24/11/2022
Is Yoga a Religion? A beginners mind🙏🏼
Although yoga is not a religion in itself, it is connected to religion, and stems historically from Hinduism, but also to Jainism and Buddhism. Both Buddhists and Hindus chant the sacred mantra 'Om' during their meditation.
As a teacher of Yoga Asana and philosophy now coming up to 11 years I am nudged and urged to have the courage to share my next steps or depth of knowledge and wisdom teachings that have emerged from my own discipline, learning and practice of Yoga.
I can no longer assist the watering down of Yoga as a group fitness class or a place to stretch that is similar to Pilates!
It is EQUAL to Pilates BUT…IT IS NOT THE SAME!
Why was Yoga originally created?
The original context of yoga was spiritual development practices to train the body and mind to self observe and become aware of their own nature. The purposes of yoga were to cultivate discernment, awareness, self-regulation and higher consciousness in the individual.
Who first invented Yoga?
Patanjali is renowned as the forefather of yoga and his eight-step system is the backbone of modern yoga practice. Centuries after Patanjali's seminal text, somewhere around 800 to 1700 AD, yoga was still developing.
Yoga is a spiritual discipline rooted in Hindu philosophy and is universally available to anyone without any coercion, pressure, or requirement to change one's religion. Asana is a component of Yoga, albeit the most physically-centered part, and means pose, posture, or manner of sitting.
Why is Yoga so important to Hinduism?
Yoga helps Hindus to show loving service to God. It also unites Hindus in their pursuit of moksha, in which the atman becomes one with Brahman.
However, despite yoga’s roots in Hinduism, Hindus are not the religious group most likely to practice yoga in India. That distinction falls to Jains (61% of whom say they ever practice yoga), followed by Sikhs (50%). Indian Buddhists (38%) and Hindus (36%) are about equally likely to practice yoga, while fewer than one-third of Muslims (29%) and Christians (24%) in India do so; in all four of these religious groups, majorities say they never practice yoga.
Roughly six-in-ten Indians (62%), including an identical share of Hindus, say they never practice yoga, according to the Center’s survey of 29,999 Indian adults conducted Nov. 17, 2019, to March 23, 2020.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/06/most-indians-including-most-hindus-do-not-practice-yoga/
Last night I sat in my chair to write out my “I Am” New moon Template.
I had been guided to pull five Yantra Wisdom Cards yesterday to assist in my new direction. As I flicked through the book of meanings I noticed the card Brahma.
I knew the story, symbolism and meaning of Brahma not only had insight for myself but for my Yoga class today as well.
So, dear ones I share this image and link for you to be guided on your Yoga journey as an invitation to deepen your knowledge and philosophy of Yoga.
Brahma: The Hindu Lord of Creation
https://thehindugods.org/brahma-the-hindu-lord-of-creation/
Much love and Light beams as you deepen into the your unique Journey of Yoga🙏🏼
❤️Claire Jayne ~ Higher Wisdom Channel