The Westernization of Yoga or Why Stretching & Flexibility is Not Yoga

Yoga has become extremely popular over the last decade. Today, almost everyone knows someone who says they are practicing Yoga. Many of these new yogis/yoginis are quite dedicated and go to class several times each week.

Let’s take a look at what they are practicing:

Most classes are 60-90 minutes of doing various Yoga poses/stretches/asanas, which can vary from gentle to intense. The intensity will vary from class to class, style to style and teacher to teacher.

And so, the student will say they are practicing Yoga regularly every week.

I do not wish to belittle anyone’s practice or imply that anyone is claiming to be or do something they are not. Yet, the fact remains that this is not Yoga.

To claim that this type of activity represents learning Yoga is similar to someone learning the hand and finger exercises practiced by great pianists and thinking that they are learning to play and indeed, even are playing the piano.

This is not the fault of the student. Imagine if most of the piano teachers only taught these exercises and called the practice “Piano Class.” Why wouldn’t the student feel he/she was learning to play the piano?

Perhaps you are saying that this is silly. After all, great pianists make beautiful music when they are playing. That’s true. However, it is my contention that most people are only aware of the exercises and not what the exercises are meant to prepare them for. It’s as if somehow they never get to hear the music. They only see and hear the exercises. Usually, there is no time and sometimes no desire to learn more in class. Sometimes, the instructors themselves have not been taught more than these exercises, sometimes they do not practice them and sometimes they do not want to lose students who are not ready to transform themselves.

In Reality, classical pianists study the already written works of great composers and try to play them as the composer intended them to sound. Modern jazz pianists try to understand what their fellow musicians are playing and try to make up new, never played before music that fits in perfectly with what is going on around them.

You can play for yourself or you can go play for the enjoyment of others. This is similar to what true Yoga is like. You can study the ancient scriptures or you can go out into the World and practice Yoga in everyday life. You can practice Yoga for your benefit, or for the benefit of others.

I am not saying that going to a Yoga class and stretching for an hour is of no benefit. Not at all. There are plenty of benefits which anyone can and will get from even this limited practice. However, since their practice is on the gross or physical plane, most of the benefits will be limited to this physical plane: Better Health. And so the most Yoga, or Union, they can hope to achieve is that of uniting one part of their body with another, via the flow of their Pranas. I use the plural for Prana because by definition, you cannot unite just one flow. You can only unite separate and different flows.

This is another area where most Western Yoga Instruction falls short. Most instruction is only in the placement of the various body parts. And while it is true, that the flow of one’s Prana will be influenced by where one’s body parts are in relation to each other; this is also low level Yoga. The flow of one’s Prana should be directly regulated and controlled by one’s mind. Of the Yoga classes that do talk about the flow of Prana, they usually talk about the main flow of Prana in the Asana and not the counter flow.

Since Hatha Yoga is the Union of the Ha or the Sun Flows of Energy and the Tha or the Moon Flows of Energy, talking about only one flow means they are practicing either Ha Yoga or Tha Yoga. They cannot be practicing Hatha Yoga.

Most people are not aware that the practice of the Asanas or stretches is actually the third step in the classical school of Raja Yoga. The first step is the practice of 5 Restraints: Non-Harming, Truthfulness, Non-Stealing, Self-Restraint and Non-Possessiveness. The second is the practice of the 5 Observances: Purity, Contentment, Austerity, Self- Study and Surrender to God. (Notice there are 10, as in the 10 Commandments).

The concept behind this is that since the practice of the Yoga Asanas does make you Healthier and does give you more energy regardless of your State of Being, if you have not become a better person first, all the Yoga Asanas will have accomplished is making you better able to carry out your gross impulses. This is what happened to Darth Vader. He practiced the exercises of a Jedi Knight and they only fed the Flaws in his character.

My Yoga Teacher, Yogiraj Swami Bua, Maharaja of Hatha Yoga, sums this up when he says; “The Lotus Pose will not take you to Heaven.”

Another way of looking at this is: Yoga is Union. How can one claim to practice Union only a few hours a week? Do we get married for a few hours a week? (OK. I can hear all the humorous comments about marriage this will generate.) I think we can legitimately question the validity of using the term Union to refer to a fleeting or very temporary State of Being.

By this, I do not mean we are not practicing Yoga unless we are in the State of Union. I mean we must be trying to be in the State of Union. Whether we succeed or not, is another question.

My purpose in writing this article is to try and stop Yoga from following in the foot steps of the many Ancient Traditions which have been reduced by the market place to nothing but a hollow shell of their true selves.

There is no money to be made in not giving people what they want. Therefore, I hope this article will inspire some to examine what they want and lead them to true Yoga.

For more information about Gary Giamboi's or Swami Bua's views on Yoga, please go to http://www.genbukan.biz/disciplines_yoga.html

Enjoy Yoga with a Good and Comfortable Yoga Mat

Yoga is known to be a very relaxing exercise. It is popular not just a Hindu ritual but also a proven way to stay fit and healthy. It is more than just a form of meditation but more like an exercise regimen for many people around the world. But like all other exercise, there are equipments used in the practice of yoga. And probably one of the most important equipment for exercising yoga is the yoga mat.

A yoga mat can either be a big and thick towel, a rug or you can also buy a special yoga mat from sport shops. Most yoga mats that you can find around are made of cotton or polyester latex. There are premium made mats and there are regular mats as well. There are also a choice of natural mats and synthetic yoga mats. It is important though that you know how to choose the yoga mat that's right for you. This is essential in a comfortable and relaxing practice of yoga.

There are different things you need to consider in choosing the right yoga mat for you. The first and foremost thing that you should keep in mind while choosing a mat is what type of yoga you practice. Now, there are different yoga mats intended to be used for the different yoga styles. If you are practicing a yoga style that requires jumping from one form to another, like the Ashtanga yoga, you need a mat that are really thick and can provide you a good cushion. If while doing yoga, you sweat a lot, you need a mat that has the capability to absorb it and the best choice would be a cotton yoga mat. Other considerations to make when choosing a yoga mat are more of your personal choices. Of course you have the final say in choosing the color and the make of the mat. There are some people who prefer natural yoga mat made of hemp to feel closer to nature. But since these types may cause allergies to some people, you should also give this a careful consideration. You should also consider the place where you do your yoga exercise. If you're doing your exercise in a slippery tiled floor, you should always buy a sticky yoga mat to avoid slipping.

The practice of yoga would not be complete without the proper tools and equipment. You should always remember that in any exercise, it is important that you are comfortable while doing it. It is a key to enjoying and relaxing while doing the exercise you've chosen. And since yoga mat is a very important part of the yoga practice, you should choose the right mat for you.

Jeff Dodd is an expert in Yoga Pilates Mats. Come visit us at http://www.total-yoga-pilates.com

Yoga and Your Body - Health Benefits of Yoga Practice

Yoga aims to bring together the mind, the body and the spirits. People that practice yoga view that the mind and body are one and that if given the right tools, it can find harmony and find a way to heal. Practicing yoga is then considered to be a form of therapy. Awareness of posture and patterns of movement, flexibility and relaxation are only a few of the things that can be achieved with the practice. To feel fit, be more energetic, be happier and more at peace are only some of the reasons why people choose to practice yoga.

Yoga dates back to thousands of years of practice, consisting of ancient theories, observations and principles about the connection between mind and body that are now proven by modern day medicine. Research has proven that there are a lot of health benefits, whether physiological, psychological or biochemical, that can be obtained through the practice of yoga.

Some of the physiological benefits include a decrease in pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure which in other words would mean that the cardiovascular and respiratory efficiencies increase which can help in the increase of immunity. Bodily functions like gastrointestinal, endocrine and excretory either normalizes or improves which can help in the normalization of weight. Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase which can help in the improvement of posture, dexterity, balance and the integrated functioning of body parts. In essence, gaining all of that can help decrease any pains in the joints or muscles. With the practice of yoga, endurance, energy level and even eye-hand coordination improves. Weight can also normalize.

The psychological benefits of yoga include the increased awareness of somatic and kinesthetic waves, improvement of mood and subjective well-being which subsequently increases social adjustment. With a calmer mind, concentration, memory, attention and learning efficiency can also improve.

The biochemical benefits of yoga are effects of some of the physiological benefits. Levels of glucose, sodium, bad cholesterol and triglycerides decrease while levels of good cholesterol, cholinesterase, ATP, hemoglobin, vitamin C and serum protein increase. These changes are all beneficial for a healthier body.

Apart from all of this, the benefits of yoga have been compared versus that of the benefits of regular exercise. With the slow dynamic and static movements of yoga, there is a lower risk of injury to muscles and ligaments as opposed to regular exercise routines due to the lesser effort and relaxed way of movement which subsequently makes for better energizing since breathing is not taxed. There is also a more balanced activity of opposing muscle groups, thus being able to gain a normalized muscle tone instead of getting bulky.

Yoga does not need to be for people that are extremely flexible. It can be for people that are looking to improve on their flexibility or other areas of their physical or mental health. With these many benefits, it’s no wonder why yoga has been a successful practice for thousands of years.

The author is a health advocate and believes there are many ways you can increase your health and fitness levels go here to get more on yoga and equipment used Mat Yoga Reviews.