Yoga for Every Body: Rethinking Physical Ideals and Rediscovering the True Purpose of Practice
Yoga was always supposed to be a practice of self-discovery and inner connection of parts. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, that focus has shifted, especially as yoga started to spread around the world and be adopted by different cultures than its native one. Modern society and the values in it certainly helped in the way yoga is perceived today, while traditional yogis took the practice to another extreme - asceticism.
And, amid these two completely opposing standpoints, many practitioners may struggle to understand the true nature and purpose of yoga. Picture-perfect asanas are a rarity in real life, and asceticism is not something you can practice in today’s society unless you make it your life calling. And that’s okay, as the only natural way is the middle.
So, can we please rethink the physical ideals of yogi and yoga practice? Can we rediscover the true essence and purpose of yoga? Can we focus on the practice and not the outcome? Yes, we can! How? - Well, this blog post will focus on that.
Is Yoga simply physical?
Yoga today is often marketed and regarded as a practice through which you can obtain good muscle structure, improve your body posture and stay in incredible positions while your friend takes your picture at sunset. Slowly, but surely, yoga started becoming just another way in which we can “show off.” So, instead of focusing on how we feel during yoga practice, we started concerning ourselves with how it looks.
Historically, there have been two ways in which yoga has been misunderstood. On one hand, some early practitioners fully rejected the body and tried to live ascetic lives, to the point where they rejected all earthly pleasures, even needs. On the other hand, modern fitness culture and our modern “values” (if we could call them that) have shifted the focus completely on the physical body and how it looks. We have talked about this extensively in our previous blog post, so head over there to learn more about the differences between ancient and modern yoga practices.
To avoid repeating the same things over, in the next two parts of this blog, we will just briefly go over some of the main aspects of these two opposing (unhealthy!) viewpoints and then focus on what really matters - how to maintain the true essence and purpose of yoga, without stepping into these pitfalls.
In essence, yoga was never about any of these things. The true beauty of yoga is something in the golden middle. Yoga is a practice that includes and promotes inclusivity, self-acceptance and holistic well-being. It is supposed to help us accept things as they are, and strive for becoming better, but in our own, authentic pace and rhythm.
But, before diving into the real essence, let’s remove and debunk the extremely polarized aspects of traditional vs. modern yoga.
Yoga’s traditional relationship with the body
In ancient times, yoga was deeply tied and connected to spiritual exploration, spiritual ascending and achieving nirvana, i.e., a transcendent state. And, for many yogis, the body represented a distraction, a constant reminder of the imperfect human nature and the physical form, opposed to the Ultimate God Consciousness. So, it seemed logical that to transcend, they needed to have high self-discipline and deny physical, earthly pleasures, even basic needs. So, some traditional yogis practiced detachment (vairagya), lived in isolation, fasted and pushed their body into extremes.
Although some branches of yoga practice supported asceticism, others didn’t reject the body so harshly. Hatha yoga, for example, recognized the body as the basic and most valuable tool for spiritual practice. If nothing else, it is our healthy body that serves as a vessel for our consciousness, and as such, it should be respected and maintained. At Northern Light Yoga, we promote these values just like traditional Hatha yogis did. We teach, utilize and respect breathwork, movement and stillness as ways to bring our bodies in a deeper state of self-connection and awareness. Our Northern Light Academy incorporates these values, and shares this ancient wisdom with every generation of students.
The modern Yoga paradox
Time passed by. What started as a small traditional practice in ancient India turned into a whole industry. Since it was highly beneficial and provided a groundbreaking life outlook, yoga made its way all around the world. But modern problems shaped the modern perceptions about yoga and what it is. So, our materialistic society went opposite to traditional practitioners. Instead of being ignored, the body became the center of attention. Picture-perfect practices, hyper-flexible asanas, and slim and athletic bodies flood the yoga social media corner. While this may be inspiring for some, many people would even think that having a perfect body and high flexibility is a prerequisite for practicing yoga.
Countless different influencers and commercial brands have turned yoga into a visual spectacle, where beauty standards are unattainable and asanas seem to be a fit only for Olympic gymnasts. And, this representation only shrinks the public perception of yoga, where the “yoga body” becomes a discriminatory aspect, (unintentionally) excluding people with different shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. And, slowly but surely, yoga turned into another space where we compare ourselves and measure our abilities against impossible ideals, instead of being a tool for self-love, self-acceptance and self-awareness.
Why are these extremes misleading?
The ancient tradition rejected the body, while modern practice has slowly obsessed with it. It seems that these different paradigms have both created barriers to the true essence of yoga.
If we dismiss the body and disconnect from it, we are losing an essential part of our human experience. After all, the body is the first tool through which we experience ourselves, others, the world, and life in general. When we obsess about the body’s appearance, we replace self-love with self-criticism, self-acceptance with comparison, and immediate connection with future expectations and strives.
For yoga to be transformative and serve its purpose, it needs to be accessible to everyone. That means that we have to move away from the idea that yoga is even remotely connected to how we look or how we want to look. Instead, it should be about how we feel.
Yoga is a path for every body
As with everything in life, balance in the way forward. The yogic principles of samatva (equanimity) and santosha (contentment) remind us that we can never find peace and acceptance in extremes. The true essence of yoga is to embrace and love our imperfections before we strive for betterment, to enjoy the road and not the destination. It is about connecting to our bodies and listening to the things they say, and not about shutting them out or shaping them into molded expectations.
This is the “art” of yoga that we, at Northern Light Yoga in Oslo, have made our mission and strive. We feel it, we understand it, we teach it, and we live it. And it is only in sharing that we get to really enjoy it. Join our tribe by engaging in the yoga practice that works for you! Through breathwork, mindful movement, self-exploration and awareness, meditations, sound therapy, astrology, art and many more, Northern Light Yoga is made to be a yoga oasis in Oslo. Our inclusive spaces welcome people exactly as they are - always perfect, always full of potential.
Practical steps toward authentic yoga practice
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in a yoga class, you’re not alone; that’s completely okay. But yoga is yours to claim. At Northern Light Yoga in Oslo, we are not simply having yoga classes, we are building a community of like-minded people where acceptance, understanding, and support are core values. We teach, talk, and have fun. We grow through understanding and compassion, and we encourage radical self-love and authenticity.
In the meantime, here are some ways we discovered that support the individual pace. We are happy to share it so we can help you build a more supportive and accepting practice for yourself and those around you:
Shift the focus from the external form to the internal experience – Yoga is not about forcing your body into a pose; it’s about how the pose feels in your body. Use props, take variations, and remember that the goal is comfort and connection, not perfection.
Find teachers and spaces that make you feel welcomed and fully accepted – Look for studios, online classes, and teachers who prioritize inclusivity. If a class makes you feel judged or out of place, it’s not the right fit. Yoga should feel like coming home to yourself.
Cultivate self-compassion in your practice – Pay attention and notice when you compare yourself to others and gently redirect your focus inward, to your experience. In today’s world, it’s very easy to slip into comparison. But, yoga is not about being the best; it’s about being present. Honor where you are, and celebrate the small victories.
Yoga’s true purpose is self-love
At its heart, yoga is about connection. The word itself means “to unite”. It’s not about bending further or looking a certain way; it’s about uniting the body, mind, and spirit in a way that feels good and right for you. It’s about discovering and nurturing your authenticity - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We might not all be enlightened, but we will all live the life given to us.
So, take a deep breath. Let go of the expectations. Your yoga practice is yours, and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. The only question that truly matters is this: What does yoga mean to you beyond the physical? Join us, and feel free to share your answer. We hold our ears, hands, and hearts open for you.
Namaste.
