| What is the true purpose of Yoga? Yoga | | | | publications. If I want to sell more Yoga magazines, I |
| encompasses many holistic aspects, but Yoga's true | | | | have to put Yoga on display. There is a saying: "A |
| purpose is to prevent suffering in this life. Yoga is a | | | | picture is worth a thousand words," but one picture of |
| system, which enables a practitioner to be pro-active | | | | an "advanced" Yoga asana, will intimidate some |
| about his or her complete health. | | | | members of the public. |
| Yoga instills complete empowerment within the | | | | How many people, in the west, think that a Yoga |
| practitioner. If we could end suffering, that would be | | | | teacher must be thin, young, extremely flexible, |
| better, but mankind seems to always find new paths | | | | muscular, and physically gifted? Most of the |
| for self-abuse. | | | | non-practicing public believes this, and many Hatha |
| Each style of Yoga will have a subtle difference from | | | | Yoga students believe it. Worse yet, some Yoga |
| a similar style, but health is always the aim in all forms | | | | teachers have a narrow-minded view of Yoga, as a |
| of Yoga. Superiority of method is an illusion, since all | | | | stricly physical recreation, similar to gymnastics. |
| Yogic paths lead to better mental, physical, spiritual, and | | | | Recently, I was addressing an audience in Pawtucket, |
| emotional health. | | | | Rhode Island, about the benefits of Chair Yoga. One |
| The need to sort, prioritize, and judge Yoga styles, and | | | | member of the audience raised her hand and asked, |
| aspects of Yoga, is an example of our limited mental | | | | "What is the most important physical exercise in |
| perceptions. The reality is we make these same | | | | Yoga?" My answer was that if you are only looking at |
| mistakes when the mind is not disciplined and our | | | | the physical aspect of Yoga, Pranayama is the most |
| comprehension is challenged to its limits. | | | | important exercise, but there is much more to Yoga |
| It is possible to miss the entire purpose of Yoga, if the | | | | than physical exercise. |
| mind is not trained and tutored properly. How many | | | | Even though my answer went into great length about |
| students will discipline themselves without the guidance | | | | the aspects and benefits of Yoga, a gentleman later |
| of a Yoga teacher? How many Yoga teachers see | | | | told me than he would have imagined the Headstand |
| Asana as the "Holy Grail" of Yoga? | | | | (Salamba Sirsasana) was the most important aspect |
| The "monkey mind" will not be disciplined without | | | | of Yoga. My reply was, "Did you ever take a Yoga |
| pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques), meditation, | | | | class?" He admitted that it was the fear of doing a |
| and japa (repetition of mantra). A Yoga teacher, or | | | | headstand, which kept him away from trying a Yoga |
| student, can practice an untutored form of Yoga, but | | | | class. |
| to practice without guidance is not a holistic approach. | | | | Now, unless Yoga teachers explain the holistic health |
| A Yoga devotee cannot usually transcend beyond the | | | | benefits of a steady Yoga practice to the public, |
| superficial aspects of Yoga without guidance. For | | | | decades will pass by and these myths will flourish. |
| example: Look at the covers of most Yoga | | | | |