Gabriel Benjamin striking what he calls the raja hanumanasana pose on the beach. Photo by Chris Bratt.
Yoga came from the Far East thousands of years ago and today has many devotees who claim that it improves their life and health. This ancient practice began in India. Even though Yoga is ancient, it is very popular today. Many celebrities from Sting to Madonna to Martha Stewart to Shaq are fans of Yoga. They say that it improves their looks, their energy and their physical wellbeing.
There are many kinds of Yoga practiced in the U.S. today. Three kinds seem to be very popular. These include Bikram, Hatha and Kundalini Yoga. Bikram Yoga’s namesake is Bikram Choudhury. Bikram teaches his craft at the Bikram College of India in Los Angeles. Bikram studios must be kept at 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% humidity so that students can perform the twenty- six postures. Bikram states in his book, Beginning Yoga Class, “These twenty-six poses are meant to systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to each organ and fiber of your body, and to restore all the systems to healthy working order.” This practice improves flexibility and helps detoxify the body. It does not emphasize the spiritual. I once tried Bikram Yoga. It seemed too hot for me and I would prefer to practice another form of Yoga without the heat.
Hatha Yoga is a slower paced class with stretching asanas (poses) and
breathing exercises. It is relaxed and meditative. I really like Hatha Yoga
because it seems to be a good fit for me because it increases my flexibility and is meditative. It has a physical aspect and a spiritual aspect. Supermodel Christy Turlington, in her book Living Yoga, stated, “It is a system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India”. Through Hatha Yoga, the practitioner tries to achieve balance between his body and his mind. This involves using asanas and combining this with pranayama that is a kind of breath control.
The spiritual energy in Yoga is called Kundalini, which is located in the sacrum of the spine. By practicing certain physical exercises along with breath control, the Kundalini will travel up the spine and open seven chakras on the way until it reaches the seventh chakra (at the top of the head) and unites with Ultimate Reality.
Kundalini Yoga is “a physical, mental and spiritual discipline for developing
strength, awareness, character and consciousness”, said Christy Turlington. This kind of Yoga has an emphasis on the spiritual awareness of the practitioner and requires speaking the truth, compassion and serving others. This is an advanced form of Yoga.
Lotus flowers have long been associated with yoga
Yoga is recognized as an alternative or complementary medicine in illnesses such as cancer and arthritis. The meditation and stress reducing aspects of
Yoga can be useful to patients who are facing a life-threatening illness or
surgery. It has been proven that patients who use imaging or meditation before
surgery have less pain and heal faster afterwards. It is also useful in childbirth
for relaxation. The asanas are helpful in maintaining and increasing flexibility in illnesses such as arthritis.
Yoga is being used to treat patients who have suffered severe trauma. Peter A.
Levine, Ph.D., is a psychologist who has 35 years experience in treating patients
for stress and trauma. In writing about the positive effects of Yoga to treat his
patients, he said, “This should be of no surprise when we realize that a common
denominator of all traumas is an alienation and disconnection from the body and
a reduced capacity to be present in the here and now.” He also said, “I
have seen various kinds of body interventions work dramatically – but none more
so than the physical practices of Yoga.” He added, “I have spent most of my
adult life studying Yoga. And I have come to see that it can be a particularly
healing intervention for those tormented by the unhealed effects of trauma.” In addition to treating patients suffering from physical trauma, Yoga is being used
to treat returning soldiers who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the world-renowned Zen Buddhist Monk said, “If you have
mindfullness, you have love and understanding, you see more deeply, and you can heal the wounds of your own mind. For when you touch deep understanding
and love, you are healed.” This is how Yoga helps.
Some Yoga practices emphasize the spiritual more than others and there is a
wide array of practices available to the average person today. Some people
don’t want a spiritual practice if they already have one, say, a Catholic or
Protestant believer. These people take Yoga classes the way they take any
exercise class, it’s just exercise. But according to ancient practice, the entire
purpose of Yoga is spiritual in nature and the asanas really just represent a
small portion of a Yoga practice. One could say that Yoga is a spiritual practice
with a physical aspect rather than Yoga is a physical practice with a spiritual aspect. In my opinion, either way, it’s a good thing and each person has to determine what he or she needs in their lives and what is to be gained.
A person will change with the practice of Yoga and then their practice will evolve
as they evolve, as will their spiritual goals evolve. Ancient Yoga has had profound effect on the modern world and has changed us and benefited us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
