{"id":691,"date":"2011-06-03T09:29:54","date_gmt":"2011-06-03T13:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/omsweetom\/?p=691"},"modified":"2011-06-03T09:29:54","modified_gmt":"2011-06-03T13:29:54","slug":"yoga-one-size-doesnt-fit-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/omsweetom\/2011\/06\/yoga-one-size-doesnt-fit-all.html","title":{"rendered":"Yoga: One Size Doesn’t Fit All"},"content":{"rendered":"
Over the past week, I\u2019ve been reviewing the comments in response to my last blog which continued to bring to light the Hindu roots of yoga. \u00a0It seems like the main issue many yoga practitioners have is that \u201cyoga is not a religion\u201d and any attempt to link it to one is seen as contrary to the principles of yoga. \u00a0This, of course, is at the crux of the Hindu American Foundation\u2019s Take Back Yoga campaign: the misunderstanding of Hindu philosophy. \u00a0The perception of Hinduism, particularly in the West, is that of a religion replete with colorful rituals and multi-limbed gods and rooted in a callous caste system. \u00a0Based on that exoticized description of my faith, I can understand the skepticism at the idea that the calming, spiritual practice of yoga is rooted in Hinduism.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s step back for a moment and take a look at the Hinduism that was taught to me at home. \u00a0Like yoga, Hinduism is experiential in nature and it is up to each one of us – based on our inherent nature and temperament – to find our own path to achieve unity with Brahman (or the Divine). \u00a0In the sacred Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna expounds upon four paths, or yogas – bhakti yoga, karma yoga, jnana yoga, and dhyana yoga (which in the past 150 years or so is more commonly referred to as raja yoga). \u00a0The four yogas can be succinctly summarized as the path of loving devotion to God, the path of selfless action and service, the path of knowledge, and the path of meditation and self-control, consecutively. \u00a0While each of these paths are unique, they are by no means mutually exclusive. \u00a0One chooses to follow a particular path based upon her temperament, but is able to and should draw from the others. \u00a0Central to all yoga is the goal of growing closer or uniting with Brahman.<\/p>\n

Dhyana yoga (aka raja yoga) is also referred to ashtanga yoga, and for those who are familiar with all eight limbs of the practice, the connection is apparent.* \u00a0\u00a0Asana, the most popular of the limbs and the one that most people associate with the term \u201cyoga\u201d, is not an end in and of itself. \u00a0The intent is to prepare the body and mind to be seated in meditation for long periods of time. \u00a0In fact, in the chapter on dhyana yoga in the Gita<\/em>, Krishna even goes so far as to outline the basics necessary for meditation:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a clean place,
\none should establish
\nfor oneself a firm seat…<\/p>\n

There, having the mind actively
\nfocused upon a single point,
\nwith thought and
\nsense controlled,
\nSitting on a seat,
\none should practice yoga
\nfor purification of the self.<\/p>\n

With an aligned body,
\nhead, and neck –
\nkeeping these steady,
\nwithout movement;
\nFocusing the vision toward
\nthe tip of one\u2019s nose
\nwithout looking about
\nin any direction…<\/p>\n

Controlling the mind
\nwith thought
\nfocused upon me –
\none should be seated
\nwhile absorbed in yoga,
\nholding me as the highest.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n

(BG, 6.11 – 6.14)<\/p>\n

Forget focusing on a single point, for most of us, sitting cross-legged and still for any significant length is an impossible feat when our backs are aching or our feet are falling asleep. \u00a0The need to move and reposition ourselves is much more immediate than the need to focus. \u00a0But as most practitioners will agree, even a few rounds of simple surya namaskar<\/em> on a daily basis will allow the body to remain comfortably seated and aligned for longer periods of time. \u00a0Asana makes the body limber and flexible and improves circulation; all vitally important in our efforts to meditate. \u00a0It is a great tool for us to use. \u00a0But it is just that – one of many tools in our bag designed to assist us on our journey towards the Divine.<\/p>\n

The beauty of Hinduism lies in its acknowledgement and acceptance that one size does not fit all, and that there aren\u2019t there any exclusive, membership only lanes. \u00a0People are inherently different in their temperaments and abilities, and life can be complicated. \u00a0For that reason, Hinduism provides multiple paths, or yogas, \u00a0from which seekers can choose and holistically tread. \u00a0Bhakti, karma, jnana, dhyana…the choice is yours.<\/p>\n

*For those who are not familiar, the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the past week, I\u2019ve been reviewing the comments in response to my last blog which continued to bring to light the Hindu roots of yoga. \u00a0It seems like the main issue many yoga practitioners have is that \u201cyoga is not a religion\u201d and any attempt to link it to one is seen as contrary…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":390,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hinduism-101"],"yoast_head":"\nYoga: One Size Doesn't Fit All - Om Sweet Om<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Yoga: One Size Doesn't Fit All - Om Sweet Om\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Over the past week, I\u2019ve been reviewing the comments in response to my last blog which continued to bring to light the Hindu roots of yoga. \u00a0It seems like the main issue many yoga practitioners have is that \u201cyoga is not a religion\u201d and any attempt to link it to one is seen as contrary…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/omsweetom\/2011\/06\/yoga-one-size-doesnt-fit-all.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Om Sweet Om\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-06-03T13:29:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"sheetal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Yoga: One Size Doesn't Fit All - 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