Daily Times

Sanskrit words still dominate the content and terms of modern yoga. In the early 20th century, yoga was adopted as a groundbreaking regime by the West. The modern world was quickly impressed with the techniques to experience mystical powers within and the art to take the body into extreme contortionist poses. With time, yoga was able to attract chronically ill to its healing dimension. This form of exercise was seen as a panacea for the endless cycle of weight loss and weight gain by balancing both the body and mind. The popularity of yoga has since then been on the rise as it is a tried and tested methodology for a strong body and a relaxed one. Today yoga is a globalised phenomenon.

Back in the 1940s and 1950s, many yoga masters from India travelled to western countries to teach this ancient and the mystical art of yoga was practised for thousands of years. The West embraced the goodness of yoga and offered research in return, to authenticate its claims to improve health and fight disease.

The modern postural yoga as known and practised in gyms and studios around the world is based on interpretation of an ancient manuscript known as “Yoga Korunta” by two yoga teachers, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and K Pattabhi Jois in early 20th century. Yoga Korunta outlined a series of sequences as a form of rigorous physical practice, which came to be known as Ashtanga Vinyasa style.

Much confusion is caused by Patanjali’s “Ashtanga yoga” for the present-day practitioners. Patanjali was the codifier of the ancient practices dated as far back as 4,000 years ago. This codification dates approximately 2000 years ago where Patanjali describes the practice of yoga in detail. There is another definition of yoga by Patanjali who writes, “yoga is a cessation of modification of the mind.”

Some sources refer that the Yoga Korunta manuscript was bound together with Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga Sutras. James Russell quotes Gregor Maehle, (Yoga Korunta – unearthing an Ashtanga legend), that “the two systems were therefore intended to be practised and studied together. Hence, the name, Ashtanga Vinyasa.”

James Russell writes that Patanjali’s yoga was more towards meditative and is a method for progressively bringing the mind under control.

Sanskrit words still dominate the content and terms of modern yoga, therefore to grasp the true essence of the message of yoga, the words need to be deciphered and understood. The word Ashtanga can be broken into “Ash” meaning “eight” and “tanga” meaning “limbs.”

Thus, Patanjali describes yoga as eight limbs or eight-step process (in the Sutras).

Some sources refer that the Yoga Korunta manuscript was bound together with Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga Sutras. James Russell quotes Gregor Maehle, (Yoga Korunta – unearthing an Ashtanga legend), that “the two systems were therefore intended to be practised and studied together. Hence, the name, Ashtanga Vinyasa.”

Teachers like Krishnamacharya and Jois emphasised strong postural practice, which has contributed to advance and sophisticated canons of postural practice. Yoga Korunta was a well-guarded secret of Krishnamacharya and Jois, but unfortunately and mysteriously this manuscript disintegrated without a trace.

The geographical shift of the discipline brought many variations in the form and essence of yoga. The West was hungry for a rigorous and intensive physical regime that could proportionately match their expectations of strenuous exertions such as gymnastics and ballet. It was here in the west that yoga was redefined.

The western countries hosted workshops and symposiums to demonstrate the mysterious and exotic discipline to the general public. But the ultimate success of yoga in the west was due to its dynamic mass consumer economy.

Yoga was branded and repackaged as a product and not as a discipline.

There are about six forms of postural yoga in modern-day practice. “Hatha” is referred to as gentle and slow-paced movements and is considered more suitable for beginners. On the other hand, “Ashtanga” is referred to as an energetic and physically demanding practice in most studios around the world. It has a set sequence of postures performed in the same way in every class. Mastering the sequences is challenging for most practitioners and not recommended for beginners. Another form emerged as “Iyengar”, named after a student of Krishnamacharya, who was unable to cope with demanding physical practice due to his frail health, BKS Iyengar. He didn’t give up his dream to practice yoga and branched out with modifications, and props to assist physically challenged students. Today, it’s one of the most successful branches of yoga suited for beginners, especially those facing restricted physical mobility.

The term “Vinyasa” means “to place in a special way,” but it is understood to be a practice involving the play of breath with movement. Vinyasa found its space and breath in the practice of “Sun Salutations”- a series of 12 postures coordinated as a complete flow. Other Indian yoga teachers were inspired to brand their form of yoga under their name, such as “Bikram” style which is also known as “hot yoga.” From the other forms of yoga, Bikram yoga is a controversial style as it is practised in a heated room of 38 degrees and claims to help burn 500 calories in a session. Lastly, a popular form of yoga, known as “Yogalates,” has emerged recently, which incorporated Pilates moves. This form aims to contour and tone the body.

Many people are drawn to yoga to keep their bodies fit, others seek relief from tension or some even search for a balance in mind and body. Whatever the reason, yoga is a tool and technique to transform your life.

The writer is a wellness and yoga expert