What is "Essencia"?

What is at the "essence?"  What is "essential?"
When thinking about names, much like when having a child, you want to find the most fitting word that not only defines and describes, but that sounds suitable as well.  Since we are offering bilingual classes, being a pronounceable word in Spanish and English is necessary.  Then you think of the word essential and we no longer deal with extras but come back to the basics.  By working immediately with the fundamentals of yoga, we find that we are lead to the foundational elements of life.  When these items are at the heart of the matter, they are also crucial and vital to have working optimally.  Hence the name “Essencia Yoga.”
“Yoga,” symbolizes the unity of spirit, mind, and body.  It comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means joining or bringing union to.  Though not a religion or even a format of worship of a particular god, it does acknowledge that the greatest union to be made is the finite with the infinite.  It is seen more as a science of living a holistically healthy, meaningful life with purpose.  A life that has the mind, body and spirit integrated, living in unity as one.
With various forms of Yoga, including Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, we will highlight here the Classic Hatha style of Yoga that we instruct and train others to teach.  Eventually, I do want to take up each of them and unfold them so that we can value and learn how to incorporate them into our lives.  For now, we will stick to the ABC’s of what our focus is.
“Hatha Yoga” is where the body is prepared to be the best possible vessel to carry the mind and spirit.  It is broken down into “seven stages” where the last for come together to form “Raja Yoga.”  (The following portion is derived from a clear layout in Indra Devi's book, Renew Your Life Through Yoga.  It was a fantastically clear read that might be of interest to you if you seek to explore further).

1. Asanas, (postures) which involve deep breathing, movement and exercise, and relaxation.  It also incorporates the topic of nutrition and cleansing.
2. Pranayama, (breathing) specifically speaking of Prana, and the flow of the subtle life energy.
3. Prathahara (nerve control) where we become more aware and in tune with our thoughts and patterns of thinking.
4. Dharana (focusing the mind) practicing concentration and staying on target.
5. Dhyana (meditation) which results after practicing number 4, where the focal point is not material but more of a spiritual nature.
6. Samadhi (bliss) when number 5 has taken place and there are no distractions that interfere in this moment.  It is experiencing the union of finite with Infinite.
7. Yama/Niyama (10 rules of moral conduct) a lifestyle where we strive toward

• 5 Yamas Abstentions of: injury, stealing, lying, wasting, and coveting.
• 5 Niyamas Observances of:  purity, contentment, austerity, wisdom, and awareness of Higher Power.

An adherence to the above disciplines, according to the ancient study of Hatha Yoga would allow for a freedom found from the entanglements, or we could call them non-essentials, that this world has to offer.
St. Francis, may be an example known and respected across the board as someone who learned to live attached to the essentials of life and free from the bondage of attachment to non-essentials.  He was said to have experienced divine happiness in the unity he shared with the Eternal One.
More specifically, we see that this material world we live in has us all going through ups and downs, unable to get a lasting sense of peace.  The honor and respect gained by wealth or position can be lost, as can the wealth and position itself.   If we place our value on any of those things, or anything, for that matter that will pass away, we will find ourselves hopeless when they are gone.  Our complete dependence and security cannot come from the external world.
This is where we all journey, and at some point in life, come face to face with necessary  losses that shake our foundation and call us toward a deeper sense of purpose.  One that moves beyond what we can touch and see.  The cry within us, if taken seriously, can  move us more and more toward the Essence of Life.
The choices we make today, impact our tomorrow.  It is up to us, nobody else can take these steps for you.  What lies at the end for you?  This is a question we are each going to face sometime or another.  Will we be prepared?
May this questions stimulate us all and draw us closer to that Essence, that freedom and peace may abound.  It starts within us and can spread across the Earth.  Will we do our part and allow the healing to start?