Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Namaskar!

I completely agree with pmoraleinvt. To say: "Yoga is an exercise," is a narrow viewpoint of a very large subject. Yoga is as Paulji would say: "an art, science, philosophy, and way of life." Yogasana is only part of it. Mr. Peter - Please read Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.

Hari Aum Tat Sat,

Narendra

Yoga is Not a Religion

Some people have the misconception that Yoga is a religion. A few misguided Christians and Muslims even see Yoga as blasphemous or against God. Although Yoga is associated with the Hindu religion in India and is still practiced by many Hindus today, it is not a religion in and of itself. It has no particular creed, doctrine or dogma. One need not subscribe to a certain set of beliefs in order to practice Yoga. Also, there is no "supreme being" that is worshipped as in most religions. In fact, in Yogic philosophy, it is believed that everything each of us needs is already inside of us, just waiting to be uncovered.

Especially in the West, one need not study Hinduism to practice Yoga. Those who choose to practice Yoga may continue to study their own religion alongside of or independent of a Yoga practice. In fact, Yoga can be an excellent complement to just about any spiritual practice. Although Yoga was folded into the Hindu religion in India thousands of years ago and is still practiced by Hindus today, Yoga actually began before the advent of Hinduism. No one is sure exactly when. Since then, Yoga has also been folded into other religious practices, including Buddhism

The ultimate goal of Yoga is to attain a state of peaceful harmony between the physical and spiritual aspects of self. This blissful state allows one to be serene and tranquil no matter what comes up in life. Yogis and yoginis find it increasingly easier to return to this calm center even when facing disruptions in life.

The motives for beginning and sustaining a Yoga practice can range from simply wanting to improve health to a striving for more harmony in body, mind and spirit. The practice of Yoga can even have as its ultimate goal the attainment of spiritual liberation or enlightenment.

Yoga fluidly combines movement, breathing and meditation to cultivate a harmonious relationship among the body, mind and spirit. Religions tend to focus mainly on the spiritual component of the human being, neglecting the other aspects of self. So in some ways, it could be said that a Yoga practice approaches the human life and the human being more holistically than most religions.

Whatever the motive, there is no doubt that Yoga offers many benefits. While some devotees choose to approach their Yoga practice religiously, Yoga is definitely not a religion and is open to everyone.

Not all yoga teachers want to be a guru and not all students seek a spiritual component with their yoga practice. No one else should dictate to a teacher what they should or shouldn't teach to their students, other than one main premise: do no harm.

Is Yoga a Religion?

If an outsider to the practice of yoga were to observe the actions and attitude of a devoted yogi, that outsider might infer that yoga is a sort of religion. Many people practice it regularly (often daily, which is more often than most Christians go to church) and the principles of the practice can dictate a certain way of living to some people: a minimalist, peaceful lifestyle, full of mental clarity and self control. But do these facts necessarily make yoga a religion?

Yoga was developed many years ago through Hinduism as a way to celebrate their religion. Although yoga seems very tied to Hinduism, this does not make it a religion. To better understand this answer, it is important to know the difference between religion and spirituality. To put it simply, religion is the following of sacred rituals or rules set forward by a higher power. Spirituality, on the other hand, is more of a search for understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. Spirituality is often necessary in religion, but religion is not necessary in spirituality. Yoga is a spiritual practice. People use it as a method to better get in touch with their subconscious selves or to connect with the world around them. It is used in many religions but does not specifically dictate a religion or God to worship, so it is not a religion.

Many people, often those who do not practice it often, identify yoga as merely a physical exercise. Although yoga can be practiced only in the physical sense, this is not what it was originally designed for. There are also certain practices and rituals involved in yoga that can lead people to believe it is a religious practice. This is understandable, as there are many ancient texts outlining a system of yoga beliefs, bearing a certain resemblance to the following of texts by religions, such as the Christians following the Bible or Jews following the Torah. However, another main point that proves yoga is not a religion is that it does not designate credos or congregations, as all religions do.

Many people are aware that yoga can be practiced in conjunction with religion, but believing or identifying with a religion is not a requirement for practicing yoga. Yoga is merely a spiritual (or physical) journey people choose to embark on in order to create a richer, healthier lifestyle for themselves.