Yoga is often misunderstood as merely a set of physical poses. In reality, it is a comprehensive philosophy that influences every aspect of life. It is not exclusively tied to religion, though it can have spiritual elements. Practicing yoga encourages awareness of breath, mindful living, and personal growth without requiring adherence to any specific deities or religious practices. Various styles of yoga exist, such as Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga, each contributing to individual well-being and experience while addressing common misconceptions about flexibility and spirituality along the way.
Yoga is most commonly associated with asana, the poses or physical embodiment of the practice. In reality, yoga is more of a philosophy than anything else, one that, when committed to fully, touches every aspect of your life.
Modern yoga is largely based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which, yes, is a foundational Hindu text. Still, just practicing yoga does not mean that you're praying to Shiva or Ganesh.
Aside from Hatha, there's Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Restorative, Hot, Iyengar, Acro, Nidra, Kundalini. Each style offers unique benefits and experiences.
The way you breathe, treat others, show up for yourself, and move through the world are all yoga. Basically, the way you do yoga is the way you do life.
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