Yoga: Fact and fiction

Today, on the day of the summer solstice, Mumbai along with the rest of the world is celebrating International Yoga Day for the second year running. A long line-up of activities are being organised by a number of institutions throughout the city to commemorate the occasion. While experts believe that yoga has gained popularity in the past few years, they also recognise the many myths related to yoga, which need clarification.

Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra: The yoga institute What really is yoga Yoga is a way of life. It is ethical living. When you practise yoga, you not only have to keep in mind a certain diet or a couple of asanas, but also follow a set of moral conducts which include humanitarianism, being aware of your surroundings, dedication to work and dedication to family. While the physical forms of yoga will definitely help you with a number of chronic problems, it is only when you follow the rest of the directives that you attain spiritual peace. Yoga is not just reciting Ohm a few times or practising complicated asanas. Myth: Yoga is an alternative cure for diseases and acts as a substitute to medicine. Reality: Medicines are necessary during the first stages of any chronic problem. By practising yoga simultaneously, the ailment reduces over time and doctors themselves reduce medical dosage. Yoga and medicine go hand in hand, not as alternative choices.

Pia Bhagat: Tattwa yoga by pia What are some of the forms of yoga that the youth of today can practise The best thing about yoga is its adaptability. You have different exercises, which suit different age groups. For the youth, I think, the ashtanga yoga is one of the best forms of yoga. It’s a slower but strong practice, which helps to focus and centre yourself. The other form is the vinyasa flow yoga, which is really fast and you don’t stop, from beginning to the end. So when you are in the final position, you really feel like you have sweated it out. Myth: Yoga is about either pranayam or stretching the body and is not as effective as the gym. Reality: If you do some hatha yoga asanas or other practices, your workout is just as intense as any cardio routines at the gym. Yoga can help you get in shape just like other forms. In fact, one of the reasons why yoga is so popular these days is that people are finding other forms to be too strenuous on the body while yoga not only keeps you fit but also does not involve overdoing it.

Shaina NC, yoga by the bay Why has yoga suddenly gained so much popularity Thanks to western influences, yoga has become ‘cool’. Earlier, people considered yoga to be a boring practice, which had to be done. Today, it is looked at more like a trend. Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has had a hand in this with his initiatives towards introducing World Yoga Day. Another reason is that, with stress levels going up so high, yoga is one of the best ways to combat it. Myth: Yoga does not have any weight loss value. Reality: While yoga is a holistic exercise, it is definitely possible to use certain forms of yoga to lose weight.

Shammi Gupta: Shammi’s yogalaya What are some asanas that people can practice on a daily basis What is the best time to practise them There are lakhs of asanas which people might just get confused over, if they try them out without guidance. One simple exercise, which people can do, is suryanamaskar on a regular basis. It is a combination of 12 postures including forward bending, backward bending, inhalations and exhalations, so the exercise works on the entire body. Aside from that there are some classical postures like tarasan and setuvandhasan. It is best to do these asanas on an empty stomach, so they are best practised in the morning. Myth: Yoga is only for flexible people. Reality: If your body is stiff or tight, it does not mean that you cannot do yoga, you will simply have to practise a different set of asanas. In fact, yoga is more beneficial to people who are stiff and helps to increase flexibility.