I’m Not a Yogi. You Probably Aren’t Either. And Why That’s Okay.

For years, the word yogi has drifted through studios and social media as if it were a simple label anyone could claim. It has become a kind of spiritual shorthand, a way of signaling that someone is not just practicing yoga but living it. Yet the deeper I went into the philosophy behind yoga, the more I realized something:

I am not a yogi.
You probably aren’t either.
And that’s okay.

In fact, it is far more honest than pretending we are walking a path most of us have no real intention of following.

Classical yoga, as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, is not a wellness routine or a flexibility practice. It is not a stress management technique or a way to tone the core. Those benefits are real, but they are not the purpose of the tradition. The purpose is samadhi, a state in which the ego dissolves, identity falls away, and the boundary between self and everything else disappears. It is the quiet extinction of the “I” we spend our entire lives constructing.

Most modern practitioners don’t want that. They want to feel better as themselves, not restricted by ethics, not on a path to transcending. They want stronger bodies, calmer minds, better sleep, less pain, and more presence. These are deeply human desires, and yoga supports them beautifully. But they are not the aims of the classical path.

Still, the word yogi persists. It’s used casually by people who have never studied the eight limbs, never contemplated renunciation, and never intended to dissolve their identity into the cosmic whole. And that would be harmless enough if not for the fact that even many teachers who claim to be living the heart of yoga are not following even the most foundational ethics that the tradition requires.

This becomes especially clear when you hear a teacher close class with Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu, the chant that means “May all beings be happy and free,” and you know full well that later that evening they will be washing down a slab of cow with three margaritas. The contradiction is impossible to ignore. The values of yoga are being spoken, sung, and marketed, but not lived. Not even close.

Ahimsa, the first limb, is routinely disregarded. Brahmacharya, often interpreted as moderation or right use of energy, is ignored in favor of recreational drug use, alcohol binges, and sensory indulgences. Satya bends under the weight of curated personas and spiritual branding. Aparigraha dissolves in the pursuit of followers, fame, and financial gain.

When the people at the front of the room, the ones claiming to represent the heart of yoga, are performing an empty show whether they realize it or not, it becomes obvious that the modern yoga world is not producing yogis at all, it’s producing practitioners. Movers. Breathers. Seekers of wellness. People who want to feel more alive, not observe ethics or transcend.

That’s not a failure, It’s simply a whole different path.

The chances of meeting an actual yogi, someone who has truly committed to yogic ethics, renounced ego, identity, and worldly attachment, are slim. Why would they be teaching drop‑in vinyasa classes at nine in the morning. What need would they have to interact with us at all. Their work is inward, subtle, and complete. They are operating on a plane most of us will never touch, and that is not something to be ashamed of, it’s just something to understand.

Once we see the truth of it, the invitation is not to lower the bar or excuse our shortcomings. If you want to rise to the occasion, let this be the invitation! But for most, the real work is to stop performing. There is no integrity in claiming a path we are not walking, and no wisdom in wearing a title that does not belong to us. Honesty carries more weight than a borrowed spiritual costume that was never ours to wear. When we let go of the performance, what remains is an authentic practice that does not need embellishment or pretense. Sincerity has more value than spiritual theater, and when we stop pretending, we finally create the space to practice in a way that’s real.

We can start appreciating yoga for what it genuinely offers us. A way to feel more grounded, more spacious, more connected, more capable, and more human. Not enlightened. Not transcendent. Just more fully here and probably for longer than we would be otherwise.

You don’t need to dissolve your ego to grow from asana.
You don’t need to renounce your identity to practice pranayama.
You don’t need to chase samadhi to benefit from meditation.
You don’t need to abide by the Yama’s to be a good person.
But if you want to practice yoga with integrity, start with clarity and honesty about your path.
Not borrowed language that doesn’t represent you. Not spiritual theater that gives false impressions. Not the costume.
Just you.
Breathing.
Moving.
Authentically.
That may not be the classical yogic path.
But it’s a meaningful one and quite probably the path you’re already on.

Be well
-Jai

Jai Salsbery at Vallarta Breeze offers free nutrition coaching for anyone transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. To set up an appointment, email Namaste@vallartabreezeyoga.com – Put Vegan Nutrition in the subject line. Jai will get back to you.

Whether you’re looking to dive deeper into the physical practice of yoga, The Vedas, Upanishads, Yoga Sutras, or would like to explore our blog, we have a wealth of information available for you! Better yet, join us here in the Vallarta Breeze Yoga Puerto Vallarta Yoga studio, or practice with us online! we’re excited to continue this journey with you. See you on the mat!

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