Rethinking Yoga: Beyond the Poses and Stereotypes
When someone mentions yoga, it often conjures images of toned bottoms in high-fashion geo-print leggings, serene retreats, or maybe it makes you think of hippies with wrists draped in mala beads uttering “love and light.” Yet, yoga goes so far beyond these stereotypes and the ultra-flexible physical poses we see on Instagram. At its core, yoga is an ancient practice designed to unite mind, body, and spirit—a journey inward to resilience and balance.
How Yoga Evolved: From Ancient India to Modern Practice
Yoga’s journey from ancient India to its current form is a complex story involving many religious, cultural, and spiritual influences spanning thousands of years. Traditionally, yoga emphasized meditation, breath, and ethics over the physical postures that most in the west associated with the word yoga; using Sukhasana (a simple cross-legged seated posture) as a base to calm and balance the mind.
By the early 20th century, as yoga encountered Western influence, Indian yogis began incorporating elements of Western physical fitness practices into yoga. Figures like Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888–1989) blended these movements with traditional Indian practices, drawing from both indigenous Indian exercises and broader fitness trends. This blending, partly a response to the influences of colonization, laid the groundwork for many of the styles we see in western yoga studios today, such as Vinyasa and Hatha styles of yoga.
What’s key to understand here is that what most of us in the West think of as yoga—the physical postures—has actually only been a part of yoga for about a hundred years. (So yes, you’re officially off the hook if your version of yoga looks a bit different than what you see on social media.)
Two of Krishnamacharya’s students, B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois, adapted his teachings into unique styles. For example, Iyengar developed a focus on alignment and props in the style known as Iyengar yoga, while Jois introduced Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, a dynamic, athletic sequence. This later branched into Ashtanga and vinyasa separately with ashtanga further branching of to a type of yoga called Rocket Yoga, which many would argue is also the lineage of Power Yoga.
These modern adaptations of yoga blend physical practice with ancient principles and have become the Vinyasa and Hatha styles practiced widely today.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga Explained: A Pathway to Balance
To truly understand yoga, we must look beyond the mat to the Eight Limbs of Yoga, described by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras
Often called the “father of yoga,” Patanjali was a 2nd-century BCE Indian scholar whose teachings shaped yoga for millennia.
Yet I wonder—what would Patanjali think of modern yoga? As someone who teaches a contemporary fusion style including Reiki, I sometimes find myself gazing at the picture of Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, in my treatment room and wondering: Are we doing justice to these traditions while allowing them to evolve?
This is a delicate balance—honoring roots while embracing growth.
Lets look st these Eight Limbs of Yoga
1. Yama (Ethics): Principles like non-violence (ahimsa) and truthfulness (satya) guide how we interact with the world.
2. Niyama (Self-Discipline): Cleanliness (saucha) and contentment (santosha) cultivate inner clarity.
3. Asana (Postures): Traditionally, asana prepared the body for meditation. Today, it might mean mindful stretching.
4. Pranayama (Breath Control): Deep breathing promotes calm, focus, and deep meditation.
5. Pratyahara (Sensory Withdrawal): Turning inward by unplugging from distractions.
6. Dharana (Concentration): Focusing on a single point.
7. Dhyana (Meditation): Sustained awareness for inner peace.
8. Samadhi (Oneness): A rare but profound sense of unity with all.
Restorative Yoga vs. Yin Yoga: What’s the Difference?
Two styles that often get confused with one another are Restorative and Yin Yoga, though their goals and approaches are quite different, they both offer a class that works at a slower pace moving through a lot of supine poses (hence the confusion)
The goal of Restorative Yoga is to down-regulate the nervous system, supporting deep rest and relaxation. Developed by Judith Lasater, a student of B.K.S. Iyengar, Restorative Yoga is a practice of stillness. It typically involves only a few poses per class—usually four or five—each held for 10 to 20 minutes. Props are used to fully support the body, ensuring no muscle tension remains, as the aim is complete physical release.
Yin Yoga, on the other hand, is a practice that targets the deeper connective tissues of the body—fascia, ligaments, and joints. It’s often misunderstood as being “easy” or only for beginners. While Yin can be gentle and accessible, it can also be deeply challenging, depending on the teacher, theme, or focus of the class.
To further muddy the water yin and restorative may well be blended into one class where the class starts with Yin style poses and moves towards more longer hold restorative poses!
Tantra Yoga: Beyond the Myths and Misconceptions
Let’s talk about Tantra.
Okay, I know where your mind has immediately gone. You’re picturing the cover of a glossy 90s magazine with Sting and Trudy locked in deep eye contact, barely dressed, and a bold caption promising to “supercharge your sex life through Tantra yoga.” But here’s the twist: that isn’t Tantra yoga. Not really.
What you’re thinking of is something called Neo-Tantra—we’ll come back to that in a moment. For now, let’s explore what Tantra yoga actually is, because it’s far more profound, holistic, and complex than that.
Tantra Yoga: A Pathway to Connection in Everyday Life
Tantra Yoga is a deeply holistic practice that goes beyond physical postures, focusing on the interconnectedness of all aspects of life. Rooted in ancient Indian traditions, Tantra emphasizes the weaving together of energy, awareness, and presence. It invites practitioners to embrace life fully—its challenges, joys, and even its contradictions—as part of a spiritual journey. In everyday life, Tantra Yoga encourages mindfulness and intentionality, whether it’s savoring a meal, truly listening during a conversation, or finding sacredness in mundane tasks. It’s about slowing down and tapping into the energy already present within and around us, creating a deeper connection to ourselves and the world.
What Is Neo-Tantra?
Neo-Tantra is a modern, Western interpretation of traditional Tantra that often focuses on intimacy and sexuality. While it borrows elements from classical Tantra, it narrows the broader spiritual framework to prioritize practices aimed at deepening connection in relationships, enhancing intimacy, and exploring personal energy dynamics. Neo-Tantra is widely accessible, but it’s important to recognize that it represents only a small fragment of what Tantra truly encompasses. Where traditional Tantra is about a union of mind, body, and spirit across all areas of life, Neo-Tantra tends to focus more narrowly on physical and emotional intimacy.
Kundalini Yoga: A Practice of Awakening
Kundalini Yoga is often described as the “yoga of awareness,” combining dynamic physical postures, breathwork, meditation, and chanting to awaken dormant energy believed to reside at the base of the spine. This energy, known as kundalini shakti, is said to rise through the body’s energy centers, or chakras, to promote spiritual growth, balance, and vitality.
Historically, Kundalini Yoga has roots in ancient Indian tantric traditions and has been practiced for centuries as a spiritual discipline.
Traditional Kundalini Yoga places a strong emphasis on subtle energy work, meditation, and mantra, making it deeply introspective and transformative.
Yogi Bhajan’s Influence and Controversy
In the late 1960s, Kundalini Yoga was brought to the West by Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, commonly known as Yogi Bhajan. He structured and popularized Kundalini Yoga in a way that made it accessible to Western audiences, blending physical practices with lifestyle teachings rooted in Sikhism. Yogi Bhajan’s version of Kundalini Yoga gained a devoted following for its focus on harnessing energy and achieving spiritual awakening.
However, Yogi Bhajan’s legacy has been clouded by serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Former students and followers have come forward with claims that challenge the integrity of his leadership, leading many practitioners to reevaluate their relationship with the practice.
Traditional Kundalini Yoga vs. Yogi Bhajan’s Kundalini Yoga
Traditional Kundalini Yoga emphasizes meditation, mantra, and the awakening of energy in alignment with ancient texts and practices. Yogi Bhajan’s approach added structured kriyas (specific sequences of postures, breath, and sound), which were not traditionally documented in ancient Kundalini teachings but have become central to his style. While traditional Kundalini practices focus on long-term spiritual growth, Yogi Bhajan’s version is often more physically dynamic and geared toward rapid transformation.
Separating the Practice from the Man
Despite the controversy surrounding Yogi Bhajan, many practitioners have chosen to distance themselves from him while continuing with Kundalini Yoga. They recognize the profound benefits of the practice—greater clarity, emotional resilience, and a deeper sense of connection—and seek to honor its transformational power without being tied to his legacy. Organizations and teachers are now reclaiming Kundalini Yoga, often returning to its traditional roots or adapting the practice to reflect ethical and inclusive values.
For many, Kundalini Yoga remains a tool for healing and empowerment. Its focus on breathwork, mantra, and meditation offers a pathway to inner balance and personal growth, transcending the shadows of its modern history.
Exploring Other Yoga Styles: A World of Possibilities
There are, of course, many other styles of yoga that you may have come across. These include, but are not limited to:
• Raja Yoga
• Karma Yoga
• Bhakti Yoga
• Jnana Yoga
• Bikram Yoga
• Power Yoga
• Yoga Nidra
• Anusara Yoga
• Jivamukti Yoga
• Sivananda Yoga
• Viniyoga
• Aerial Yoga
• Rocket Yoga
• Tri Yoga
• Acro Yoga
• Hot Yoga
• Chair Yoga
• Forrest Yoga
• Integral Yoga
• Scaravelli Yoga
This list is by no means exhaustive but offers a glimpse into the incredible diversity within yoga practice today.
Conclusion: Yoga as a Living Tradition
Yoga is not about perfect poses—it’s about finding balance amidst life’s chaos. By honoring its roots and embracing its evolution, we stay true to yoga’s spirit of unity. So, next time you step on the mat, remember: it’s less about how you look and more about how you feel and most important your connection.
Comments