Common Misconceptions About Yoga

I just finished writing up my 10 page research paper about three common misconceptions due to the westernization of yoga.  The three are religion and spirituality, ahimsa (non-violence) and vegetarianism, and the portrayal of the yoga body in the media.  Basically it is about how when yoga became popular in the West, people changed yoga to make it more westernized, but also more marketable and profitable.  These “misconceptions” are derived from the rift between true, traditional yoga and the yoga that is taught in gyms–which is really just the asana and not wholly yoga.  My conclusion was that someone who chooses to practice traditional yoga should follow all eight limbs of yoga which would include the spirituality aspect, ahimsa, and a healthy body image rather than the distorted anorexic thin body image that the media says yogis should have.  On the other hand, if someone wants to practice “modern yoga” or “westernized yoga” then that is acceptable but it should not be called yoga class, it should be called asana. Yoga is not just about the poses…but most Americans who take yoga classes don’t know that!

What do you think?  This is obviously a very very short synopsis and doesn’t even capture the essence of my paper adequately, but it works!

Namaste.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Triangle Pose

Triangle pose, or Utthita Trikonasana, is one of my personal favorites! It is a good transition pose to use in sequences but it is also really good on it’s own.  Triangle pose stretches mainly the thighs, but in a way that traditional stretching and exercise tends to ignore.  You will feel elongated and less tense after stretching into triangle pose.  Yoga Journal magazine states that these are some of the benefits to Utthita Trikonasana:

• Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles
• Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
• Stimulates the abdominal organs
• Helps relieve stress
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Relieves backache, especially through second trimester of pregnancy
• Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica

If you suffer from any of these issues or would just like to feel better in your everyday life, give triangle pose a shot today.  For those yoga pros out there, I know you’re already in love with this pose, so I won’t have to do any convincing for you!

Namaste!