“Many people who start studying yoga by practicing asanas (postures) continue to learn more poses until the only meaning of yoga for them lies in physical exercise. We can liken this to a man who strengthens only one arm and lets the other one become weak.”
I’ve been knocked sideways this past week.
Chest infection with a hacking cough that could bring up a lung.
Antibiotics. Digestion off. Sleep all over the place.
An earlier version of me (or let’s be honest any unbalanced version of me) would push through it. Sixty plus minutes of primarily based asana (posture -based practice) a day, no matter what. Because that’s what I thought “discipline” meant.
But here’s the thing: yoga isn’t about powering through. It’s about listening. Adjusting. Syncing with the rhythm of life rather than imposing your own stubborn will onto it.
Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, puts it beautifully. When the body is depleted, our digestive fire (Agni) is low. Forcing heavy food or heavy practice doesn’t stoke that fire — it snuffs it out. What’s needed instead? Gentler fuel. Rest. Breath. Practices that restore vitality (Ojas) rather than burn it up.
This is what “complete practice” really means.
Not just asana. Not just philosophy. Not just a pretty meditation cushion you sit on once in a blue moon. Complete practice is about using all the tools of yoga — asana, pranayama, mantra, mudra, meditation — in the right dosage, at the right time.
Sometimes complete practice is fiery. Sometimes it’s whisper-soft. Both are complete.
Yoga, Shake, Meditate
So, I’ve been resting, recovering and working more gently with Yin, Yoga Nidra, breath, and mantra. And in all that Natasha King, my friend and teacher, came to stay for a few days.
Together we ran the Yoga, Shake & Meditate workshop at the studio — and I watched our members discover something profound:
👉 That the body already holds the keys to release tension, trauma, and overwhelm — you just have to learn how to listen.
For many, it was the first time they experienced the natural shaking response of the nervous system. No gimmicks, no performance. Just the body’s innate way of restoring balance when given half a chance.
This is what I think Desikachar means by complete practice. It’s not about hammering out your asana, come what may. It’s about a practice that includes body, breath, mind, spirit, and the subtle technologies that help us regulate and restore.
Why This Matters Now
Life doesn’t wait for us to be in perfect health or perfect circumstances. Illness, grief, menopause, sleepless nights, loss — these are part of being human. Ayurveda teaches that when Agni (digestive fire) weakens or when Apana (downward energy) stagnates, pushing harder only creates more depletion.
What rebuilds us is rhythm.
What strengthens us is Ojas (vitality).
What completes us is practice that responds to where we are today.
That might mean shaking to discharge what’s stuck.
That might mean Yin and breathwork to digest.
That might mean mantra to anchor us when words and willpower fail.
So, Is Your Practice Complete?
If you’ve been circling around yoga for years and still think of it as stretching or fitness, you’re not alone. Many of us start there. But eventually, you’ll notice something’s missing. The well-being you feel on the mat doesn’t always travel with you off it. The highs fade. The restlessness creeps back in.
Complete practice is what closes that gap. It’s what brings together asana, pranayama, mantra, meditation, mudra, and the wisdom of Ayurveda so that practice becomes a way of living, not a workout.
What We’re Doing About It at Yoga Local
This is why Yoga Local exists.
Inside the app, members are exploring not just on-demand classes and livestreams, but whole Sadhana journeys. They’re discovering how to shake, breathe, rest, chant, and move in ways that not only optimise their health but reveal a version of themselves they’d never given themselves credit for.
And it’s not happening in isolation. It’s happening in community. People showing up, sharing wins and struggles, learning that yoga doesn’t demand you be perfect — it asks you to be willing.
We’re building something rare: a hybrid space where real people can practise traditional yoga daily, be supported when life gets messy, and be held accountable to keep going anyway.
Final Word
Desikachar reminds us that “to be complete human beings we must incorporate all aspects of ourselves, step by step.” That’s what I’m committed to — for myself, for my buddy Natasha (when she drops in), and for every member who’s willing to test the water and keep going deeper.
So I’ll ask again…
Is your yoga practice complete?
And if not, maybe it’s time to find out what happens when it is.
👉 Join us inside the Yoga Local App and/or in person in person at the @ModeMovement studio — and let’s practice fully, together.
