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Modern Yoga | Americanized Yoga

posted May 17, 2009 - 1:05pm
Modern Yoga | Americanized Yoga

Do you know the etymology, the origins of the word “yoga”? Believe it or not, yoga is not a physical exercise, but a spiritual one, an exercise of the mind to create a union or join with The Supreme Spirit. Etymology of yoga

Yoga has evolved to a type of physical exercise system for stress relief and physical flexibility in the Western World. I can almost guarantee that the true Yogis did not tell themselves or their students to “feel the stretch” as they twisted their bodies into some miraculous configuration. This is all thanks to the Western World transforming yet another aspect of the Eastern beliefs into a “for profit business”. I wonder how many videos on yoga are sold in the East?

Americanized yoga is not about the joining with the Supreme Spirit, it is about lining pockets with money by promoting the image of health and fitness. “Breathe, feel your breath travel through your spine as you inhale and as you exhale, feel the breath travel down your throat, your chest… Feel the stress of the day leave your body, concentrate on the breath, and feel the stretch in your buttocks, the back of your thigh…”

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a “yoga” video that I follow for relieving my back pain due to swollen disc issues, I love it, the music helps me to relax and the slow, controlled movements feel really good. I call it exercise when I put that video on though, not yoga. I would even go as far to say that what I do is called stretches, not yoga.

Take a look at this video examining the question of:

“Will the practice of yoga help to bring spiritual awakening? Is it true that yoga can awaken the deeper energy called Kundalini?

http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/krishnamurti-teachings/view-video/brockwood-park-school-1979-part-3-of-6.php

Do you practice yoga or do you exercise?

Click here to start earning on Xomba!

MJ Dakota's Xombyte



Comments

Yoga for study and stress relief

It is my understanding that the eastern yoga is about aligning the energies within with the Spirit. In so doing, it is necessary to release the stress that blocks the Spirit. The teachings of morality and the art of kindness is part of yoga as well. In the western world, those elements are missing in the retail industry of exercise videos titled "yoga". I'm not saying they are bad, I even admit to using one myself, I'm saying the western world has omitted this part of yoga for better marketing and dollar earnings. College classes on eastern and western disciplines are not the target of this article, the exercise videos claiming to be yoga are. I have not taken a college course on eastern disciplines so I cannot state whether or not they teach the whole of yoga or only a part that is popular in the western world. Or that they teach yoga at all, they could be teaching meditation techniques with a reference to yoga. Thank you for your comment and vote. MJ - Sending happy thoughts and Smiles! Avatar: Betrayal and Retribution http://www.valkyrieart.com/Poser1.html

Western Yoga? Only for $$$ - I disagree

I do agree with you in the fact of the different techniques between western and eastern. But, I have to disagree with western being only for money. Western and eastern disciplines are both taught in colleges. The idea behind teaching is to assist students in studying, and relaxation. +1 If you liked this article why not go to the YELLOW BOX at the top right of this piece and vote -- CLICK the +. Creating A World That Works For All - the Common Way Institute (Portland, OR) http://www.commonway.org Make Money Writing $$$: http://www.xomba.com/referral/7777ea2e ↑ Grab this Headline Animator

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Feline Yogi Speaks out

Meow! I have to agree with you on this one, I think any cat can do the postures and poses better than I. I'm good if I can lie flat on my back without having to bend my knees! I can see why anyone who knows the real thing would be put off by the marketing of only half the truth of it. Thanks for the comment Rycharde MJ - Sending happy thoughts and Smiles! Avatar: Betrayal and Retribution http://www.valkyrieart.com/Poser1.html

Yohgah sounds good

Kind of like magic and magik or magick, sounds the same yet spelled differently. That's how you know the difference between a performing magician magic and the esoteric magic, er magick. Silly Westerners. : ) Never heard of Qi Gong, guess I'll have to look into that one now. I like the Eastern philosophies and the practices are interesting to read about. I'm not one for rituals or worship, but I am enjoying learning about connecting with The Spirit. Thanks for the comment jdub MJ - Sending happy thoughts and Smiles! Avatar: Betrayal and Retribution http://www.valkyrieart.com/Poser1.html

hatha yoga for cats

Yeah, applies to yoga as well as feng shui and no doubt a myriad other exotic practices shorn of their esoteric meanings. Yoga can awaken the kundalini, although better if that was taught too as I suspect if it happened by chance (which it can) it would probably be as much a shock as bliss! :-) What is sold as yoga is usually Hatha Yoga but with just the postures and exercises, thereby ignoring the inner aspects of breathing and meditation. Fairly typical to take something and just do what seems externally correct. If it looks good, it must be good! Hence my general distaste for new age: it's not just flakey but even the good parts are just very feeble imitations of eastern practices. My cat does hatha yoga far better than I ever could! Join Xomba Here

We need to find a different word for it

I guess the marketing types don't consider "stretching" to be sexy enough so they have to co-opt a word with deeper meaning. There are lots of examples of Westernized Eastern disciplines being packaged and sold to people as the real thing--kind of like Nutrasweet created an artificial sweetener when all-natural sugar would do just fine for most people. I propose we find a different word for the Western interpretation of yoga to let people know it is not really yoga. Yohgah, Yago, Yogotstagivememoney, etc. I have an interest in Qi Gong to help me stretch and ground myself each day, but I try to find videos by people who practice the actual Eastern discipline. Great article, MJ! CLICK HERE TO JOIN XOMBA TODAY!

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