Yoga And Your Health

By: Y P Chinn

In today's modern world, discussing an age-old concept such as yoga can be rather challenging. The real concept of this ancient art has long been forgotten, buried within the demanding lifestyle of modern day globalization. Most people choose to describe yoga as a simple concept rather than a complex philosophy in order to help people understand better. The intricacies of this practice may not be easily understood by the western civilization.

It is unwise to gain a shallow knowledge about a diverse topic and yet speak about it from an expert's viewpoint. There is a tendency among the westerners to highlight only the physical aspects of yoga. There is more to yoga than the mere attainment of inner balance and serenity.

It originates from the Hindu religion and it is actually a part of the Hindu philosophy. Yoga as a part of India's diverse culture and philosophy is actually a spiritual experience that includes some complicated physical moves. But the western world prefers to refer yoga as a mere physical practice. Yoga, with its strange looking symbols may seem mystical to the average Joe, but sadly, they are often misunderstood. This discipline is practiced as a popular sport. Additionally, people who desire inner tranquility would often find this practice to be beneficial and of course a lot of people have been attracted to yoga as a form of practice to achieve inner peace.

Disciples of yoga are often fascinated by the claims made by their yoga instructors. There is plenty of evidence to show that yoga has been wrongly implemented in the West. Different groups practicing yoga have its own cultural structure and these influences are responsible for those fatal errors detected in the practice of this ancient art. The fast paced lifestyle of the western civilization left no chance for them to indulge in quiet, introspective moments to really understand this concept.

Sometimes, the most important part of this practice is neglected, for instance the essential meditation. The greed for power and material wealth which is integral in the western culture has no place in the Hindu culture. 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. One crucial aspect essential for a successful meditative session is time and patience. This is what the westerners lack. The west seems cursed with the obsession to pursue the goal of building better lives in the form of lavish lifestyles and not in the philosophical way.

Ironically, yoga has been implemented as fashion in the western part of the world. There is a lot of information going out promoting yoga as a form of sport. Fans of famous people who later become fake gurus are adamant about supporting their idol and his practice. The growing influence of this unhealthy philosophy is attributed to the disciples who are loyal in spreading the word about the advantages of adopting this crooked form of yogic philosophy.

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