5 Common Myths About Yoga

Today there are common myths about Yoga. Here are some of them:

• Yoga means yoga postures
  
  This is possibly the biggest myth about yoga. Postures, though important is
  just one of the limbs of yoga. Other limbs are such as Yama, Niyama,
  Pranayama and Meditation are in fact more important. Postures keep you
  physically fit but yoga is much more than postures. Some yoga teachers are
  to be blamed for this belief. To impress their students they demonstrate
  “extreme” postures and tell that one should strive to achieve these
  postures. In his Yoga Sutrats, there is only a couple of lines on postures. Patanjali says-“Any pose that keeps you steady and in comfortable condition is Asana”. The main aim of asana is to be able to sit in meditative condition for long hours and to keep body
  healthy.
  
  


• Yoga is to be practiced/related to a specific religion
  
  It is a fact that origin of yoga is in Indian civilization. However, no
  where in the yogic texts it is mentioned that they are to be practiced only
  by Hindus. In the modern age where technology has broken the barriers of
  country, religion and cast only narrow minded people can say that yoga is
  for a specific religion.
  
  


• Yoga practitioner must keep away from worldly duties
  
  The ultimate goal of yoga is self-realization or union with god. However,
  that doesn’t mean that only monks or renunciates can practice it. Everybody
  has right of freedom , be it a renunciates or a householder. In fact it is
  much difficult to remember God when doing day to day duties. Those who want
  to achieve results quickly can devote themselves completely for “Sadhana”
  but others can very well do it by following their daily routines. Your daily routines actually can be yoga practice, especially by not being attached to the "fruits of your actions" or outcomes, this is called Karma Yoga.
  
  


• Yogic signs of progress can not be seen in modern age
  
  We all claim to be modern and with scientific vision. However, we often
  overlook the possibility that there can be ocean of knowledge we never
  explored. Ancient Yoga texts speak about various Yoga powers and signs of
  Yogic progress (seeing light, hearing mystic sounds, knowing future
  incidences etc.). These things are considered obsolete and even some yoga
  teachers tell that they are something not be believed or out of the reach.
  However our faulty practice is to be blamed for this. If one practices with
  honesty and sincerity then you also can experience these mystic looking
  signs. There is a deeper level of intelligence that especially westerners are out of touch with. Yoga can help you cultivate this deeper intelligence.
  
  


• One can practice yoga without changing one’s uncontrolled lifestyle
  and attitude
  
  Big wrong. Many so called modern teachers seem to be telling their students
  that yoga will work like a miracle in their life and they can continue their
  uncontrolled life style “As Is”. The real teacher will never promote un-controlled life
  style; be it in terms of material pleasure, diet or sense enjoyments. Every
  relationship is give and take relationship. If you want to get good results
  you must give up un-controlled things of your life. Then and only then light
  will come to you. In Bhagwat Gita it is said that one who practices
  extremes (too high and too low) in work, sleep, eating etc. can not attain
  Yoga. A yogi must follow moderate path in his practice.