Is Yoga a Religion?
What is Yoga? Is it a religion? Is it a philosophy? Is it a workout? Although, with the progression of practice most people find that they have become a more spiritual person and even more devoted to their preferred religion, Yoga itself is NOT A RELIGION and can be practiced by anyone of any faith.
I’d go so far as to say that if yoga becomes a “religion”, the practitioner has missed the point. Yoga is not about acquiring new beliefs. It is about letting go of old beliefs, such as physical limitations. As we let go of our emotional and physical limitations, we naturally become more aware of balance in our body and mind.
Yoga is the most ancient form of exercise. It dates back almost 8,000 years. You might say that it’s been tried and tested. yoga was first developed as a technique for health and to clear the mind so the practitioner (the “yogi”) could live more purposefully. In Hatha Yoga (the practice of the physical poses) was used to calm the mind and fatigue the muscles so the student could focus more fully on prayer and meditation. That the asanas strengthen muscles is a pleasant “bonus”.
There is a humane benefit to the practice of yoga as well. Most students begin their practice for the health and beauty benefits. Because it is highly targeted exercise, students notice positive benefits right away and they’re motivated to continue to learn more. Before long, they notice a growing sense of calm in their thoughts and feelings and this is naturally shared with the people in their life. Family members often note more kindness and patience in the practitioner’s life. This is understandable because as we grow to appreciate the grace and mystery of our own body, it’s natural to want to share our wonder and joy with others.
In this way, yoga practice can take us “off the mat and into the world”. When we find a disciple like this that enhances the quality of our life, it’s normal to want to learn more about the physical principles that underlay the practice so we can apply it to our social and community life as well.
This is the great thing about Yoga; each of us can take from it as little or as much as we like. We can all enjoy the wonderful practice of Hatha Yoga and all of its physical benefits and we can each chose if and when to progress into a daily Yogic lifestyle off the mat according to what we feel is right for us at the time.
Webster’s New Dictionary defines Philosophy as: the study of the principles underlying conduct, thought, and the nature of the universe. It defines a Philosopher as: a lover of wisdom; one who acts calmly and rationally in the affairs and changes of life.
The practice of yoga leads us to the insight that we are not our thoughts, we are not our feelings, and we are not our bodies. By letting go of the limitations we bump up against in class, we learn that we can just as easily let go of our emotional and psychological limitations. By shedding those limitations, we discover that we can be agents for a better way of living. We can become…indeed, we always have been…instruments of God’s peace.
Learn more about the benefits of yoga. Stop by Barbara Nobles’s site where you can find out all about yoga in Jackson, MS and what they can do for you.
