What is Yoga?

About This Class

In this brief lecture, Bryan Kest unpacks the Sanskrit root of the word "yoga," explaining that its literal translation is "to yoke" — meaning to harness or steer. He draws a throughline from that definition to the concept of enlightenment, framing it as the act of shining a light on one's unconscious patterns so that we can consciously redirect ourselves toward greater wellbeing. Using the relatable example of self-critical thoughts in the mirror, Bryan illustrates how unexamined mental habits cause stress and self-loathing, and how yoga — as a practice of awareness — empowers practitioners to recognize and stop feeding those patterns. The talk closes by connecting these ancient ideas to the modern psychological concept of mindfulness, making it accessible to a broad, contemporary audience.