Yoga is a means to flexibility and peace. Does that mean we are free to approach it through whatever resonates most with us? For example, enjoying the joyful play of adorable puppies, goats and rabbits as in dog yoga, goat yoga and rabbit yoga. Or approaching peace through paddle boat yoga or motorcycle yoga, through that added thrill and challenge. What about beer yoga and romantic partner yoga, where postures are combined with spirits and romance to achieve the high? Again, laughter yoga is a form of release, but is it yoga?
Various approaches that make it something that is not yoga
We could say that they are a form of therapy if their practice relieves stress, but they are not yoga. So the argument goes like this: if Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga are valid paths of yoga (which one can follow according to one's inclinations), why not other forms of yoga?
The answer lies in the differences between the ultimate goals. 'Yoga' means to unite, which is the ultimate goal of any Yoga. The union or unity is between the soul, mind and body, a state in which one remains unconcerned by the vicissitudes of life.
According to yoga guru Dr. Hansaji Jayadeva, president of the Indian Yoga Association, when we are free from all negativity, hatred, jealousy and other weaknesses, we are automatically on a spiritual path. We are “in yoga,” which means acting appropriately, at the right time, stopping to think before acting and not reacting to situations. Once we commit to this state, we cannot separate spirituality from everyday activity—everything becomes yoga. Even picking up a glass of water and incorporating breathing into that movement would be yoga.
Beer yoga, dog yoga, partner yoga and others may seem therapeutic, but they offer no relief beyond momentary euphoria. Distractions are antithetical to the basic principles of yoga — body awareness, breath awareness and passive concentration — and cannot bring the mind into that desired state of undisturbed stillness.
Flexibility yes, but the body must also be free of disease
Yoga has been used more for external control – an exercise regimen that develops muscles, flexibility and immunity. In power yoga, for example, the exercises are vigorous and develop endurance, muscles and tolerance. But excess leads to damage to internal organs and problems such as hernias, digestive problems and muscle pulls arise. In hot yoga, the asanas are performed in hot conditions, as heat makes the body flexible. But the body also has to remain free of disease, for which mental training is required.
In traditional yoga, even when dynamic postures are part of the regimen, as in Hatha Yoga, they have a purpose. The main goal remains control of the mind.
Don't learn just one aspect
Those who enter the path of yoga must make sure that they learn from the right person, someone who takes it holistically. If you only practice one aspect of yoga, it is like exercising one hand and not the other or the other limbs. Wouldn't that be unbalanced and comical? Similarly, one has to practice all the branches of yoga; one must make sure that one takes care of all the aspects of life: the physical level, the mental level, the emotional level, and then the spiritual level.
Also develop a flexible mind
For something to be called “yoga”, the end result must be mastery of the mind. If the mind is not controlled, all efforts at the bodily level are useless. Today, 28-year-olds suffer from heart attacks, which is sad and very wrong. They go to the gym, do physical exercises, practice Hot Yoga, Power Yoga, but what they have not learned is to master the mind. Therefore, they suffer from heart attacks and die.
Young people are sensitive and easily moved: if someone behaves rudely, they feel hurt; if people don't do things their way, they get angry and upset. In reality, we don't suffer so much on a physical level, but on a mental level.
We must know how to deal with people and be able to tolerate even the nonsense of the world. This means being aware of how the world works and also being prepared to deal with it.
Real yoga can help us fit into the world
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras offer many guidelines on how to fit into the world and not be defeated. We have to reach a state where we are not affected by external factors such as the behavior of others, results, weather or anything else.
That is exactly what Chitti Vritti Nirodhah Yogas is: a state where the modifications of the mind become calm, a balanced state of mind.
(Note: The exception to the above are older people, who can enjoy all kinds of yoga and do whatever makes them happy: dancing, clapping, moving, smiling. Their goal should be to stay active, healthy, have no need to criticize younger generations, and see the world from various angles.)
The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be contacted at [email protected].
