Yoga is like an ice-burg.
A 4 minute read. Approx. 900 words.
By Ben Whitaker.
11 May 2015.
There's more to yoga than the latest hot-stretching franchise, trademarked sequence or charismatic guru.
The modern practice of yoga in western places such as America, Australia and Europe typically has little to do with the ancient culture that evolved in India and is still practiced there today. Yoga is mostly limited to stretching in the west, yet yoga is a vast practice giving glimpses of enlightenment through a long list of practices that surpass most western yoga styles. Western yoga is a billion dollar industry that thrives on the latest trends, fashion and props, yet in India, authentic traditions have a focus on serving and uplifting the disadvantaged in society. Neither east nor west, escapes scandals, cover-ups and exploitation.
There is no simple solution but I would like to share my perspective on having been involved with yoga for over 10 years, presenting an objective view of yoga. I hope to help others be aware of the bigger perspective, especially if new to yoga.
The practice of yoga has existed and evolved for over 10,000 years in the region of the sub-continent of India. The ancient yogis sought to bring their body, mind, emotions and spirit into harmony with nature and ultimately transcend the cycle of reincarnation. Inspired by the elements and the movements of the birds, mammals and reptiles they moved their body through poses; they breathed like animals; they meditated like trees and mountains; and they had glimpses of the nature of the cosmos and the human condition.
Hence, there is much more to yoga than any one trademarked, copyrighted or franchised system of yoga. None of the modern gurus or yoga entrepreneurs can lay claim to inventing these profoundly beautiful and natural expressions of being human.
There are many practices and techniques from different fields of yoga that can be chosen depending on your personality. As can be seen above, highlighted in red is the limited section that involves stretching.
Yoga is more than stretching
To only practice one style of yoga is potentially very limiting to your growth as a person. About 75% of all modern yoga styles popular in Australia and America are only based on stretching (asana), very few even attempt to offer more. Yet the practices of yoga are vast in their scope. Asana is just the tip of the iceberg. When you consider other practices classed as yoga can include breath awareness, deep breathing, numerous meditation techniques, chanting, codes of conduct, selfless service, cleansing techniques, rituals, philosophy, psychology and energy work, to name a few, chances are you could be getting more out of yoga than you realise.
Narrow View
As a style of yoga is codified into a style, linage or franchise, decisions are made to include or leave out certain practices, and to present them in certain ways depending on the motivation of the teacher or guru. This invariably leaves out the full and varied nature of the practices. I've heard it said that once there were over 70,000 asanas. Whether this is true or not, how can one style capture this sort of diversity? Most styles only use a handful of practices yet they attempt to present their style as the best and ignore the rest.
Yoga Brands
Copyrighting and trademarking practices can have important roles in keeping a preserving a practice in the modern world. Considering the ‘fad’ nature of yoga, this can be important so as to preserve the authentic nature of a practice (presuming it was authentic in the first place).
Yoga though has always evolved and changed to meet the need of the time. Particularly with recent advances in science, it’s imperative that practices change based on new knowledge gained.
There’s no easy way to resolve this issue except to approach trademarked practice with caution and awareness.
Gurus are human too
The guru tradition of passing teachings on to students has been and always will be important. We would not have many of the practices available to us today if it didn't exist. Many practices of yoga have never been written down until the last 50 years. But time and time again we are reminded that gurus are human and too often have serious flaws.
People who follow a guru can tend to glorify their guru as a god-like perfect person whilst covering up any evidence to the contrary. This cult-like activity often results in a group dynamic that perpetuates unethical behaviours which can include abuse. Consider those who have been victims of abuse due to those in power within yoga movements or institutions. Sexual, physical, emotional and financial abuse from yoga is probably not something you would associate with such a ‘wholesome’ thing as yoga, especially when it involves children, but this is reality.
Again, approach such groups with caution and awareness, as there is much to be gained from their traditions but also beware of the baggage that they bring with them.
Finding your own inner light
Yoga, in its full scope, has the ability to bring us into harmony with our true nature. No one brand of yoga or meditation can do this. Only we can do it through our own exploration of the nature of our own consciousness using any possibility of techniques or systems (yoga, meditation, rituals, herbs, music, dancing, reading, art or whatever it may be) that help based on our own experience of trying and applying them.
The term guru can be defined as ‘inner light’. Finding your inner-light requires transcending any yoga brand, tradition or guru.