Myth 5: If it’s not just Asanas, it’s boring Philosophy.
Na-ah. You’re way off track. True it can be called the philosophy of life, it is related to many scriptures and… philosophies, but this ‘philosophy’ is actually practical. Like I said before, you can compare it with marketing and management philosophies but the difference here is that it is not just limited to making money or corporations. It’s about your life and getting to know yourself.
In fact, everything Yoga talks about is supposed to be ‘practiced’. There are no clever one-liners that you would store away in your head. It is to be experienced. When you experience, you see the results yourself.
Myth 6: If you know how to do it, you’re an expert.
Only bookish knowledge of Yoga does not help. There are many dos and don’ts that have to be considered, with regards to your physical and mental limitations. I know of many people who have harmed their body through practicing things they know about only partially.
Guidance from an experienced teacher or guru is very important as they know your capacity and make you practice accordingly.
There are many teachers who have a schedule packed with private classes. They do very well, are in demand and earn a lot, but they do not have time to practice Yoga themselves. I believe that those who do not practice do not know the subject. So do your research well before joining any class. Do not join just because the class is fun and popular.
Also note: Yoga, as I said earlier, is about lifestyle. Only practicing one part of Yoga such as asanas is not that effective. For example, acidity is generally caused by diet, wrong lifestyle and stress. If you just change your diet, it will not be effective unless you try to calm the mind and change some lifestyle habits.
So if you’re thinking of joining classes just for asanas, pranayamas or meditation, think again.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Myth 3 & 4
(...ctd)
Myth 3: Yoga? Yawn…boring!
If you are one of those who thought this way, it’s probably because you met someone or heard from someone who was really preachy and idealistic. Many people who follow Yoga are so awed by the difference it makes in their lives that they start giving unsolicited advice to everyone else, in turn turning other people off.
I’ve been to many children and teenagers’ camps at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz (India) and have found that Yoga can really be made fun and interesting, only if you have the right teacher.
Schools and colleges in India have started introducing Yoga education in their curriculum but there Yoga becomes just another subject where you have to mug up difficult Sanskrit names of Asanas.
Trust me, Yoga is a smart way of living. You wouldn’t mind attending lengthy lectures on marketing or management which are as preachy (or maybe more) as that of a Yoga class. Why so? When it comes to money and career, we’re all excited and when it comes to health…boring! Whereas actually it is our obsession with money and career that is giving us all the problems we have today in life.
Myth 4: Yoga is for oldies
When I was doing the Teachers’ Training Course at The Yoga Institute (TYI), there were many aunties (my classmates) who came and asked me (in Hindi), “Beta, you are so young. Why are you doing this course?”
I’d say, “I’m doing it for the same reason you’d want your children to do it. To have a better life ahead.”
Doesn't it make more sense to learn Yoga and practice it when you are young and have a whole life ahead of you rather than doing it when you’re middle-aged and have already made many mistakes in life? Although it’s never too late to learn Yoga, the sooner the better isn’t it?
I learnt the Yoga way of life when I was 21, before I began a career and before getting married or starting a family. This is helping me today in my management and leadership skills and in my relationship with my family members. Yoga is not just about health. It even helps us in our career, relationships and most of all, during troubling times.
To be continued...
Stay Healthy!
Myth 3: Yoga? Yawn…boring!
If you are one of those who thought this way, it’s probably because you met someone or heard from someone who was really preachy and idealistic. Many people who follow Yoga are so awed by the difference it makes in their lives that they start giving unsolicited advice to everyone else, in turn turning other people off.
I’ve been to many children and teenagers’ camps at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz (India) and have found that Yoga can really be made fun and interesting, only if you have the right teacher.
Schools and colleges in India have started introducing Yoga education in their curriculum but there Yoga becomes just another subject where you have to mug up difficult Sanskrit names of Asanas.
Trust me, Yoga is a smart way of living. You wouldn’t mind attending lengthy lectures on marketing or management which are as preachy (or maybe more) as that of a Yoga class. Why so? When it comes to money and career, we’re all excited and when it comes to health…boring! Whereas actually it is our obsession with money and career that is giving us all the problems we have today in life.
Myth 4: Yoga is for oldies
When I was doing the Teachers’ Training Course at The Yoga Institute (TYI), there were many aunties (my classmates) who came and asked me (in Hindi), “Beta, you are so young. Why are you doing this course?”
I’d say, “I’m doing it for the same reason you’d want your children to do it. To have a better life ahead.”
Doesn't it make more sense to learn Yoga and practice it when you are young and have a whole life ahead of you rather than doing it when you’re middle-aged and have already made many mistakes in life? Although it’s never too late to learn Yoga, the sooner the better isn’t it?
I learnt the Yoga way of life when I was 21, before I began a career and before getting married or starting a family. This is helping me today in my management and leadership skills and in my relationship with my family members. Yoga is not just about health. It even helps us in our career, relationships and most of all, during troubling times.
To be continued...
Stay Healthy!
Monday, April 19, 2010
10 Myths About Yoga
It’s funny that even though Yoga is gaining popularity all around the world, there is gross ignorance about what it truly is. Even funnier (or should I say unfortunate) is the fact that the ignorance is more rampant in India itself where Yoga originated.
When I tell people that I’m a Yoga teacher, I come across different kinds of reactions that show how little people actually know about it. I don’t blame them for not knowing, because most media and even trainers promote only what can be popular or useful for attracting more clients.
So today, for those who are health conscious but are wondering if Yoga is for you, I list a few myths about Yoga to give you a clearer picture.
Myth 1: Yoga = Losing weight
“You’re doing Yoga? But you’re so thin! You’ll disappear if you do Yoga!” These are the reactions that make me laugh (and cry) the most.
Yoga helps bring the body to its optimum shape/ size. This means that if you are fat, it will make you lose the excess fat from the right places in your body. If you’re too thin, it helps you get healthier. If you are just fine, it will help you remain that way.
When people see me today, they claim that I have filled-out and look much better. I’ve not lost or even gained any weight. Another thing, Yoga can help lose weight, but that would be very limited use of the benefits of Yoga. There's much more to it than 'looking good'. It's about 'feeling and being good'.
Myth 2: Yoga = Asanas
Many times people ask me, “How many times a day and for how long do you practice Yoga?” I’ve heard people proudly sharing their daily routine, saying, “At 6 am, I go for a brisk walk, then I come home and do Yoga for 1 hour and then have a healthy glass of vegetable juice…”
Newsflash: Yoga is not only Asanas. Asanas are only a small part of Yoga, in fact Asana is considered the third step out of eight in Patanjali Yoga. Actually, Yoga is a way of life. You eat, breathe, sleep, walk and talk Yoga. Having a balanced state of mind throughout the day is what it is all about. The physical aspect is just the kindergarten part (and we’re all generally stuck there for years. Did I say years? I meant lifetimes!).
So next time if someone asks you for how long you practice Yoga, you will say...that's right... "24X7" (Provided you actually do).
To be continued...
Stay Healthy!
When I tell people that I’m a Yoga teacher, I come across different kinds of reactions that show how little people actually know about it. I don’t blame them for not knowing, because most media and even trainers promote only what can be popular or useful for attracting more clients.
So today, for those who are health conscious but are wondering if Yoga is for you, I list a few myths about Yoga to give you a clearer picture.
Myth 1: Yoga = Losing weight
“You’re doing Yoga? But you’re so thin! You’ll disappear if you do Yoga!” These are the reactions that make me laugh (and cry) the most.
Yoga helps bring the body to its optimum shape/ size. This means that if you are fat, it will make you lose the excess fat from the right places in your body. If you’re too thin, it helps you get healthier. If you are just fine, it will help you remain that way.
When people see me today, they claim that I have filled-out and look much better. I’ve not lost or even gained any weight. Another thing, Yoga can help lose weight, but that would be very limited use of the benefits of Yoga. There's much more to it than 'looking good'. It's about 'feeling and being good'.
Myth 2: Yoga = Asanas
Many times people ask me, “How many times a day and for how long do you practice Yoga?” I’ve heard people proudly sharing their daily routine, saying, “At 6 am, I go for a brisk walk, then I come home and do Yoga for 1 hour and then have a healthy glass of vegetable juice…”
Newsflash: Yoga is not only Asanas. Asanas are only a small part of Yoga, in fact Asana is considered the third step out of eight in Patanjali Yoga. Actually, Yoga is a way of life. You eat, breathe, sleep, walk and talk Yoga. Having a balanced state of mind throughout the day is what it is all about. The physical aspect is just the kindergarten part (and we’re all generally stuck there for years. Did I say years? I meant lifetimes!).
So next time if someone asks you for how long you practice Yoga, you will say...that's right... "24X7" (Provided you actually do).
To be continued...
Stay Healthy!
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