Differences Between Westernized Yoga and Traditional Eastern Yoga
India is the birthplace of yoga. And while the yoga we practice in Western cultures is based on the ancient practice, there are many differences in traditional Eastern and westernized yoga. In western yoga, asanas (or postures) are the primary focus. It is about moving the body, flexibility, exercise, and bending the body into challenging postures.
In the Eastern form of yoga, these postures are just the tip of the iceberg, which is why western yoga, may only be tapping into the tip of the benefits that yoga can bring. In India, and the way yoga traditionally evolved, yoga is a way of living. It refers to moral, values, restorative breath, and kindness. It is not about building your dream body or becoming super flexible. It is not about practicing in a hot room with a reggae remix of Jay-Z playing over the loudspeakers.
And this is not to say that other forms of yoga are wrong; it simply means it has evolved into a different practice in the West, and it is not rooted in the same healing and spiritual principles that eastern yoga is.
Traditional yoga is a spiritual practice. It is about presence, self-awareness, and meditation.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga are an eightfold path that provides guidelines for a meaningful and purposeful life.
The first of the 8 limbs of yoga are the Yamas or the moral code of yoga.
The five Yamas are:
- Non-violence (Ahimsa); not harming others, animals, or things in nature
- Truthfulness (Satya); integrity in one’s thought, speech, and actions
- Non-stealing (Asteya); everything you need is inside you; not looking for or taking anything outside of yourself
- Right use of energy (Brahmacharya); sometimes translated as celibacy (or sexual restraint), refers to uncovering hidden dimensions within and not putting our energy in external sources for happiness and fulfillment
- Non-attachment (Aparigraha); virtue of non-possessiveness and non-greed
Another limb of yoga is Pranayama, which some yogis claim is the most vital part of the practice. Pranayama is the practice and techniques aimed at controlling the breath or vital life force. The practice of controlling the breath brings many physiological benefits to the body, like increasing the quality of sleep, decreasing stress responses, and improving lung performance.
There are different forms of Pranayama, such as Ujjayi (or victorious) breath and nadishodhana (alternate nostril breath). One thing all breathing techniques have in common is using the breath to connect the mind and the body. They also help to deeply oxygenate the body and help with the elimination of toxins. It is not merely about moving your body for fitness; it is about the power of nourishing breath on our mental and physical well-being.
These are just a few of the differences between the practice in the West and the roots of traditional ancient yoga. The practice of yoga has been around for thousands of years, and the literature written on yoga is vast and complex.
One of the most important takeaways Eastern yoga principles is a focus on connection, such as the connection of mind, body, and spirit or the connection with the Divine and all living beings. Any form of yoga you practice will bring physical and mental benefits, but there is something to learn from the ancient ideas of traditional yoga. It is essential to acknowledge the roots of our Western yoga practice to begin to move deeper into it.