Myth 7: Yoga is all about stunts

Before saying anything more, let me add a disclaimer here- There are many different types of Yoga, including Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga etc. All have different sets of beliefs and methods.

The Yoga I’m talking about is Ashtanga Yoga which I feel is ideal for us householders. We all may not be completely fit and healthy and we don’t have ideal lifestyles which allow us to perform straining asanas of Hatha Yoga. (Although we all have a choice to practice these different forms if we want and are capable of it).

The definition of an asana according to Maharshi Patanjali is “sthiram sukham asanam”.

This means that a posture in which we can remain still for a long time and feel peace of mind is known as an asana. Standing on your head or twisting your body in unnatural ways is not required for this.

But as time passed on, we developed dynamic variations of asanas which included movement, breathing patterns and repetition. This is all fine as we need exercise. But according to me, considering some fast strenuous exercise as ‘asana’ is wrong.

I feel that an asana is that, after performing which you feel energized, calm and peaceful.

This is my own personal opinion which I’m not forcing on anyone but I feel that even Power Yoga cannot be considered ‘Yoga’. It is purely physical exercise that helps us lose weight and become stronger but it does nothing to take us to a higher level of consciousness. It is called ‘Yoga’ because its exercises are based on the original asanas described in Yoga.

My mother, being a Yoga teacher too, had tried Power Yoga. She wanted to know why there is so much craze about it and to learn for herself so she can teach it.

After two sessions, she (who is very flexible and healthy, by the way) started getting pains and sprains. She stopped learning it and decided not to teach it inspite of it being popular and in demand.

And remember- Asana is only the 3rd step out of 8 in Yoga.