hip opening asana yoga
Sunday, May 31st, 2009Yoga does not seem to command the same form of respect from modern day society as it once did in the past. It is sad that the beauty of yoga has somehow lost its brilliant luster, tarnished by the fast paced lifestyles of today’s globalization. To make it easy for the common man to understand, the whole philosophy has been reduced to a simple concept. The contents of yoga are exceptionally intricate and thus westerners may find it hard to understand. It is always a risky affair to talk about a complex subject by merely grasping the basics. The West tends to focus on the physical aspects of yoga. Today, yoga in the west has been reduced to a simplified form of practice that focuses on achieving internal peace and meditative states.
It originates from the Hindu religion and it is actually a part of the Hindu philosophy. In India, yoga is considered a very spiritual experience that has a physical aspect to it. The westerner’s viewpoint that yoga is a physical activity is very wrong and distorted. Yoga with its strange looking symbols may seem mystical to the average Joe, is often enough to perk up a considerable level of interest in the hidden aspects of this ancient practice, but sadly, they are often misunderstood. Operating from the wrong paradigm, yoga became a form of sports in the western world. The allure of yoga as an effective way to gain inner peace and balance has beckoned many to embrace this activity as well.
People are fascinated by the claims made by the yoga masters who often come with these promises. The numerous amount of fatal errors found in the practice of yoga outside of India shows that this art has been widely misunderstood at large. Closer observation reveals that the unique culture of each race has dramatically influenced the way yoga is practiced. The fast paced lifestyle of the western civilization left no chance for them to indulge in quiet, introspective moments to really understand this concept. Most Americans do not possess the time to spend moments in meaningful sessions of quiet meditation, which is essential for success when embracing this practice. The west seems obsessed with the desire to accumulate massive amounts of wealth and gaining power, which is a priority according the principles of Hinduism. Unless these values are changed, it is impossible for westerners to achieve the true wisdom and enlightenment as defined by the parameters of the Hindu religion. Patience and time is crucial for meditation. The westerners do not view investment in such contemplative moments for the attainment of philosophical wisdom to be beneficial.
Yoga becomes a stylish endeavor instead of a spiritual experience. There is a lot of information going out promoting yoga as a form of sports; in fact you can grab any of those and start practicing yoga anywhere you want to. Even fake gurus have support from their adoring disciples. These followers have become the pillars supporting the growth of this false and wrong philosophy.
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