(Look through the classical yogic texts: Words like stress, lumbar, lymph, and femur are nowhere to be found.). And still others will choose to explore new forms of practice emerging from the Western spiritual melting pot. Yoga Burn has among the highest success rates in popular fitness programs. The first was Indra Devi, a Russian-born enthusiast who later became known as The First Lady of Yoga in America. The ability to access and learn information is no longer as difficult as it was in the 1800s when you had to travel far and wide to understand the practice. Ultimately, perhaps, theres not all that much difference between yoga as it was and yoga as it is. The False Believers. Every spiritual practice, no matter how ancient, must be born anew in the heart and life of each individual practitioner. In addition, yoga has been proven to improve mood and relieve emotional stress. Videos on Become A Yoga Instructor. Certainly, the form in which yoga is practiced has altered so radically in the West that it is almost unrecognizable to a traditional Hindu, Buddhist, or Jain practitioner. This second yoga boom was also the time when there was an increased focus on how yoga affected the body in terms of purely physical benefits. For most of yoga history, the attempt to achieve spiritual awakeningthe union with the Divine and yoking of the mind that is the literal meaning of the word yogadid not involve any particular physical postures other than the classic cross-legged meditation pose. Say yoga to most Americans, and they think yoga poses. With its emphasis on using the physical body as a vehicle for spiritual awakening, hatha yogaformerly a small and obscure corner of the vast yoga firmamenthas captured the imagination and spirit of America, and is the branch of yoga that has flourished here most successfully. If the Yoga bug has not bitten yet and you want to learn more about what has made it so popular not just in the US but in the rest of the Western world, read on. If only I had enough money, I would go to California and study it.. Along with this lay orientation comes what some traditionalists view as an even more alarming trendan abandoning of enlightenment, or full realization of the true Self, as a goal of practice. The popularity of yoga in the West was also enhanced by Yogi Bhajan, who settled in California in 1968 to teach Kundalini yoga. Unfortunately, stress is hard to treat. Some will resonate with the nondual teachings of Advaita Vedanta. See also5 Spiritual Teachers on the Search for Enlightenment. ). So how did an ancient Indian practice devoted to finding divine enlightenment by harmonizing the heart and soul end up in the United States? Many people believe that yoga is a mystical exercise, but there are many physical benefits to practicing it. In fact, its been enjoying a place among the highest-ranked fitness activities for a while now. Why Is Yoga So Popular In The West? But that does not happen when I stand on my feet. These first popularizers of yoga made only tiny inroads into Indian society. For many the health benefits are the main reason of doing yoga mediation. And if it makes us look good, too, were all for that. You had schools such as Kripalu Yoga Ashram, the Yoga Society of Pennsylvania, and Integral Yoga Institute among a plethora of others. In 1919, Yogendra Mastamani came to India, bringing with him the teachings of hatha yoga. ), 12 Signs You Are Addicted to Yoga (Should You Worry? We run the risk of patching together a yoga quilt from only the most superficial elements of a variety of paths, rather than delving deep into a single tradition. Yoga is ancient: Yes, we all know yoga is thousands of years old. It is known as a seed mantra, a sound that . These benefits are only a few of the many reasons why yoga is so popular in the U.S. Paige is our international correspondent reporting from Europe. Swami traveled from India to America in 1893. In 1841, sacred Indian texts found their way to Concord, Massachusetts. Youve watched Sun Salutations on Rosie ODonnell and Good Morning America. Yoga is a great way to release stress and heal from emotional pain. If you want to meet like-minded people, a Yoga class may be the place to do it. Aug. 20, 2014 -- As news spread . More women than men, were open to the practice and began to resonate with it and incorporated it into their lifestyle. It can also enhance ones self-esteem. In addition, it helps build full-body strength and endurance. This approach is a wonderful natural therapy that will keep your body and mind in great shape for years to come. It is based on ancient texts written thousands of years ago. If you can find a quiet room, your office, a park anywhere you can practice Yoga and reap the rewards.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'activif_com-leader-4','ezslot_14',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-activif_com-leader-4-0'); One of the many reasons why Yoga is so popular is because it enabled the growth of a community of people who think the same and have the same value system. When I see what yoga has become in the West, Dr. Yogendra told me mournfully, I wish my father had left it with the hermits in the caves.. For another, thanks to the number of people who had traveled to India during the ban period, there were more and more teachers available who were bringing back what they learned and teaching it far and wide. Do people trust Yoga? It is recommended to practice Yoga daily, but you can try to attend at least 2 classes per week. And that lack of respect for the intelligence and sophistication of the average person turned out to be very wrong., Thats not to say that most Americans come to yogaor stick with itout of a yearning for spiritual awakening. Traveling in India, I met yogis living in caves in the Himalayas, their foreheads painted with insignias marking them as devotees of one of the dozens of yogic sects. I see a dialogue happening with the Western mind, the Western culturewhereas in previous periods that dialogue happened primarily within India. She holds a Bachelor Degree in journalism and has covered exclusive articles on Brexit. They involve living in the world in a way thats alive and freeopening our hearts to our families, caring for our aging parents, being truthful with our friends, doing our work with integrity and devotion. Its so important to continually remember and go back to our roots. The yoga community has to stand up and define itself before they do.. And I love yoga so much, she said. The benefits are numerous, however, to touch on some, we have peace of mind, lower heart beat rate, and more flexibility in joints. For the next two years, he traveled across the states lecturing and teaching yoga to eager students before he returned to India. The spiritual connection is not the main reason why people practice yoga in the west. By focusing on the physical, the mind will become calmer and more relaxed, and the body will be more capable of concentrating. Places like Mount Madonna began offering residential programs under the sage Baba Hari Dass. But yogas meditative ability to calm your mind is becoming ever more relevant in this digital age where stress seems to follow you wherever you go. Serenity of mind. We may become more fit, healthy, and calm, but we discover that mastering Lotus doesnt necessarily save our marriage. These are moral concepts shared by humanity. These are the same concepts that allow us tolive together in peace. If you are having an emotional day, practice a bit of Yoga, and you will definitely feel the benefits. The whole thing is rife with the possibility for corruption, power plays, and co-opting.. It promotes circulation, which carries blood to the extremities and oxygen to the internal organs. Most people practicing yoga report that they feel less stressed and have a better sense of well being. Hinduisms greatest gift to the world, Yoga, is now the most popular activity among health freaks in the west. Why is yoga popular in the West? She looked back at me, equally confused. Yoga centers in West contrary to the Yoga Ashrams of India. (Which, by the way, is not the exclusive property of yogisIve seen 10-year-old boys driving buffalo carts down the streets of India, perched in full Lotus on top of their loads of hay.) . See alsoA Good Read: The Best in Yoga Literature. When yoga was first practiced, it was in the context of spiritual development techniques, which included training the body and mind to self-observe and become aware of their own nature. There is no singular fixed yoga tradition. It is hard to turn away from a practice that obviously enhances lives and has been doing so for over 5,000 years. Some will be drawn to bhakti, the path of devotion; others will gravitate toward karma yoga, the path of service. We equate a 75-minute class to practicing yoga, whereas in the East yoga is seen as a way of life. These books slowly made their way into the hands of the American public, which caused the interest in yoga to become more than just infatuation. Asana practice can reveal some fundamental yogic teachings: for example, the ancient Upanishadic insight that our true nature is not defined by our bodies, our thoughts, or our personalities. It does not just stop at meditation, however it encompasses visioning, and some other aspects which could be termed as paranormal. I visited ashrams decked with brilliantly painted deities and presided over by robed swamis with names as long as their beards. Its that our clinging to them, our craving for them, our chasing after them creates more suffering, more attachment.. With regular practice, students learn to concentrate and focus, regardless of potential distractions. The industry has grown rapidly in recent years, owing to the rising popularity of yoga, which has become more popular as health-conscious consumers became more aware of yoga's many reported health benefits and as the baby boomer population has become more involved in the industry. Videos on Become A Yoga Instructor. . His father, at the turn of the twentieth century, was one of the first yogic crusaders to bring hatha yoga practices out of the ashrams and mountain caves and begin teaching them to a lay audience. One is the middle-aged 40 to 60-somethings, dealing with disillusionment about what our culture holds up as the goals of lifemoney, status, achievement. Guide to Medical : Toggle navigation : Business & Money: Technology: Women: Health . While practicing Yoga, students can expect for their fitness and muscle tone to improve over time. In 1966, B. K. S. Iyengar published his Light on Yoga, a comprehensive guide on asana practice. A then relaxed body will allow for concentration and serenity. More than just an exercise. Senior yoga teachers differ about the best way to ensure high quality of American yoga teaching. In the west we have seen many changes happen in society. Students might feel some typical exercise aches and pains after a session, but it is nothing like what is expected after a high-energy and high impact sport. In fact, doing so is a vital part of any authentic spiritual journey. Americas first-ever Hindu Vedanta temple was also opened in San Francisco in 1906. Whether youre looking to lose weight, build muscle, increase flexibility, or mindfulness yoga seems to be an almost magical blanket solution to reach your goals. It would be so easy to forget that our practice comes from this great tradition from India. In fact, Yoga dates back more than 5,000 years and was developed by the ancient Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India. Why Has Yoga Become a Sensation? Many rehab and recovery facilities actually provide Yoga classes for patients overcoming addiction.
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