Wikipedia describes a yogi/yogini as one who practices Yoga. I think the word “practices” needs to be clarified, because practice doesn’t mean going through the motions, or only practicing the physical postures. A yogi is someone who practices the whole system of Yoga which includes meditation and other spiritual exercises. It used to be a term reserved only for the masters of the tradition. Sometimes those who “love Yoga” call themselves yogis, yet, given the true meaning of the word, probably their teachers would not even qualify (this does not mean they are bad teachers). A true yogi is definitely not interested in how hot their butt looks performing crow pose in their lululemons. A real yogi is focused on inward development and transformation. The title of “yogi” used to mean an advanced practitioner with a high level of spiritual insight.
A sculpture of a Hindu yogi in the Birla Mandir, Delhi
I am not a yogi. I’ve used the word before, but I try to avoid it. I’m far too human to be a yogi!
Gary Kraftsow describes the three general stages of human motivation and development as viewed by the ancients in his book “Yoga for Transformation”—the rogi, bhogi, and yogi.
Rogi: The first and least developed stage. The primary motive is personal gain, even at the expense of others. They are driven by self-interest and desire for material and sensual pleasures at any cost. They will use manipulation to get what they want. Think of the characters in the TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Bhogi: In the next stage, the primary motivator is desire for enjoyment and pleasurable experience. They seek the most comfort and benefit for themselves in any given situation, but are respectful and considerate of the interest of others. Not a bad stage to be at given the first stage.
Yogi: The final stage. “The primary goals of the yogi are to uphold responsibility (dharma), to serve the highest good, and, ultimately, to attain freedom (moksa). These goals are expressed in a dedication to helping others, even at the expense of personal self-interest. And, therefore, the yogi is an actualized expression of wholeness: a living symbol of the most basic goals of Yoga.” (Kraftsow, 14)
To clarify the meaning of freedom (moksa) in this context, it means “freedom from bondage and suffering. It is a wish to be free—at all levels . . . that is permanent or ultimate . . . the ultimate joy of returning to one’s source ” (Kraftsow ,12-13) as opposed to freedom that is temporary or relative which is the kind of freedom most of us are familiar with.
People rarely fit into defined, rigid categories (that’s what keeps it interesting) and we find ourselves in all stages at different times (but I hope not too often in rogi). As students of Yoga, I wonder if it’s possible to have one foot in bhogi land with one foot in yogi land—balanced between the everyday life of a layperson and the mystical world of a spiritual adept? Or do we just go back and forth between the two? Or maybe us regular folks get something completely different out of our yoga practice and the idea of being a yogi is just pointless and we should just be the best bhogi we can be while helping others and serving the highest good for our families and community?
