is available through September 30, 2026, with the code: EARLYBIRDIE
To learn more and reserve your spot, click here!
We’d love to practice with you.
