5
Difference Between Traditional Yoga and Contemporary Yoga

Difference Between Traditional Yoga and Contemporary Yoga

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Difference Between Traditional Yoga and Contemporary Yoga

Difference Between Traditional Yoga

and Contemporary Yoga

Page 2: Difference Between Traditional Yoga and Contemporary Yoga

Traditional yoga is more about spirituality and ways to attainit. A spiritual practice in itself, traditional yoga focuses onproviding a spiritual enlightenment wherein students worktowards achieving the ultimate goal of uniting with the divine.

Modern aka contemporary yoga has evolved over the years tobecome more of a fitness-oriented practice today. Morecommonly practiced in Western countries, contemporary yogafocuses on achieving fitness goals while giving the spiritualexperience a back seat.

Spirituality VS Fitness Goals

Page 3: Difference Between Traditional Yoga and Contemporary Yoga

Traditional aka authentic yoga practices shed more focus on meditationpractices. According to yogic experts, the ancients perceived postures asjust one part of an entire system of yoga. Although quite a useful part,these yogic postures hold second place when compared to meditationthat shed more focus on spiritual enlightenment, the main purpose ofyoga in those days.

Modern yoga on the other hand, takes a different approach to spiritualenlightenment. While neglecting focus on meditation or mind part,contemporary yoga offers higher value for physical postures or Asanas.Rather than being a part of yoga, these Asanas have now become thewhole of yoga, seemingly reflecting its true nature as a means to reduceweight or achieve fitness goals. Many experts offering authentic yogacourses in India believe that in doing so, the true purpose of yoga ismissing from the process.

Postures VS Meditation

Page 4: Difference Between Traditional Yoga and Contemporary Yoga

If you prefer to learn yoga in India from a traditional yogapractitioner, you will be surprised to note that authentic yoga wasactually taught orally. There are many historical scriptures thatpoint out to way yoga was taught back then, with many indicatingthat yoga was possible taught in a sutra style, focusing on impartingknowledge of the 196 different sutras found in the Yoga Sutrasorally.

Modern yoga; however, takes a different approach here as well.Rather than relying on oral lessons, contemporary yoga jumpstartswith physical training and yoga poses. While this may be done toaccommodate the tight schedules, one cannot help but notice howthe true essence of yoga is sometimes lost in modern yoga.

Oral Lessons VS Practical Lessons