Traditional Yoga vs Modern Yoga: Understanding the Differences and Their Relevance in Today’s Life
Yoga has picked up immense popularity in recent years due to its numerous benefits for physical and mental health. When people think of yoga, they usually associate it with asanas and pranayama. However, asanas and pranayama are just parts of yoga, not the whole practice. According to the eight limbs of Yoga by Maharishi Patanjali, Asana comes as the third limb and Pranayama as the fourth. Yoga has its origins in India and is one of the oldest sciences in the world.
The word ‘Yoga’ first appeared in the Rig Veda, the oldest sacred text. It is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj,’ meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to unite.’ According to yogic scriptures, traditional yoga practice guides and trains one’s consciousness to unite with the universal consciousness, leading to harmony between the mind, body, and soul.
The practice of traditional yoga began 5,000 years ago during the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India. Dating back to 2700 BC, yoga is a gift from the Indus Valley Civilization, aimed at boosting both spiritual and material welfare. The six branches of traditional yoga include Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Tantra Yoga , Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Karma Yoga.
Traditional Yoga Practice: A Holistic Approach
Traditional yoga practice takes a holistic, 360-degree approach to health and wellness, focusing on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. It emphasizes the union of mind, body, and soul, creating harmony among all three. Traditional yoga practice teaches mindfulness, awareness, and balance, guiding individuals to live life fully, not just during yoga sessions but throughout the day.
Modern Yoga: A Shift in Focus
Over time, there have been many transitions in the forms of yoga. Modern yoga is one such form, primarily focusing on the body and physical fitness without fully understanding the body. Various types of yoga fall under modern yoga, including Power Yoga and Hot Yoga. Often, modern yoga is practiced without complete knowledge and understanding of the contraindications and limitations of the body, leading to potential injuries and a lack of awareness about the technique, purpose, and benefits of the postures.
Traditional Yoga vs Modern Yoga
1. Approach and Philosophy
Traditional yoga teaches breathing techniques , yoga asa nas, and self-love methods. It involves human psychology and the philosophy of yoga, equipping individuals to deal with life challenges and people from different walks of life. Traditional yoga is a lifestyle to be lived 24x7, not just for an hour on the mat. In contrast, modern yoga focuses solely on physical development.
2. Spiritual Enlightenment
Apart from asanas, traditional yoga emphasizes reaching the highest self, attaining spiritual enlightenment, and self-development. It stays true to the ethics, morals, and values of yoga. Modern yoga, however, is more inclined toward the business side and has become a trend, with a focus on yoga mats, athleisure, and high-end yoga centers.
3. Purpose and Mindfulness
In traditional yoga, teachers make students understand the purpose and meaning of every kriya and technique. The practice starts with setting a purpose, followed by guided meditation, breath control, and mindfulness, uniting the mind, body, and soul. Modern yoga, on the other hand, is primarily about physical movement and fitness.
4. Pathway to Self-Realization
Traditional yoga involves spiritual development, serving as a pathway to self-realization, growth, and evolution. Modern yoga focuses mainly on physical postures called asanas.
5. Self-Awareness and Purpose
Traditional yoga encourages practitioners to seek answers to questions like “Why am I here?” and “What is my purpose?” It promotes self-awareness, centeredness, and mindfulness. Modern yoga does not address these aspects.
6. Challenge and Commitment
Traditional yoga is more challenging than modern yoga, requiring dedication and commitment to the practice. It makes practitioners mentally, emotionally, and physically strong and spiritually enlightened. Modern yoga focuses on physical development.
7. Teacher-Student Relationship
Traditional yoga teachers, or gurus, guide students both on and off the mat, investing deeply in their students’ lives. They teach how to live life through yoga and its philosophy. Modern yoga teachers usually focus on the technical aspects and practical attributes of yoga.
8. Purity and Truth
Traditional yoga emphasizes finding permanent truth, purity of mind and body, and moral and ethical righteousness. Modern yoga primarily focuses on physical fitness.
9. Beginning of Practice
Traditional yoga may not always start with asanas, focusing on purifying the mind first. Modern yoga begins with physical fitness through asanas.
10. Holistic Development
Traditional yoga includes various types, sequences, and stages to achieve spiritual growth and self-development of the mind, body, and soul. Modern yoga includes styles aimed at physical development.
11. Dedication to the Eternal Truth
Traditional yoga requires complete dedication, concentration, and purity of the soul to seek eternal truth. Modern yoga focuses only on asanas.
Read More: How to Do Pranayama, Types of Pranayama & Their Benefits in Daily Life
12. Goal of Self-Development
Traditional yoga is dedicated to self-development, self-realization, and uniting with the divine power. Modern yoga, being body-centric, does not include these attributes.
13. Comprehensive Practices
Traditional yoga involves various practices to purify the mind and heart, connected with holistic development. It takes time to achieve these goals, focusing on the development of the mind, body, and soul. Modern yoga is about practicing asanas for an hour on the mat.
14. Guru-Disciple Relationship
Traditional yoga is based on the guru-disciple (Guru-Shishya) relationship, where the guru’s teachings guide students to connect with the divine power or higher reality. The disciple blossoms under the spiritual guidance of the guru. Modern yoga lacks this depth.
15. Meditation and Harmony
Traditional yoga usually begins with meditation to bring harmony to the body and spirit. Modern yoga does not emphasize this aspect.
16. Willpower and Spiritual Focus
Traditional yoga focuses on the philosophy of yoga, emphasizing Sankalpa Shakti (willpower), Kriya Shakti (power of action), and Iccha Shakti (power of desire). Modern yoga typically teaches the techniques of yoga without focusing on the spiritual aspects.
In conclusion, traditional yoga and modern yoga both offer unique benefits. However, understanding the differences between traditional yoga vs modern yoga can help individuals make informed decisions about their practice. While modern yoga focuses on physical fitness, traditional yoga practice offers a comprehensive approach to achieving harmony of mind, body, and soul, making it a timeless practice relevant even in today's fast-paced world.
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