What is yoga?

The short answer: yoga is authentic action, and the path toward it.

Want more?

Yoga is a way to remove limitations and pain -- these could be physical, mental, or emotional -- and gain some freedom and contentment.  Hey, we all deserve this.  And a balancing yoga practice can get us there.

Yoga is a state of being.  The state of yoga is presencing* your Self, not presenting who you are.  It's having a strong connection to Self.  It's questioning less and knowing more.  It comes from a 3000-year-old systematic science for understanding your mind, realizing your Self, and experiencing innate wisdom.

*presence: verb, you will not find this in the dictionary, but you will find it at the wisest source I know -- my teacher Karina Ayn

What's this capital letter "S" Self?

Capital letter "S" Self doesn't refer to your busy, ever-changing mind, but to the unchanging part inside you.  It is unbiased; has clear, wise perception; and is completely authentic.  It's You, baby.
 
Don't you have to be flexible to do yoga?

No, only flexible of mind!  Entering into your practice with an open mind allows you to fully experience yoga's benefits.

How does yoga work?

Yoga's intent is to help you clear your mind and body to access what's deeper: the authentic You (i.e. Self).
Physically, this is mainly accomplished through progressive asana (poses), which has the convenient side-effects of improved flexibility, strength, and overall well-being.
Mentally, practices such as pranayama (breathwork), pratyahara (moving attention inward, away from the senses), dharana (concentration and focusing), and dhyana (meditation) make it easier for you to act from that place of authenticity inside -- sure of your Self.