Ever Alive
Feature article, Odyssey magazine, February/March 2007

An iconic and popular appeal

According to surveys from the turn of the century some 11 million people were doing yoga in the United States. That is a lot of people stretching, breathing and meditating. And they now spend some 27 billion dollars on yoga products per year.

Reason as to why yoga has become so popular is open to speculation and debate, but striving for peace and health in a competitive world uprooted from its traditional values must be a major motivation for many. Looking good is certainly another. The number of advertisements with beautiful women portraying a combination of fresh, calm elegance and perfect poise is as much a testament to the popularity of yoga as it is evidence to its iconic appeal as image of wholesome well-being.

The body sculpting properties of yoga exercises did not go unnoticed by the racket and fad driven fitness industry. And the whole Hollywood obsession and its massive influence on the rest of the world have helped to contribute more to yoga’s appeal than any one other factor. Just look at any example of California or California styled “yoga”: “Yoga, Ballet, Booty” is a recent addition to fusions such as “Yogilates”, a merger with Pillates that has, even though it sounds like a stomach bug, popularized yoga as a means to cross-training.

The hype around Madonna and her much publicized yoga practice, and stars such as Sting has, thankfully, brought the credibility and integrity of serious yoga practice to the attention of millions around the globe. Already large numbers of teachers and practitioners of traditional and individualized versions of yoga suddenly found their discipline and lifestyle of choice endorsed in magazines and on television.

The best reason for the growth of yoga is probably this kind of integration into Western society and public consciousness. Yoga long ago seized being an exotic or Indian discipline. Yoga has infused all aspects of body-mind-spirit practices with its universal principles. Many of these principles have been pillaged, copied, imitated and derived from to now offer the modern world citizen a comprehensive catalogue of disciplines and modalities that include aspects of yoga.

A timeless, universal influence

The universal common sense practically of yoga in the hands of a skilled operator makes it possible for it to be individualized or adapted and applied to achieve everyday well-being and peak performance in all fields – two fields of particular interest for many seekers of personal and professional excellence today.

What makes yoga so flexible, no pun intended, is the comprehensive, essential nature of it as complete system. On a first level it address the functionality of the physical and energetic aspects of the human being in a nuts-and-bolts manner, on another it is an intricate exploration of human consciousness and intuitive science and philosophy. Within the vast scope lie the true value, and perhaps the appeal, of yoga: its promise of timeless, ancient and mysterious wisdom has a magical quality. Because yoga is so old – about 5 000 years – and developed, it has influenced everything from Buddhism, Tai Chi, the marshal arts, Pilates, gymnastics, the Cirque Del Sol and modern sports training methods. Philosophically speaking there can be nothing new, in a universe where everything already exists there can only be rediscovery and reinvention. There can only be variations of what yoga already contains. Every descent self-help book on the planet is, in some form or another, about self-realization, the chief motivation of yoga practice.

An important distinction is to be made between yoga or yoga based exercises and real yoga. Yoga necessarily includes all its other aspects, else it is not whole, therapeutic. It never becomes a religion in the process, but it has to be spiritual or meditative to be yoga. This is because yoga is about consciousness and self-realization.

True yoga takes in the whole of our being and therefore includes aspects of exercises, breathing, meditation, relaxation, care of the body (diet and lifestyle) The degree to which these aspects are emphasized determines the style.

Yoga is, in its entire form, a complete, complex science and an all-inclusive healing philosophy. As such it is not so much a technique or dogma, but rather a lifestyle consideration, a way of being that aims to bring about a better quality of life in general. Its principles are startlingly simple to understand and practical in application, and often profound in the powerful effect it has on the body and mind.

The whole being – body, mind and spirit – is promoted as a unit by the interrelated aspects of Yoga. Spirituality is not exclusive to any one religion, nor is God, or direct access to spirit to any one individual. Therefore yoga and religion are not synonymous while true yoga and spirituality are.

The emphasis is placed on achieving health of the inner environment; the mind, and all the systems of the body (respiratory, nervous, endocrine etc.), as well as the flow of energy into and within the body is stimulated. The physical vehicle is treated with respect and great care, and used as an instrument to bring about union of mind and body, in harmony with nature – the reason why yoga include specific exercises (asanas), effective breathing practices, which utilize the power of the breath (pranayama), meditation, relaxation and care of body (cleansing and diet), in equal proportion.

This is why the principles of yoga are universal, and not exclusive to yoga.

When practiced as strict regime yoga can produce incredible levels of vitality, mental and physical power, but simple stretch exercises, effective breathing and meditative awareness can be highly beneficial to any health practice, sport or lifestyle orientation.

The metaphysical concepts of yoga underlie the physical aspects of its practice – the full beauty of yoga only becomes evident when seeing its interrelated facets as parts of a larger holism. Those serious about following a path of self-realization through spirituality will find the wisdom and insights of the yoga teachings immensely helpful.

Yoga originated in India, where it has been practiced for over three thousand years. It became immensely popular as a system of personal development and recreational exercise in the West in the second quarter of the twentieth century, and has since accelerated evolution into many variations and hybrids.

Yoga is now taught almost everywhere in city centers, and most gymnasiums, in even small towns.

Styles

The Integral style include the exercises and breathing techniques, and acknowledges meditation. Sivananda yoga, an accessible, remedial oriented style is a good example of this form, and so is the so-called Integral Yoga style. Other popular forms of yoga include Iyengar yoga (named after the famous modern teacher B.K.S. Iyengar, Power Yoga, a popular derivative of the Ashtanga tradition, both now much hyped body-sculpting styles with a Hollywood profile and often practiced by top sports competitors, competitive exercisers and media stars. Kundalini is energy and esoteric based, Bikram Yoga is performed in heated rooms and ‘Raja’ yoga is a non-physical form of service and study.

Also gaining popularity is the practice of Vipanassana, which has come to the West via India and Buddhism, and which focuses attention through extended periods of breath attention.

Another recent development has been yoga specifically aimed at children, usually referred to as kids' yoga.

Why yoga?

With sedentary lifestyles, the breakdown of supportive religious structures and family values, and the immense pressure and stress of the modern world, there is a great need for a practice that embraces both a physical and a spiritual culture. Yoga fits this description because it looks at the body/mind as a whole complex. It uses universal principles (good posture, effective breathing and mobility, a relaxed and clear mind and simple mind-over-matter spiritual meditative energy-based practices) to promote health, beauty, power and grace.

Yoga is a self-help, feel-good and stress release system rolled into one magnificent discipline which can be as gentle or demanding as the practitioner chooses. It is a centering and rejuvenating practice with multi-layered physical and psychological benefits – this is a direct result of its introspective nature. Regular practice will result in a supple and strong body which is free from stress. It also has therapeutic qualities, and so enhances most other forms of healing. While yoga teaches the body relaxed and graceful movement, it stimulates the health of all its systems; it develops strength and tone while flushing toxins from the body. Glowing, radiant health is a reflection of inner health and mental clarity, which are only some of the abundant benefits of regular yoga practice.

Yoga offers a glimpse of the hidden potential of life, and brings some of the idealism of a perfect world into the practical here-and-now reality of ordinary daily living. Its exercises improve every aspect of the body and mind, encouraging an awareness and consciousness to attain a healthier state of being.