Seven Common Myths about Yoga
Seven Common Myths about Yoga
By Dada Vedaprajinananda (Copyright, 2004)
Although the
practice of yoga has become
widespread
during
the
last 30 years, there are still quite a few misconceptions
about
this ancient method of self-transformation. Here is a brief
survey of the most common myths about yoga, and a look at
what
yoga is really all about.
1. Yoga is a
sport: One of the important
components of
yoga
is
the practice of physical postures, known as asanas in
Sanskrit.
Due to this physical aspect of yoga, some people think of yoga
as
a sport or an activity akin to body building. In this sense,
yoga is seen as a casual pastime which one can take up and
practice now and then like any sport.
The fact is that
yoga is the art and science of
physical,
mental
and spiritual development. Although the yoga postures may
look
like the stretching exercises
found in some sports. The
exercises
in yoga are one part of an all-around program of personal
development. The postures are not an end in themselves, but
are
meant to help prepare one's body for mental and spiritual
development.
2. The physical
side of yoga is the most important
part:
Although
the practice of yoga postures is the most commonly known
aspect
of yoga, it is not the most important part. In fact, the
ancient
system of yoga begins with the understanding and practice of
moral precepts and living
a life in harmony with self and
society.
The foundation
of yoga lies on the observance of
principles
such
as not harming others, acting in the spirit of welfare, non
stealing, non accumulation of excessive physical wealth,
viewing
all things as an expression of Consciousness, purity of mind,
contentment, and selfless service.
If you can learn
how to live in harmony with those
around
you,
and at the same time work on your own inner development, then
the
other components of yoga (postures, concentration and
meditation)
can be practiced with the best possible effects.
3. Yoga is only
for women: In some parts of the
world the
majority of yoga students are women, and some men may have
gotten
the idea that yoga is not for them. The fact is that all
people
are searching for inner peace and all people wish to avoid
disease and live a healthy life. Yoga offers something for
anyone
who wishes an effective method of physical, mental or
spiritual
development and should not be thought of as a discipline
reserved
only for women or only for men.
4. Everybody
must practice the same postures: In
most
yoga
classes around the world you will find that several people at
a
time are practicing the same postures. Despite this
widespread
convention, the needs of individuals vary according to their
physical structures and it is best to perform yoga postures
that
are individually suited to a particular individual. For
example,
a young man suffering from asthma will need postures that are
quite different from an older woman with heart problems.
If you want to
practice yoga postures correctly it
is
best
to
find a teacher who is able to prescribe the postures that are
best suited to your particular needs.
5. You have to
be extremely agile to practice
yoga: It
is
true
that some yoga postures are a bit difficult to perform, and
require an agile body. However, just as postures should be
selected according to the ailments that a person suffers from,
a
good yoga instructor will be able to show you postures that
are
within your reach. When performing yoga postures, you should
try
to do them to the best of your capacity and you shouldn't
worry
whether you look like the picture in the book. Often, just
the
effort that you make in trying to perform the posture is
enough
to reap the benefits of that posture.
6. It is good to
practice yoga postures out of
doors:
When
you
perform yoga properly your body becomes very sensitive to
shifts
in temperature. If you practice outside your house even a
slight
breeze may be enough to make you uncomfortable or even catch
cold. It is best to practice indoors. The windows may be open
but
you should stay away from drafts. In summer it is best to
turn
off fans while practicing yoga postures.
7. Incense
should be burned when practicing yoga:
Although
yoga
comes from India, and so does much of the world's incense, it
is
not a good idea to burn incense while performing yoga postures
or
doing meditation. Yoga postures should be done in a
smoke-free
area: this includes cigarette smoke and also the smoke of
incense. During meditation the smoke of burning incense will
cause disturbance and hinder the process of going within.
Incense
can be used before doing meditation or before practicing
postures
in order to create a nice atmosphere, but there should not be
smoke in the air when the actual practice begins.
If you practice
yoga regularly and with a proper
understanding
of
its holistic nature,
you will surely realize great benefits
in
all spheres of life.
Dada Vedaprajinananda has been practicing and
teaching yoga
and
meditation for the past 34 years. You can read more of his
articles on his website http://www.YogaWeightLossSecrets.com
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