What is yoga? Origins and practice

The origins of yoga

Yoga includes poses, but it is not limited to them. Its history is connected to philosophical traditions in India, long before the classes we now find in studios. UNESCO recognises yoga as intangible cultural heritage. I like to remember those roots when we talk about a practice that reaches us in so many different forms today.

You do not have to study that whole history before attending a class. Nor do you need Sanskrit vocabulary or a new identity. You can begin with curiosity: notice how you move, how you listen to an instruction and how it feels to pause. What you discover may matter more to you than your previous image of yoga.

In your first class, you get to know the format and the teacher’s approach. You can ask questions, try the proposed movements and take a break. If you are starting out, tell me before booking so we can discuss the session.

Would you like to try practice with me? Explore group classes or private sessions.

Movement, breathing and attention

A class can bring together movement, breathing and attention, but the combination depends on its format. There may be time to explore a posture, remain still or rest. No single sequence represents every yoga class. Before choosing, you can ask what the session involves and what guidance you will receive during the practice.

By attention, I also mean ordinary things: hearing an instruction through, noticing that you need a pause or recognising that today you would rather do less. It is not a competition to keep your mind empty. Becoming distracted does not mean you have failed. We can return to what is happening without turning every distraction into a problem.

Breathing may be part of the session, with guidance from your teacher. Ask whenever guidance is unclear. I like to leave room for that conversation in my classes, in Portuguese and English. I want you to feel comfortable understanding the practice, rather than following everyone else without knowing what was asked.

What I share through Heartway

Heartway is my method of sharing yoga and what I keep learning about myself. “I only know how to be Love” is the simplest way I have found to describe who I am. Since childhood, I have loved being with people and helping them. Yoga became a way to do that without losing myself.

Since 2020, I have devoted more time to studying and personal development. I love growing and helping others grow alongside me. When I teach, I want to remind each person of their own capacities, with gentleness and room for discovery.

Challenge and comfort can belong in the same meeting. Sometimes the unfamiliar thing is trying a movement; sometimes it is saying that you would prefer to stop. I want both choices to have a place. Learning about me can help you decide whether this approach feels right, before thinking about dates, locations or booking a session.

On the mat or supported by fabric

Mat yoga and aerial yoga are different formats; not every session I teach uses fabric. In aerial practice, suspended fabric provides support for exploring movement and body awareness. I love the invitation to look at ourselves from another perspective, with curiosity and compassion. You can find out about that format without committing to a class straight away.

In my own description of aerial classes, I wrote about the fabric as support and an embrace. That is what I want to convey: an invitation that can be challenging and comforting at the same time. It does not mean everyone should try every position. Choosing the session and talking before you begin still matter.

If an aerial video brought you here, visit that practice page to explore the venues and format. If you want an experience without fabric, tell me. We can discuss the format, venue and equipment before you book.

Yoga and healthcare

Yoga does not replace healthcare or produce an identical outcome for everyone. NCCIH gathers research and general information about yoga, including evidence limitations and safety considerations. I have included that reading below for anyone who wants to explore it. It should not be read as evidence of results from my own classes or my Heartway method.

You may want movement, time with yourself or a shared experience without having to justify that choice through a medical benefit. Enjoying a class can have value in itself. I would rather discuss what a session involves than promise that it will remove pain, change your body or produce a particular emotional state by the end.

For health concerns, an injury or pregnancy, seek individual advice and clarify the format before booking. Prenatal yoga and baby yoga have their own pages because they require different conversations. Your healthcare team can help you establish whether the practice is suitable for your circumstances.

From curiosity to a first class

Your next step can simply be choosing a format and asking a question. If you already want to try, the yoga for beginners guide covers preparation for a first class: clothing, equipment, language and booking. Here, the purpose was to explore what yoga is and how I share it, without asking you to decide everything at once.

I teach in Ericeira and Lisbon and arrange private, at-home and online sessions. Locations, times and terms are not the same for every format. A group class can be a way to meet the practice; a private session lets us arrange the meeting directly. I teach in both Portuguese and English, so you can tell me which feels more comfortable.

Tell me what sparked your curiosity and where you would like to practise. Your message does not need to be perfect or use specialist vocabulary. We can start there and agree the details before booking. The published Ericeira Pole & Aerial passes apply only to that studio; other formats have their own arrangements and prices, confirmed separately.

Common questions