Hatha Yoga

A glimpse into what yoga really is

When you think about yoga, if you’re not familiar with it, you may start imagining a pretty studio and people in complex poses. Fast-paced, dynamic, more performance than practice. That’s exactly how I always thought about it. Something intimidating that I might try in private but never attempt in public. My body doesn’t do those fancy poses.

I think that’s where a lot of people’s understanding of yoga starts and also probably stops. And I wouldn’t say that is necessarily wrong thinking. That is exactly how some yoga is. But it’s not how it started, and it’s not the only way it has to be practiced.

Where it began

Yoga began as something much simpler. It was secretive, a kind of hidden society for those considered ready to learn the practices. It was passed quietly from teacher to student when that student was prepared.

The truth is, we don’t really know exactly where or how it started. Early yoga wasn’t written down, and what we do know comes from what was eventually written and from traditions passed by word of mouth, but where it actually began is still a bit of a mystery.

We believe it began in India and was kept quiet for a long time, passed down over generations, but beyond that, a lot of it is still unknown.

Kind of like Mr. Miyagi teaching Karate Kid style—word of mouth and practice, not a formal class.

It wasn’t fast-paced, dynamic exercise. While that has its benefits, it was never really the point of the practice. Hatha yoga is slow and steady, and the benefits are different. It’s less about weight loss or muscle mass and more about the nervous system, the mind-body connection, and how you respond to stress.

The purpose of it all

While it’s a nice reward to achieve something like a headstand, and honestly, it’s kind of a goal of mine recently, I feel like if I can do that, I’ll officially consider myself a real yogi. But at its core, yoga isn’t about the impressive postures.

It’s a much more holistic practice than that. It’s about keeping your body and mind healthy and strong, because that’s really the foundation for everything else. A healthy body and a clear mind give you the best chance at growing, understanding yourself, and figuring things out at a deeper level.

It asks you to turn inward and pay attention. To notice your body, your thoughts. The postures, or asana, challenge you to stay present and aware, but also to start trusting your body. Trusting what it can do, where it’s at, and not forcing it into something it’s not ready for. The long holds and steady breathing start to change how your body responds to stress. The meditation brings you back to center.

Nothing crazy, just consistency. And over time, that starts to change everything.

Prioritizing yourself

Yoga also challenges you to let go of ego-driven habits. To simplify a bit, step back from always needing to prove or achieve something, and instead start understanding what actually matters. Not the constant chasing of better or material things, but what feels steady and meaningful beyond all of that.

It requires patience, humility, and a willingness to meet yourself where you are each day. Some days feel focused and steady, some don’t, and that’s okay as long as you keep going.

It becomes less about pushing for certain physical results and more about the daily, habitual practice. That’s the part that slowly changes you inside and out.

And over time, you start to change how you see things. Less focus on material things, less chasing, less needing to prove something. More understanding of who you are and what actually matters.

Who can practice?

At its core, it really isn’t just exercise. It’s a way of bringing your body and mind back into balance. In the moment, it may not feel like you’re doing much. To me personally, meditation is hard. I still catch myself thinking I should be doing something more productive. But after, I feel calm and collected, and that’s where the benefit is for me. Everything is different for everyone.

It can feel slow, but over time it becomes less about what you’re doing during practice, and more about how you feel and move through your day-to-day life.

So, while yoga can seem intimidating, it really just comes down to starting. Showing up, giving it your best, and being consistent with it. Your body will respond to that.

And even if you don’t notice it right away, you’re giving your body a lot. You’re helping it slow down and heal from the inside out. You’re connecting your mind to your body in a way a lot of people never really experience. And what’s cool is, over time, it starts to give back.

You may feel a little more steady, more clear, in control of how you respond to your environment instead of just reacting.

And the nice part is, this is something anyone can do. You don’t have to believe in anything specific or be any certain type of person. You bring your own perspective, your own beliefs, and create your own experience with it.

So instead of focusing on the fancy poses, think more about what you’re actually giving back to yourself. Your health, mind, and your overall well-being. Even your spiritual life, whatever that looks like for you.

So in a deeper sense, yoga isn’t just about feeling better physically. It’s about understanding yourself a little more clearly. Some people would even say the ultimate goal is a kind of self-realization—seeing past all distractions and understanding your place in things in a more real way.

A little about me

My interest in yoga actually goes back further than I realized.

As a young girl, I had yoga VHS tapes that I would follow along with, not very successfully. Later, I would occasionally do yoga videos on my phone, but nothing consistently and without really understanding the full extent of its benefits. Like a lot of people, I thought it was mostly stretching.

More recently, I started taking my practice more seriously. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became by the effects yoga can have on both the body and mind. I began building a more consistent practice of my own.

These days my yoga practice mostly happens in my basement, but it has become an important part of my life. It helps me slow down, reconnect with myself, and create space in a world that rarely slows down on its own.

And honestly, that’s part of why I wrote this. I practice yoga and breathwork myself, and I’ve found them to be powerful when used consistently.

For now, my practice remains in my basement, but someday I’ll be brave enough to take it out into the world.

Maureen Zeiter is a holistic health coach who meets with clients virtually, one-on-one, to talk about their lifestyle, health, and goals and create a realistic plan moving forward.

She incorporates the Metabolic Balance® program into her coaching, using each client’s own lab values to create a personalized nutrition plan based on what their body needs.

Regular one-on-one meetings through Teams, along with email and sometimes text, allow her to stay connected with her clients and provide ongoing support. Whether they have questions, need guidance, or just need a little encouragement along the way, she is there to help.

Her goal is to make improving your health feel realistic and manageable, while helping clients create lasting changes that support their overall health and wellness.