27 Jan Q&A on ‘Misconceptions About Yoga’ at the Satsang, 27th Jan 2013

Smt. Hansaji and Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

Q. How is old age yoga different from householders’ yoga?
Dr. J: See, if you equate a householder with an old man, then it is okay. But a householder is not necessarily old. There are young householders and they can do yoga.
Smt. H: There is nothing like old age yoga or young age yoga. Yoga is yoga which should be right from womb till tomb. Yoga can work wonders for every age and every situation.

Q. While yoga has a holistic approach, does it help in reducing stress in one’s life and how?
Dr. J: This stress is also part of our physical health. if you are tired, stress is increased. If you are mentally tense, stress is increased. So as I said, yoga is for the entire individual.
Smt. H: Yoga definitely helps in reducing stress. Why stress? Due to lack of awareness. What to do so that stress is removed? Once you start following yoga you will understand how you live, what type of habits, thinking and routines you have. If there are wrong things, you correct it, automatically stress goes away. Any problem comes because of wrong lifestyle. Change the lifestyle and everything would be fine.Q. How can we lose weight with yoga?
Dr. J: Basically, lack of exercise increases this problem. When the abdominal muscles are tightened, when the other bodily organs are exercised, proper hunger, this will all help.
Smt. H: Weight is more because of lifestyle. Reduction of weight happens when you correct your lifestyle. But I have seen that people who are obese just want to do exercises all the time and when they cannot do the exercises, they put on weight again. So this is not called weight management. We have to understand that we have to make changes in our habits, our routines and basically get good rest. People have no idea that good sleep can solve big problems. So if you can go to sleep by 10 o’clock sharp and wake up by 5-5:30 in the morning, it will do wonders.

Q. You cannot change others. So if they are following wrong routine which is harming them, how to make them realize or change attitude to better themselves?
Dr. J: See, when you don’t talk to them about their weight, automatically they start reducing.
Smt. H: As Dr. Jayadeva said last time, let them suffer. When they suffer, they would realize and then change. Then they would be ready to change and you can help them out.

Q. I think that in every religion there is yoga. Am I right?
Dr. J: Ya, it is not called as yoga, but every religion requires certain posture, mental relaxation, concentration, so yoga is there.
Smt. H: Religion also is a discipline, of course. But in religion there is a fixity – certain things have to be done in a certain way and you are tied up in that. Yoga talks about thinking before action, about understanding the purpose behind doing anything. But in yoga there is no rigidity as such. Every religion has rituals. Yogic ritual could be drinking water in the morning, walking, doing some Asanas, Pranayamas, meditation, eating food at the right time, having some relaxation, recreation etc. Otherwise there is no conflict with any religion. Yoga is a Grammar of religion. That means yoga also believes in higher reality, in yoga we always say God is a model and we should try and become like that but there is not fixed name or form of God.