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Articles » Health-&-Fitness » Yoga >> View Article
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| Do You Need Yoga? |
By:
Erik Astrand |
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Yoga does not seem to command the same form of respect from modern day society as it once did in the past. This ancient concept has somehow lost its real meaning through globalization. Most people choose to describe yoga as a simple concept rather than a complex philosophy in order to help people understand better. Westerners may find the contents to be complex and not easily understood.
It is disturbing to see a lot of people obtaining shallow understanding of this complex subject and yet remaining unhesitant to talk about it from an expert's point of view. Often, westerners choose to focus merely on the physical aspects of yoga. Yoga has been reduced to a physical activity to achieve internal balance and serenity.
It is one of the six schools of Hindu thoughts has roots deep within the pages of the Hindu Holy Scriptures. Any Indian would assure you that it is a spiritual experience that is manifested through a series of complicated physical practice. But the western world prefers to refer yoga as a mere physical practice.
The strange symbols related to the yoga practice have created some awareness among the westerners that there is more to yoga than the physical aspects, but they are often misunderstood. This discipline is practiced as a popular sport. Additionally, people who desire inner tranquility would often find this practice to be beneficial. Nevertheless many have been attracted to yoga as a form of practice to achieve inner peace and balance.
The so called experts in this industry have been quick to use these promises and people have been fascinated. Research shows that yoga has been highly misunderstood in the west and therefore plenty of fatal errors were detected in the way yoga is implemented. Closer observation reveals that the unique culture of each race has dramatically influenced the way yoga is practiced. Apparently, the west is not prepared to spend too much time in meaningful contemplations of this philosophy, hence the resulting fatal error due to a lack of understanding. Sometimes, the most important part of this practice is neglected, for instance the essential meditation.
Westerners have different goals and priorities, and the insatiable desire to accumulate massive amounts of wealth certainly has no place in the system of values among the Hindus. True wisdom, as defined by the parameters of the Hindu religion would be an impossible feat to achieve when this paradigm is adopted. One needs to possess both time and patience to fully reap the rewards of a successful meditative session. The westerners do not place a high degree of importance in the attainment of philosophical wisdom, as it does for the accumulation of massive wealth and gaining power.
Practicing yoga seems congruent with the need to look good to fulfill their stylish lifestyles. If you wish to know more, you can get hold of some of the available materials out there which is actively promoting this practice as a form of sports. Yoga can be practiced anywhere. During the early years of yoga practice in the US, a lot of yoga “gurus” have emerged, claiming to be experts of this discipline. Yet they gradually dwindled into what they actually are, merely fake gurus and yet they still have real support from their disciples. Obedient disciples of this distorted form of yoga have become agents of growth of this unhealthy philosophy.
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