You are wrong. Yogic gymnastics is not Yoga.
Introduction
Let me take you though a basic yoga definition. Yoga comes from the word ‘Yuj’ meaning to join, combine, or yoke. The orthodox meaning of yoga is the union of atma (soul) to paramatama (the supereme being). For the nonbelievers, yoga practice helps us synchronize our energy vibrations to the cosmic energy vibrations. In the Bhagvad Gita, the holy book of the Hindus, Sri Krishna explains to Arjun that yoga is a practice which frees us from the clutches of pain and sorrow. He further says, he who knows the eternal bliss through yoga is not moved by the greatest sorrow. Pain and sorrow throws our mind into a never-ending whirlpool and so ‘Yoga’ in its essence is a practice to still the mind and sublimate that energy into constructive endeavors.
Fast forward to the modern times where instant gratification is the rage of the day, it is not surprising that the would-be-yogis are looking for a fast-track learning program to enjoy holistic well-being through yogasanas and embark on their journey of self-discovery. These would-be yogis miss the bigger picture, especially in the West, where yoga has become a fad and yogasanas have now become yogic gymnastics which is in no way related to authentic yoga.
Authentic Yoga
Yoga philosophy represents one of the components of the Orthodox systems of Indian Philosophy. It was first collated by Maharishi Patanjali in his book, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, in the form of 185 aphorisms. The ‘Yoga Sutras’ talk about the eight limbs or the eightfold paths to yoga, namely, yama (restraints or things that a yogi/yogin should not do), niyama (observances or rules that are to be followed, asana (posture), pranayama (regulating the breath), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (trance). So, nowhere does it mention that asana is yoga or meditation is yoga but that the practice of the eightfold path leads to a stable state of the mind and body to achieve Samadhi. Therefore, yoga is more than just asanas, or pranayam, or meditation. It is a way of life but in this modern era the true essence of yoga has been lost to commercialization.
Commercialization of yoga
Imagine a scintillating advertisement showing a woman performing artistic yogic poses, which tacitly promises great results in a 4-week program and guarantees a great transcendental experience. This is what many so-called gurus are promising in the East and the West. They promise much more than they can deliver. To make the matters worse, the neo-yogis have to shell out top dollars for such programs. They join the program delighted that by the end of the month they will become yogis performing such artistic yogic poses. Of course, many are disappointed. Having said that these programs do provide a temporary escape from the daily grind, but authentic yoga is a practice that does not guarantee quick results. The transformative effects of yoga just cannot be achieved in a four-week program.
200 hour Yoga Teacher
Training Program, the biggest farce
I have been practicing yoga for the past 24 years and yet I feel there is so much to learn and practice. I keep wondering how someone can teach yoga and certify students as teachers and that too in four weeks. What if you were to become a doctor after a 4-week program? Would you go to such a doctor? Yoga seems to have been trivialized by these institutes running all over the world. Yoga is a slow, steady lifelong practice. The results are even slower. The ‘sadhus’ in India would practice for years before they became a guru and started teaching. What the 200-Hour crash course teaches is gymnastics. Another latest fad is ‘the flow’, moving from one asana to another in a sequence. This is not asana practice, but again, gymnastics. In one of my previous articles I mentioned that yoga is not exercise. This is a quote from that article: “The legend and yoga-guru, T. Krishnamacharya, said yoga must be practiced slowly. He reasoned that quick moves disrupt the flow of blood.” Asanas are all about restriction and direction of the flow of blood to different organs to make them healthier. Fast movements disrupt that flow of blood and only the superficial effects of an exercise are achieved instead of the deep transformative effects of yogasanas. Moreover, the ultimate aim of asana is not to master a complex posture but to condition and stabilize the body and consequently prepare itself for long periods of meditation.
The push versus surrender to
achieve a yogic posture
The urge to be perfect and perform complex yogic postures like a gymnast has led to props and the push culture among the modern yoga gurus. For e.g. to do Samkonasana or straddle split pose, you will come across many videos on youtube where an instructor is sitting with the students with their feet against the inner side of their legs and pulling their hands towards them trying to deepen the pose. Most people are not flexible in this area and can injure their muscles easily. To avoid this, specific asanas directed towards the muscles involved of the hips, groin can be used. Flexibility comes gradually. Yoga is about moderation in practice, diet, sleeping and eating. Extremes of anything is forbidden in yoga but as I said earlier this is not yoga but yogic gymnastics, may be a new branch of physical exercise unrelated to yoga. Yoga is about surrender. You do not compete with anyone. You devote yourself to the practice or ‘sadhana’. It is something extremely personal and definitely not exhibitionism. Although today a lot of people are interested in yoga and this is a good thing, but somehow they are oblivious to the spiritual aspect of yoga. Everyone is more concerned about looking good rather than what yoga was really intended for, calming the mind.
Conclusion:
Thus, yogasanas are a great way to strengthen your body, but that alone is not yoga. Yoga is a lifelong practice and it may not be for everyone. If you wish to practice yoga in its authentic form then the eightfold path of yama, niyama, asana, pranayam, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi should be incorporated in your practice. I understand that many may not have the time to do so, then they should take the best from the eightfold path and incorporate it in their daily lives. My issue is not with people taking the best out of yoga but with people who twist the fundamentals of yoga and yoga practice and then call it yoga. When practicing yoga, go slow. A slow approach will help you go a long way. To, sum it all up, yoga is not mastering complex poses but a stage that needs to be mastered in order to move to the next and then the next until you attain Samadhi. So, let us not be hasty and try to master all the yogasanas in a 4-week program but embark on a lifelong journey of devotion and surrender to the practice of yoga that transcends time and enriches our being.
Suggested Reading:
- How to Start Running: https://www.marathonyogis.blog/2023/05/how-to-start-running-beginners-guide.html
- For Weight loss use HIDE: Halving the intake and doubling the exercie: https://www.marathonyogis.blog/2023/07/the-weight-loss-equation-hide-halving.html
- A leathal combination of running and yoga: https://www.marathonyogis.blog/2020/04/weight-loss-with-runog.html
