Yoga needs little introduction in the modern world. It has become a household name that most people associate with physical exercises. It is practiced in Yoga centers, schools, health-clubs, community centers, hospitals, fitness centers, parks, offices and private houses. How yoga is being defined among the various schools and people practicing it may wary considerably. The interest ‘to practice yoga’ keeps growing with rapid enthusiasm all over the world and from the soaring popularity of it, without being too naive; we may assume it has some positive benefits associated with it.
Most of the modern schools of yoga display an array of different physical exercises and breathing techniques they claim are beneficial. In America alone 30 million people are practicing some kind of yoga and use it as an alternative to fitness, improve ones flexibility or to gain greater peace of mind. The practice of yoga appears to have numerous benefits to offer and despite the many modern twists to the name, more and more people are inspired by it.
Now ‘What Yoga really is?’ is a question that has fascinated me for quite some time. In the mid 90’s I was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga, for mere physical reasons. I practiced it diligently five to six times a week, while smoking and drinking, but after some time, my shady habits started to fade and I became increasingly more interested in greater health and well-being. As that became more stable I no longer practiced yoga for only the physical reasons or the many health benefits, but rather out of a longing to stay connected and receptive to something more stable and centering than all my fluctuations of the mind, more real and awakening than all my fleeting sense-impressions, more distinct and refined than all my psychological dramas, emotional cravings and high hopes and expectations. In short, I stopped waiting for life to give me something, stopped looking outside of myself to find peace, pleasure and clarity. Due to the great gift of yoga I was suddenly cleaning up my act and many imbalances and found a new focus, was able to be more present with things as they were, rather than how I wanted them to be.
In the decade to follow, I had the privilege to meet many great Sanskrit teachers that opened my eyes to the great textual traditions of yoga. Although my brain was way too dull to really grasp the deeper meanings of it in the beginning, I had the privilege to be spoon-fed, gradually and slowly which eventually opened my eyes to the greater heritage of things. Due to the grace of some wonderful teachers in India I had the privilege to learn Sanskrit properly and eventually read the classical texts by myself. In India today, it is truly difficult to find people who has a solid practical understanding of what is referred to in the texts on yoga, but all of my teachers where great Sanskrit scholars, so they installed in me the technical information I needed to create a more solid foundation through the limited practice of physical postures I had access to. Over the years, through trial and error, the genuine experience of yoga became stronger. Of course I could be all wrong and making lofty projections, but the state of mind that I’m in now compared to when I started yoga is oceans apart and therefore thought I’d share some insights from some of the classical traditions in these blogs to follow. There are indeed much material to choose from, but I feel it could be interesting to make a little overview of how yoga is being portrayed in the classical texts in India, and for those of you who are interested in making a further inquiry, perhaps it can be a little appetizer to go and found out further for yourself.
Ok, now I’ve made a little resolution and we’ll take it step by step. For those of you who are interested keep looking back on this site in the weeks/months to come and I’ll keep scratching the surface how yoga is being portrayed in the classical texts in India.
Best to you all,
RA Medin