I’ve recently returned to teaching Yoga after a long break and I asked a friend who has spent his life as a university professor if he had advice. He said “demystify the subject” and that is entirely my aim in class.
Traditional Haṭha Yoga is the practice of three subjects: Posture (āsana), Conscious Breathing (prāṇāyāma) and Meditation (dhyāna). These three subjects are intertwined. The ancient Yogis used āsana to gain the physical strength and steadiness required for long periods of meditation. Meditation gives strength of mind for prolonged periods of exercise. They support each other. There are simple, accessible techniques to unite and complement all three. These are the core techniques of Haṭha Yoga.
Āsana combines alignment and movement with techniques to enhance strength, balance, and flexibility that can work for everyone from those with limited physical capacities to Olympic athletes. There are hundreds of āsanas and I work with a few dozen in my classes.
Prāṇāyāma is not automatic habitual breathing, it is intentional, mindful breathing. Practicing prāṇāyāma increases lung capacity and oxygenates the tissues. It works because lungs can be controlled consciously in a way that most organs cannot. You can’t consciously control your kidneys but you can consciously control your lungs. Haṭha Yoga gives us a dozen or so breathing techniques.
Meditation calms the mind and there is evidence that it can reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system. There are few meditation techniques and we’ll look only at the basic concepts in my classes.
It is historically true that Yoga was associated with the religions of the East. However these religions cannot claim dominion over Yoga any more than Christianity can claim dominion over prayer. Yoga is a set of physical and mental techniques that anyone can use. Yoga is ancient but it has changed significantly since it came to the West.
Yoga’s origin is in ancient Buddhist and Hindu techniques used to aid meditation. It is over 3000 years old and compatible with all religions. It predates most of them. Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Atheists can practice yoga without fear of religious conversion.
In the 20th Century many Yoga teachers came from India to the West including my teacher, BKS.Iyengar. In 1954 Mr Iyengar was invited to teach in Switzerland. From there, his influence spread worldwide.
In recent years Yoga has settled well into gyms and fitness studios all over the Western world.
Mr Iyengar’s teacher was Krishnamacharya who is often considered the “father of modern yoga”. Krishnamacharya also taught K. Pattabhi Jois who founded Ashtanga Yoga (aṣṭāṅgayoga) and T._K._V._Desikachar who founded Viniyoga.
