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What is Yoga? Exploring Yoga’s True Essence
The following is the introduction to the online Yoga Philosophy course that will be available soon. Please click on the relevant link below to check for availability.
Exploring Yoga’s True Essence
What is Yoga?
Much is made of the meaning of the word yoga. Simplistically, it means to bring two things together, to yoke, or to create union. But union of what? The body and the mind? The self and the universe? Or is it something deeper—a merging of our limited sense of self with the infinite essence of reality?
In the context of this course, union refers to the destination. But yoga is also the journey itself.
Yoga is both the means and the end.
What is Yoga Philosophy?
Yoga philosophy was born when the followers of the first yogi, Shiva, gathered and began creating theories about what this union could truly mean. Does it imply that a human, upon enlightenment, is in the presence of God? Will the enlightened one simply dissolve into the ether? When a soul merges with the universe, does anything remain of that individual, or does the self become the universe itself? Are we a drop in the ocean, or does the ocean exist within each drop?
Once we are enlightened through yoga, do we see reality for what it truly is? Or are we currently deluded, perceiving the world through a lens of illusion, like characters trapped in a Matrix-like existence? What happens to the soul—does it merge with the infinite, existing for eternity? Have we always existed? Is enlightenment simply a return to our original nature?
What about the journey towards enlightenment? B.K.S. Iyengar, a revered teacher, once called this state ultimate freedom. But freedom from what? From our minds? From our sense of self? How can we arrive at this state? Will prayer and devotion lead us there, if this enlightenment is indeed union with the divine? And if we fail to attain this realisation in this lifetime, are we reborn again? Does the next life depend on our actions now—are we accumulating karmic debt or credit with each decision?
Shiva: The Man Who Experienced Enlightenment First
What about Shiva, the man who first experienced enlightenment? Is he God himself? Has he existed on earth many times, in different forms, like Krishna? Are they one and the same? Did Krishna really exist? And who truly invented yoga—Shiva or Krishna? Did yoga predate them both? Did Hinduism branch off from yoga, or did yoga evolve from ancient Hindu practices? What does it really mean to be a yogi?
The Mystery of Yoga Philosophy
There are no definitive answers to these questions. Each question leads to a different philosophy, a new tradition. Over time, as each tradition is passed down, it becomes more rigid, more dogmatic, and more controlling. In the midst of all this drama and confusion, we’ve forgotten the core essence—the birth of yoga.
The first yogi himself, Shiva, never gave man a philosophy. This is why we have so many theories. Man, in his ignorance, has created theory after theory, word after word, philosophy after philosophy. The more complex the philosophy, the more eloquent the language, the more convincing it seems. But the truth is, there is no yoga philosophy. The first yogi Shiva left no book, no dogma, and no rules. He left methods, pathways through which you and I can experience the destination for ourselves, in our own unique way—free from dogma, free from rules, and free from reliance on gurus or holy men.
The Origins of the First Yogi: A Legend
According to legend, 15,000 years ago, a man was seen walking across the Himalayas. Did he really exist? That depends on who you ask. There is no clear evidence of his existence, but does that mean he was not real? Many historical figures left a deep meaning and magic in their wake, but we do not have proof they walked this earth. The man called Shiva—an auspicious one, an untouchable presence—appeared godlike. Frightening yet alluring, people would sit around him, just soaking in his presence, but never too close. Being near him felt like being on the brink of discovering the mysteries of the universe.
He married the princess Parvati. This story is told in detail in my book.
You can also view this blog on the first yogi.
Parvati: The First Seeker of the Universe’s Truth
Parvati was always mesmerised by Shiva. He was her loving husband, but he appeared to be more than that. Maybe he seemed beyond being loving—he was love itself. She was enchanted by his energy. When Shiva entered his trance-like meditations, when he was still yet clearly experiencing another dimension of life—what happened to her husband? Was there any trace of him left behind? What was his reality when he was in that trance-like stillness? Was it the same as hers? What is this enlightenment that Shiva embodied—eternally awake and eternally blissful?
One day, Parvati asked Shiva to share the mysteries of his reality with her. She asked him to reveal what he experienced in his enlightened state. Was his reality separate from her own? What was it like to experience enlightenment, nirvana? What was the true nature of existence? Was he one with the universe? Was he the universe? Was there a god?
To get the answers she craved, Parvati sat lovingly on her husband’s lap and asked, “Oh Shiva, what is your reality? What is your wonder-filled universe?”
Shiva held his beloved limb to limb and whispered that the reality Parvati was seeking was, in fact, her own true nature. She was already free—all that was needed was awareness. Then, Shiva shared a technique with her: a breathing exercise. Parvati was to focus on the pause after inhale and before exhale. He explained that in that moment, you are not of this world. You are neither alive nor dead. You transcend. Through keen and sincere observation, she would find her own enlightenment.
What Was This Reality?
What awaited Parvati? There were no words—not even for Shiva. After this, he remained silent. With a pure heart and through genuine love, Parvati experienced what was already hers. She awakened and became free. The legend tells us that after this, Shiva and Parvati turned to dust and merged into the ether, never to be seen again.
Why This Course is Different
Most yoga philosophy courses take you through the Bhagavad Gita or the Yoga Sutras, dissecting them word by word. But they often get so lost in academic interpretations that they forget the essence behind the text. They become more about conforming to “right” answers than about using these texts as tools for personal transformation.
This course walks a different path. Instead of focusing on traditional texts, we look to Shiva and Parvati—the source of yoga philosophy itself. Through their story, you’ll see that yoga is not an intellectual pursuit; it’s a living, breathing practice of self-discovery and transformation.
The courage to face your own life, your fears, your questions—that’s what yoga really is. It’s not about fitting into a mold or repeating what’s been said before. It’s about unearthing the courage to confront your own mind, your own demons, and becoming something greater in the process.
As the saying goes: “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
But here, we won’t simply read books; we’ll unravel them. We won’t just study Parvati’s story; we’ll become part of it, drawing courage from her journey to fuel our own. Because in the end, true yoga philosophy isn’t something you find in a book—it’s something you experience, something that breathes life into every part of your being. That’s what this course aims to inspire: a shift from reading to living, from thinking to being, and from seeking to becoming.
Ultimately, I argue there is no real “yoga philosophy.” There is only you and life. And the courage to be.
By the end of this course, you’ll understand that the philosophy of yoga is not found in books or scriptures, but in the experience of being alive. Each breath, each moment of stillness, each step you take—is yoga. Each part of your unique journey is a part of the whole. You will learn to experience yoga, not as an abstract idea, but as life itself.
Zahir Akram - Eternal Seeker
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Embrace the opportunity to deepen your love for yoga.
Interested in deepening your practice or teaching skills?
Our online training courses are now available, offering comprehensive content on anatomy, biomechanics, and yoga philosophy. These courses are designed to support students and yoga teachers in their continued development.
We also offer in-house Yoga Teacher Training here at our studio in Addlestone, Surrey, UK.
For more information on our online courses, mentoring or to book in-house training, email Zahir.
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