The spirituality question

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello everybody,

so my friend and I are still (!) discussing various aspects of how to find a yoga class that works for you… As explained in my previous post we tend to disagree a bit so that’s why I would love to know what other yogis think :slight_smile:

Here goes: I’ve moved to a new city recently and so I’m exploring the different studios to find the ‘right fit’ for my practice. Many of the places I’ve tried recently are small yoga studios with some very good teachers but they all have in common a very strong emphasis on the spiritual aspect of yoga. So in short, quite a bit of chakra and energy talk, chanting, and what I personally call (and here I don’t mean to offend anyone) yoga ‘mumbo jumbo’. I love yoga and get a lot from practicing every day but I also feel that some teachers push the spiritual/life coaching aspect a bit too far in their classes. On the other hand I don’t do yoga in a gym because for me that’s too far on the other end of the spectrum.

Do you ever feel like me that the teacher’s personal opinion on spirituality intrudes on your practice? Or are you able to be less resistant than I am and
just take what works for you? I guess what I’m asking is how important is the spiritual element for you in a yoga class and how do you relate to it (especially if you disagree sometimes)?
My friend is more open-minded than me I think and he can just use his ‘internal filter’ as he calls it when the teacher stretches his imagination a bit too far.

Thanks! I hope you are all having a good day out there!
Alex

#2

I read your post twice just to be sure I had understood: you don’t like too much of what you call ‘mumbo-jumbo’ but you don’t want just asana practise.

You may never find an exact fit for what you want but I would encourage you to keep looking. Try as many different types/styles/aspects of yoga that you can and re-visit those that currently don’t appeal. It may be the teacher rather than the practise which is putting you off.

Have you tried a pranayama class? The physicality and practicality involved may be what you need and might even help to explain what currently seems like ‘mumbo-jumbo’.

There is something in Yoga to satisfy everyone regardless of the time or resources available to them…Good Luck with the adventure.

#3

As long as you deal with the means (the mumbo-jumbo vs mere asana practice) you will remain confused.

Face this question squarely: what do you want? good shapely body? health? wisdom? to be a better individual?

‘Spirituality’ is the most used and least understood word here. Hidden behind it is very often ‘religiousness’ or shades of it. Spirituality is also regarded as an option, one can be a ‘spiritual human’ or just a ‘vanilla human’.

“We are not human beings trying to be spiritual, we are spiritual beings pretending to be human.” Call it just “life” or “consciousness” if the word spirituality bothers you. Our spirituality breaths with us, walks with us from birth to death and beyond. Yoga helps you in doing it consciously and becoming aware of it. That can also happen to you while falling in love, feeling grateful, even looking out to a beautiful morning. It is not confined to a Yoga studio.

Please spend time in dwelling on the end - what you want to be? Means are many.

#4

You call if mumbo jumbo, I call it fluff.

I prefer a strong yoga style, yoga with more concentration on strength and flexibility and less on meditation and chanting. Personally, I make the spiritual connection during practice on my on. Add heat and you have yoga… and a workout. It’s a nice blend.

#5

[QUOTE=abcdyoga;68402]
Do you ever feel like me that the teacher’s personal opinion on spirituality intrudes on your practice? Or are you able to be less resistant than I am and
just take what works for you? I guess what I’m asking is how important is the spiritual element for you in a yoga class and how do you relate to it (especially if you disagree sometimes)?
[/QUOTE]

Those are interesting questions. I am able to take what works for me, but over the years I’ve found I am taking more than I first thought I would. In my regular class, the instructor ends practice with an om and 3 shantis. She always says ‘I’m going to end the practice with an om and 3 shantis. Feel free to join in if you want.’ It took a long time before I joined in, and I still shy away from the 3 shantis. But, I’m not uncomfortable. In fact, sometimes it sounds great and I wish I were less inhibited.

My own studio is ‘neutral’. But, I have had several students ask for more, and in that case I can lead them in that direction. I am lucky in that many of the local ‘gurus’ have found my studio and like it enough to become members. So, depending on the questions and converstation, I can suggest a resource for those who want to go ‘deeper’.

Look for bigger ‘name’ studios, like Bikram or other ‘hot’ styles. If you don’t like hot yoga, then you may have to continue to look around. Smaller studios will tend to offer more than just the asanas, but not all will ‘push’ it on you.

Whatever you find, don’t give up the practice. It’s so good for you on many levels.

#6

I have mixed feelings. I consider myself a spiritual person, but I don’t always agree with the philosophies of some yoga teachers. I use my internal filter when I desire to zone out. A strong meditation practice is useful for taking you to a place when you don’t agree or desire to listen (interestingly, I have found it useful at church as well :-P).

I appreciate teachers that teach positive, uplifting dogma such as service towards others and looking for the divine within and within others. What I don’t appreciate are teachers that try to teach sanskrit for 20 minutes at the beginning of class or dive into Hindu mythology assuming that everyone in the class is completely familiar with it. I love a good story, so I don’t mind hearing a story if it has a point and blends in with the practice. I think yoga teachers often are so excited about their spiritual quest that they don’t clearly see that others may not care to hear what they consider so profound. I have deeply rooted religious beliefs, yet I am open to learning. Yet, I don’t go into a yoga class and talk about my Christian beliefs for 20 minutes. I am sensitive to other people’s beliefs. I wish my instructors would show the same sensitivity to me.

#7

It really doesn’t much matter if we feel like you Alex. What is important is that you feel like you, and we can address that without having to be in those shoes. Unlike hollow “mumbo jumbo” or “fluff” the concepts behind the possibly 8500 year old practice of Yoga is very sound. However, when human beings are added to the mix AND we allow/tolerate/patronize poorly trained teachers we often wind up with all sorts of stuff.

There are two basic issues I would like to point out. The first is the nature of resistance of the student (assuming a willing student rather than a spouse or friend dragged to the practice). Far too often our belief system is so tightly wound around us that nothing at all will get in. This can be easily seen in both politics and religion but it is certainly not limited to those realms. Of course remaining in such a state is a personal decision about one’s growth during this lifetime and I’m perfectly “okay” with those who opt-out - as long as they aren’t the same people complaining about wars, poverty, and disharmony. It’s a “part of the problem, part of the solution” sort of choice.

The second issue is one of ignorance. I’m not writing of the ignorance that comes from a lack of literacy or an avoidance of education. I’m referencing an understanding of the practice which mandates a removal of our veils - those foggy sheaths that prevent us from seeing clearly (think of the rose tint in the term “rose-colored glasses”). When we are able to remove our own fog (in the layers in which it is constructed) then we can understand how the Gayatri Mantra actually asks for illumination of our consciousness. We can understand that sanskrit is a primordial language containing sounds which have deep meaning AND how the recitation of Om (and other sounds) not only unify and harmonize the class and hold the energy of the collective in the room but also reverberates within the physical body in a healing fashion.

Knowing these things and having dealt with our fog doesn’t mean we don’t meander into a class taught with a lilt, one that is too woo-woo, or one that is poorly conveyed. So what to do?

DO find the right fit for you now, that balance between the continuum you outline with gyms at one end and mumbo at the other. DO effort to keep opening your heart to the practice, consider what’s being offered (even when it initially annoys) evaluate it in your living, determine what lesson is being offered you in each experience (be it on the mat or on the bus) and you’ll be blessed to experience a joyful, robust living with no regrets when its done - and that is all too soon.

#8

“tat savitur varenyam”, this is the part what resonates the most with me.

InnerAthlete, your equanimity and thoughfulness is inspiring, as is your faith that you might be listened to.

Sanskrit indeed is a sacred language. It was created when people still had a vivid memory of their spiritual home. All the rishis have done, was to tap into that world, and let it flow out to the listeners around.

#9

My very humble thanks for your words of advice and for sharing your thoughts and experience with me. There is so much to learn from others.
thank you! :slight_smile:

#10

I think Yoga teachers should contexualize what they are saying by providing background to the ‘Mumbo jumbo’ This could be done by sharing scientific evidence on chakras, prana, kundalini etc or by teaching the philosophy underpinning the practice. It is important to know the philosophy and the history of Yoga to fully appreciate it. It not just a physical practice.