Old Meets New

Western culture has become increasingly more demanding. Only 20 years ago, there were no smartphones and the internet was just invented. Today we always want to be online. Fear of missing out and social pressure from peers and strangers due to social media can constantly consume our peace of mind. Of course, this is generally speaking, but when was the last time you left your house without your phone? Have you ever felt not good enough, or overwhelmed by life and its speed and demands? In relationships or at work? Does this speak to you? Then yoga is for you.

Let us look into some differences between yoga hundreds of years ago and now. Even though the world has developed dramatically we can still find peace of mind. Try the techniques and philosophies of yoga. Let’s get started with one of the biggest misconceptions about yoga in our modern western culture.

Yoga is only for females

You have probably noticed one of the biggest changes regarding yoga. Today, more women practice yoga than men.
Believe it or not, until around the 1960s, yoga was almost exclusively practiced by men. When Indra Devi, who is known as the first lady of yoga, discovered the practice in India, Krishnamacharya first denied teaching her because she was a woman. Other popular students of Krishnamacharya were Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois. Krishnamacharya gave Devi plenty of challenges to break her will, but he didn’t succeed. In the end he even wanted her to become a teacher herself. She brought the practice to western culture in the US in the 60s. She fast became the teachers of celebrities like Greta Garbo

What happened to the men then?

When we look into yoga today, there is literally no reason for men not to practice. It is a myth that yoga is only for females. On the other hand, as yoga was mainly practiced by males, females might consider some adjustments to the practice. The father of physical yoga Krishnamacharya might not have had these in mind. His teachings were intended for young boys.

Alignment, Pregnancy and menstruation

Female and male bodies are different. Sometimes women need to adjust poses, for example when the breasts are in the way. Ask your yoga teacher for advice to modify the pose if needed. The same applies if you are pregnant or on your menstruation cycle.

So what happened on the way, as nowadays more women practice yoga? There are different theories about it. Often in western culture, dance and gymnastics are “girls’ activities”, and soccer and boxing are for “boys’”. The graceful and mindful yet also demanding yoga postures can be seen more in the category of ballet and dance. This is only when observed from the outside and can hence be off-putting for men.

Meanwhile, the fashion has also changed to leggings and tight shirts. Due to this the feminine image of yoga is reinforced. Men are now asking Google what to wear in class as they might perceive leggings as “too girly”. Now we have hopefully cleared the myth that yoga is only for women.

Let’s look into how to use yoga today to release stress, along with physical and mental suffering.

Yamas

Pantanjali is the great grandfather of yoga, author of the Sutras. He describes eight ways/limbs on how to stop the fluctuation of the mind. They are ways of overcoming all the thoughts that seem to take control over us. Thus enabling you to take control back and worry less. Here you can read more about the eight limbs.

Ahimsa

Ahimsa translates as non-violence. The first Yama appears simple. One shouldn’t hurt someone. But it is more than just not punching someone in the face. It is about all sentient beings on this planet. Many yogis manifest this Yama by eating a vegetarian or vegan diet. In the past, in most cultures meat wasn’t available on a daily basis. When it was, it was hunted and all parts of the animal were used. This is in direct contrast with the mass production of today. Most of us in western culture live in a world of abundance. We are able to make conscious and less harmful choices when it comes to food nowadays.

Besides not being physically violent, we should point out that words can be just as harmful. Be aware of the power of your words towards others and thoughts towards yourself. The mediums we communicate with have changed. For most of us it is hard to look someone in the eyes and lie or say something unpleasant. With the digital revolution, we do not need to do that in person anymore. The digital world is fast and spreads widely. Be mindful of how you communicate when you do not look someone in the eye.

Satya

Satya means truthfulness. Pantanjali says that it is not always necessary to speak the truth if it would harm someone. Ahimsa comes first. Truthfulness not only applies towards others but also to ourselves. Are we closing our eyes to an ugly truth that lies deep within us?

So how can this be different from the past? Just as mentioned previously the internet can be a curse and a blessing. Living truthfully in a western culture today should include all means of communication. Face to face, app to app or tweet to tweet.

This yama can also be expanded to our consumerism. Many documentaries reveal to the public how some big industries contribute to destroying the planet due to greed for money and power. Being truthful also means not closing your eyes to the consequences your purchase is going to have. Next time you go into the supermarket consider having a closer look at what you are buying. Find out what you are supporting with the purchase, water consumption and deforestation included. 

Asteya

Asteya means not stealing. Not taking anything if it is not given to you freely. This includes not only shoplifting. Also think about other things you might take without them being offered to you. For example, being late. Time is such a precious “thing”, so being late is taking time from someone that has not been given to you. Maybe you can even think about more things that could be taken without being offered. Leave us a comment.

Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is translated as celibacy and sexual abstinence. It is interesting to compare the past intention of it and how we can still benefit from it in western culture today.

In the past it was meant to keep young male yogis from being distracted. Today I like to interpret it as the right use of energy. Have you ever flirted with someone just to benefit from him or her? Have you ever had sex with someone because you were already naked and thought now it is expected from you? Our sexual energy is very powerful and whether we receive or give we should be mindful of it. It can distract you on your spiritual path, or hurt someone in the worst case, if not used with the right intentions.

Next time the sexual impulse sets in I invite you to listen deeply. Is that the instinct for conversation of a human kind or pure desire for intimacy and love? Further, you can check in if it is your ego that is driving your sexual encounters. Is it just another one night stand on the list? From my own experience I realized how empowering taking a step back can be. Checking in if I engage sexually because it is expected from me or because I truly want it. Once you feel the deeper longing towards the other person, you might be surprised how enriching and uplifting the sexual experience or intimacy can be.

Aparigraha

Aparigraha means non-greed or non-attachment.

In our social-media world we see more and more people “living for the gram”. This generates a lot of greed and attachment. And that is not only for material things. It also generates thoughts such as “I want that person to be my partner”. “I want a certain lifestyle or holiday”. The imbalance of wanting and having can generate a lot of greed and ultimately suffering. The more content you are with what you have, the happier you will be. This isn’t an easy practice either.

Ask yourself the next time before you click on “buy now”, do you need it? Pause and start shopping with more awareness. Maybe you can spend the extra money on some charity close to you. You can further ask yourself when you desire another person. What is your intention? Do you love that person or do you feel he or she would look good next to you? Or even you see a financial benefit in being with this person? Again we are coming back to more mindfulness in our lives. Making conscious (buying) decisions.

Practice

Meditation is a great tool to practice this awareness. Becoming aware of who is wanting, the ego or our true self.
Practicing the yamas will require some patience and a lot of awareness of your actions. Maybe it feels less overwhelming to start with one at a time. Practice Ahimsa for one week and then start adding the next one. You can journal the challenges regarding each yama. Discuss the process with your yoga teacher for guidance.

Here is an interesting article about how to integrate the yamas in your work life.
Please let us know about your progress. What you are doing to integrate these into your life. As always, any comments as men or women practicing yoga today!

Read Part 2 here.

About the Author

This blog post is written by Julia Grässer, Doron Yoga Teacher alumni, who did her 300h yoga teacher studies at Doron Yoga & Zen Center. As part of her thesis she writes articles about the practical implementation of yoga in our modern times.
This series of Yoga Philosophy blog posts provides a taste of her theoretical studies. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts here, email Julia directly at julia@warriorprincessyoga.net or visit her website.