Hindus Mount “Take Back Yoga” Campaign

There’s a stir going on in the Hindu community over yoga’s ancient roots. It (yoga) belongs to them, they claim, and they hate the way their cherished art is being practiced in the West. So the Hindu American Foundation is mounting a “Take Back Yoga” campaign to raise awareness of yoga’s Hindu origins.

Image byAaron Neifer

Why is it important where yoga originated? Well, without Westerners knowing where yoga came from, most of its spiritual essence is lost. For proof of this, you need only look at the way that most Westerners practice yoga—as exercise.

According to Sheetal Shaw, an official with the Hindu American Foundation:

“Yoga is primarily a moral and spiritual philosophy, a fact she says has been lost as the popularity of physical yoga has boomed in the West. ‘There has been a conscious de-linking between Hinduism and yoga,’ in the United States and elsewhere, she says.” (Source: CNN’s Belief Blog)

Shaw hopes that her organization’s “Take Back Yoga” campaign will not only re-link Hinduism with yoga, but will also put the spiritual back into the practice of yoga.

I hope their campaign works. Practicing yoga in a mindful, spiritual way elevates this already soothing practice into a sort of moving meditation that will help us spiritually transcend our ever-more-stressful lives. Do you think that their “Take Back Yoga” campaign will help to put the spiritual back into yoga?

September is National Yoga Month

September is National Yoga Month. I have practiced yoga on and off throughout the years, and have found it to be very relaxing, both mentally and physically, and a great spiritual practice. But the meaning of yoga practice varies depending upon whom you talk to. Yoga is not always just slow movements, controlled breathing, and long poses (called asanas).

Indeed, there are so many different types of yoga that you should be able to find one that fits your personality, your fitness level, and your needs. Here are just four of the many different types of yoga:

Hatha Yoga is probably the most popular type of yoga and is an excellent practice for beginners. This type of yoga stresses slow and gentle movements. There is also an emphasis on the breath during yoga practice.

Ashtanga Yoga is the polar opposite of Hatha Yoga. Called “Power yoga,” Ashtanga Yoga requires constant movement and provides an excellent cardio workout. But relaxation? Forget it.

Vinyasa Yoga is similar to Ashtanga. Vinyasa is fast paced yoga practice with a lot of different poses. But these poses are seldom held for long. Rather, each pose flows into the next, and the next, and the next…well, you get the idea.

Kripalu Yoga is a very spiritual type of hatha yoga. In Kripalu, there are a lot of breathing exercises, a lot of stretching, and a lot of gentle poses. There is also meditation and a focus on the spiritual self.

The type of yoga that I practice is Hatha Yoga. I have tried Vinyase Yoga, but it was way too hard for me. Have you tried any of these types of yoga and what did you think of them? Have you tried any other types of yoga? Will you start practicing yoga this month now that it is National Yoga Month?