WHY YOGA AND MEDITATION STUDY

More often than not we arrive on our yoga mat primarily for asana  ( postures), as I did myself some 40 years ago while attending Art school. I was naturally flexible and not sporty so yoga was a way to make me feel I was good at something from a fitness perspective. 

Eventually after some time, the penny dropped and fast forward my purpose in yoga over the last few years has been primarily the philosophy aspect, albeit I am a teacher of asanas. 

As a yoga teacher, I am constantly absorbed in Yoga study. The commitment I have towards my practice is to also help and support others in their Yoga development. 

While the Yoga and Mindfulness is a multi billion dollar industry connected mainly with  fitness. We as teachers have a duty to in-still a sense of awareness of the Yoga traditions otherwise we are guilty of ‘cultural appropriation’. This being the process that takes a traditional practice ( in this case Yoga and Mindfulness ) and turns it into something that benefits the current trend therefore erasing its origins and meanings. 

An example of this would be to teach a Yoga Fitness class and have a statue of a Buddha, wearing Mandala beads because one would feel it gives them a sense of authenticity or adding the word ‘dosha’( body type) without its reference to Ayurvedic origins. 

Reinventing Yoga is what has been happening in the West  for years and these trends revert themselves back to India were there is pressure for them to redefine its practice. 

This is also known as the ‘Pizza Effect’, were traditionally a pizza from Naples was just a simple Margarita then the trend in New York was to add pineapple and other ingredients. The trend would then go back to Italy were the pressure was put upon them to jump on board with latest fad. 

As Savira Gupta, Yoga teacher explains “Until we bring the humanness into our teachings there will always be a way to redefine the practice. We need to put more focus on philosophy not just asana as a way of just looking at the decorative part but the need to discuss its core.”

I am constantly reminding myself of the famous verse of the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, verse 47 where we are reminded to do our duty with compassion and not concern ourselves with the results. 

By redefining Yoga to standardised corporate models because we get bored is  disrespectful to its origins and traditions.

Dania 

Here are some essays and links by lecturers I attended during my Masters and also fellow students whom I studied with. I hope you find helpful and interesting if you intend deepening your yoga practice beyond the mat. 

http://theluminescent.blogspot.co.uk   

http://wisestudies.com

http://danielsimpson.info  

www.gennyyoga.com/writing/   

www.saviragupta.com

KUMBHAKA – A VITAL PAUSE:

The development of kumbhaka from the ancient to modern times. If you would like to read my 10,000 words about ‘The Pause’ here’s my current dissertation.

*Please do not quote without my permission.