While here in the West we tend to focus on yoga as a physical practice, the postures (asana) are actually only one of eight “limbs” or components of the philosophical system of yoga, which together comprise a kind of “how to” guide for self-realization and living well

You’ve likely heard people say that yoga is much much more than a physical practice. And yet yoga teachers seem to focus so much on alignment. Why? There are three main reasons we as yoga teachers focus on alignment of the physical body, none of which have to do with poses looking a certain way, or achieving the “fullest expression” of a pose.