Do you, as a yoga student or teacher, ever wonder: how much of modern yoga, or the yoga I do, bear connection to the Yoga tradition or roots of the practice?
There is I guess behind that, the question of whether it matters if what people are practising today and calling yoga bears connection to the Yoga defined and spoken of in ancient and classical texts? I leave it to you to decide that one.
Personally, I think it matters, and especially if you elect to call yourself a yoga teacher. Though I know we live in such fluid modern times that even just saying this is seen as problematic and in some quarters, ‘conservative’.
Note though, I am not saying there is an ultimate Yoga. And I have no claim at all to defining what Yoga is, or what it must be. I just believe that since the practice does have roots, a philosophy to go with it, and a set of ideas and aims that makes it, well.. Yoga, then de facto if we choose – as a teacher or as student – to engage with it, then at the very least we owe it to the practice (and to our own self respect) to be open to developing an awareness of the tradition it comes from.
So for the rest of this blog post, I share with those interested in connecting or having awareness to what we might call ‘the Yoga tradition’. By this I mean, Yoga’s roots, philosophy, references to and about it in classical texts, the history of the practice, and above all, the fundamental point of Yoga – liberation!
Wherever you are in your practice – whether you are a beginner or a teacher or just love to incorporate some yoga into your life – and, wherever you learn or practice it– in a hall or off YouTube – and, whatever ‘yoga style’ it has been given the name of, here are 5 ways to welcome in the heart of Yoga into your modern practice, and, into your way of life (there are of course many ways, but I’ve distilled my perspective for the purposes of writing something digestible and accessible):
- Roots and Background:
Being open to learning through your classes, teacher(s), books and own research, where Yoga comes from and key texts expounding theories and practices of Yoga (from 5000 BC onwards, e.g. the Upanishads, the Sutras, and learning via the teachings of dedicated 20th century yoga teachers’ who have schooled themselves in the texts and interpreted them for our benefit today).
Tip: this is an ongoing protocol, a journey that can become a part of your practice. What we call in Yoga ‘swadyaya’ or self-study. No need for you to be a yoga scholar or aspire to be one. Just being interested is enough, and when you can, read, ask questions, look things up and be more mindful of whom you learn with. Layer your learning and knowledge. Ultimately allow your own mind and body to explore ideas and see how it resonates in your consciousness. Truth will be found within.
- Respect:
Be knowingly conscious of the fact Yoga does have a tradition, and where you can, consciously try not to practice or speak of Yoga in a way that contradicts its purpose, ethics and ideas. In other words, let’s respect the tradition. This does not mean we have to agree or abide by the components of it, but if we say we are doing or learning Yoga then that must mean something. Otherwise, we might as well go to dance class or join a rugby team – no, really, I’m not joking! The way Yoga is thrown into anything nowadays is disrespectful to the Yoga itself.
Tip: nowadays it’s fashionable to talk of cultural appropriation. I don’t, because pretty much everything in life has been culturally appropriated – therefore where and how do you draw the line, and who has authority on this? Also, why should Yoga have not evolved through the thousands of years of its existence? It would be weird and anomaly if it hadn’t. But, evolution and progress if at the expense of the point and heart of the practice is self-defeating, and we delude ourselves about what we are doing if we allow for that. I believe that the act of understanding the cultural, philosophical and scientific background to Yoga, and its journey through time (and its changes) keeps us on the “respectful track”. To understand is an act of reverence. How you then practice and incorporate it in your life is of course up to you to decide.
- It’s not all about youIf our practice, or if our teaching (career) of yoga is centred only around the ‘I’, and ‘my needs’, and my classes, and my benefit…. then we are not practising yoga because those kinds of energies are limiting. Yoga is designed to help us connect to something bigger than the ‘I’, and ultimately to free us of those kinds of attachments. That’s a big call, I know, which is why I say if the practice ‘only’ serves that. We will inevitably be drawn to yoga to serve our needs and bring us benefits, but let that be part of something bigger rather than the whole picture. Again, we are doing ourselves a disservice if we limit our practice to ‘what I need’ and ‘what I want now’. As teachers, our fundamental motivation cannot be career, financial or success driven by modern values. Because that will just take us further away from the heart of Yoga. This is also a tough one (why I say Yoga is not for the faint hearted!). The rise of the fitness, wellbeing and ‘personal therapy’ culture has hijacked yoga in the last 20 years – whether you are a student, or a teacher, it’s hard to get away from that. So maybe then, can we allow for the fitness and/or therapeutic applications of the practice if that is helping us (no need to ditch something positive) but let that be part of a wider, deeper journey.
Tip: notice if your yoga practice makes you more self-absorbed, or more needy, or more self-interested. Question that – with no shame if you find it is. In fact, that’s great self-awareness and courage. Don’t be afraid to look at the role the ego plays in our lives, and therefore comes into our yoga practice too. Have trust that you can, with time and care and study, be in the flow of practice for a sense of freedom or peace, as well as the wellbeing benefits.
- Don’t forget the Mind
Yoga is not simply a physical body practice: not just because the scriptures say that but because you cannot separate the physical body from the mind anyway! How and what we choose to do with our body will inherently be impacting our: thoughts, habits, sensitivities, needs and perspective. The physical body is not the only influencer on the mind (food, environment, genetics, personality traits, generational history, our energy in that moment are all playing a role in our mind’s activity at any given time).In the same way, our mind is an ongoing influence in the way our body feels, moves, relaxes, recovers, gets out of balance, and yes, how it looks on the outside too.Yoga’s roots and ways of practice were, originally, centred around controlling the habits of a restless mind and refining the energy of the mind so as to help us feel more peace and freedom. Sincere awareness of this, even if we choose to centre our yoga practice around the postures, is a way of maintaining the yoga tradition in our modern lives.
Tip: try to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into your yoga practice if your practice is predominantly or only physical-based. Or, have a separate quiet meditation practice. I know people say ‘my dynamic practice is my meditation’, like when people say ‘running is my meditation’. Absolutely that is true. But more freedom and peace lies within when the mind does not need to rely on movement or physical sensations producing gratifying chemicals. Just like watching TV can be relaxing and a nice part of our lives, it’s not deep relaxation.
- Open to the Challenge and Complexities of what Yoga is – as part of the Path of YogaWhen you start delving into the Yoga tradition, it can be exciting, inspiring and massively educative – but it can also be daunting, overwhelming and too radical for our modern times, too much for the humble human to think they can live beyond ego and still the mind in their life. Maybe this is one of the reasons Yoga’s depth, texts and ideas have been left to the wayside (too difficult for most of us to embrace) – that, and how studying and stillness won’t give you that fit-body to show off in social media posts (sorry, had to get that dig in).I think it’s fair to assume or presume, some of the projections of enlightenment in classical Yoga texts are too way out there for most of us, and are reserved for those who give up the norms of every day life.
So where does that leave us today?
Well, I still believe if we are choosing to practice Yoga then only selecting a posture practice is like saying you’re baking a cake with one ingredient. So let’s not undermine our capacity to be open, to learn, to endeavour to engage in something that has layers and that connects all the dots of our being (mind, body, soul). Why?
Because so little else out there does that.
And because in that endeavour alone, so much can be learnt and we can find more peace in our lives if we are open to the prospect.
We can still question along the way and yes select and practice what works for us in our individual lives, and according to our life stage (by the way, Yoga is very practical and understanding in terms of an appreciation that we have different stages in life).
I think the idea of non-harming can be really helpful too. Ahimsa, the Sanskrit word for nonviolence’, is one of the ethics we are invited to practice through Yoga and bring into our lives. This doesn’t just refer to not engaging in physical violence, or harmful words and actions. It’s a concept about the deeper and longer-term harms we might be planting –without realising it.
As a student, I can ask myself, is my yoga practice making me more self-centred, or creating an injury at a subtler level?
As a teacher, I need to check in on if my teaching is making me more egotistical or less so, drawn away or towards mental freedom?
As practitioners, how we move, what we wear, what we project online, is this honest and is it helping the generation coming after us?
Tip: acknowledge the vastness, depth, and complexities of Yoga – and do it anyway! Trust in your ability to gently, slowly but knowingly continue on, doing what you love and with space for honouring the deeper ethics and ideas of this stunning, ancient art and science we call Yoga.
Namaste.
p.s.
I have come to see the path of Yoga not as a set one. I never came to Yoga seeking joy so I’m ok on that front 😉 (I fell into Yoga, and into a class that was taught by a teacher who happened to embody the heart of the practice).
Through the vastness of the Yoga perspective, I’ve learnt my smallness in the world, and that the human condition and the mysteries of life even if not fully understood can be appreciated as part of this path.
-If you have thoughts on this article, please do share, drop me an email.
If you would like more detail on any or all of these 5 Ways do let me know and I’ll do more late night homework for you!
In the meantime, I really honour the fact you gave time to read this article. Thank you.