Yoga – the word has become a new fad amongst the older generation and youngsters alike. Due to the increasing health hazards, people, especially in the cities have become conscious about their health and fitness. Hence, they are opting for a better lifestyle by practising a healthy diet and healthy living. And, that is when the importance of yoga, meditation, pranayamas, and asanas come into the picture.
Yoga is experiencing the union of the body, mind, and breath. Postures, asanas etc. are its facets. Yoga does not only take care of your physical health but also uplifts you mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is not just about flaunting cool yoga-mats and chic pants with t-back shirts while doing some stretching and postures.
Today, in modern times, Yoga is majorly used as a tool to improve physical and mental health while in ancient days it was more about spiritual development and upliftment.
More than often, yoga is confused with exercising but the scope of yoga is wide. It is also considered as an alternative to gym and Pilates. Again, while exercising in the gym, you can lift weights or run on the treadmill while listening to loud music, this means while your body is at work your mind can wander around. But in yoga, your mind is at your breathing, at your body, observing your postures and is completely involved thus the benefits are multiplied and healing happens. Exercising and yoga are complimentary. This means one who exercises and goes to the gym can also do yoga however, there needs to be a gap of at least half hour between the two.
While performing yogic asanas, our mind is completely with us so as to get the maximum benefits. Thus yoga is called holistic development that not just work for the body but also for the mind, emotions and deeper levels of existence such as intelligence, ego and self!
Adulteration In Yoga And Why They Are Not Sustainable And Harmful:
Firstly, adulteration is in the name itself – it shouldn’t be pronounced as YOGA but as YOG! However, since it has been now popularised as ‘yoga’ not many people know it is termed as ‘yog’ in our ancient scriptures. And with the influence of the west, there have been many alterations and adulterations to our traditional practice. With due respect to them, as they helped us popularise it to a great extent, some horrible adulterations are not just unacceptable but also harmful.
Beer Yoga: Combining Alcohol with Yoga is downright silly and not possible. Yoga is a discipline that needs to be practised empty stomach. That is the basic requirement. Plus it is done for health enhancement and to achieve peace of mind through our own breath. With certain pranayamas, we get more and more conscious of our breath and body. We try to go deeper within our seven layers of existence. By consuming alcohol, you are disrupting the core concept.
Here’s what experts have to say: “Quotes from Hindustantimes.com”
After hot yoga and aerial yoga, it’s beer yoga that has come up. It’s just another method to get new customers into yoga. The only thing it does is that it offers you a break from your routine workout. There is no health benefit to it. Imagine doing a Surya Namaskar and sipping beer! Sounds ridiculous! This practice is for people who love beer and are not into fitness. No doubt you will enjoy this practice, but you will also pile on the pounds and get that beer belly you want to avoid.”– Ashish Gupta, fitness expert
“It’s another marketing gimmick to make yoga popular and get people into it. It’s contradictory. Yoga is supposed to increase your consciousness, whereas, drinking beer lowers it. Alcohol makes you sleepy. And you are suppose to do yoga on an empty stomach.”– Amaresh Ojha, fitness expert
“Well, you are not going to lose weight doing beer yoga. It’s true that drinking beer makes you more relaxed so people who don’t like yoga might enjoy. Beeryoga is more like an opportunity to socialize and relax, rather than actually do yoga. Yoga is an ancient and serious practice.”– Akshay Verma, fitness expert
Doga: Now, people may think how is involving pets can be harmful in yoga? Like mentioned before, yoga is not just about the physical but also mental, emotional and spiritual. Also, on needs to be steady in a posture and focus on the breath. If dogs and other pets are with you or on you while performing a certain asana, you cannot be steady. The principle of ‘StirSukhamAsanam‘ is violated. Thus; the major benefit is again gone. Plus, some people have allergies by animal hair and can aggravate during pranayamas and deep breathing practices.
Naked Yoga: Well, I am kind of speechless here. I mean why? What for? Plain weird and certainly not required. I mean let the other person focus on their own body and mind. It is a practice of going inward, not have unnecessary thoughts and a wandering eye for sure!
There are many other shocking adulterations of yoga that is funnily practised in the country and all over the world. If you know any, drop them below and let us laugh together 😛
Yoga is a holistic practice. It is the only medium wherein one can achieve complete equanimity while taking care of the bodily ailments, ensure mental health and have spiritual growth. N
READ: WHAT IS YOGA?
Connect with me for regular doses of inspiration, happiness, and chic lifestyle articles:
- write to me at writerscorner@sh101.global.temp.domains
- Subscribe: Get onto the email list and avail access to a lot more interesting bunch of things & Free Give-Aways!
Let’s be virtual friends, I am on all these platforms:
Let’s be virtual friends, I am on all these platforms:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
Leave a Reply