In Conclusion...

I started yoga this September with an open mind.  At the very least I was going to be able to socialize with people, get a good workout, and allow myself some time to quiet down my mind.  The combination of learning about the origins of yoga in Professor Greene's class at Stockton and the actual practice of it at different studios throughout South Jersey has been an interesting adventure.  

One of the questions I sought to answer when starting my yoga experiment was whether it was just an exercise. In one of my journals I wrote about this:

"Yoga is definitely framed as more than just an exercise.  The whole aspect of mindfulness on the senses makes it different than many other exercises.  For me I'm still trying to make sense of yoga but it almost feels like a dance class where everyone is dancing by themselves. What I mean is that, like dance, yoga allows people to express themselves through movement. It really is not that much different.  Unlike dancing to music you just do poses to the sound of the instructors voice.  In this way it is more introspective than dancing with someone else."  

I still find this notion to be true. Whether it be getting in touch with your spirituality, or just expressing yourself through movement, I feel like yoga is unique in this sense.The practice of meditation seemed to go hand in hand with the physical aspect of the practice; As I allowed myself to look at my thoughts and meditate mindfully, I also was able to see the stress in my body I had been ignoring.

 Another aspect of yoga that I have grown to like is the ritualistic aspect of the practice.  While each studio has its own vibe, I have found that there is a ritualistic aspect to each.  Whether it be candles, incense, music, heat, or dim lights, the environment is always set to induce a sense of introspection and relaxation.

I would still be reluctant to classify yoga as a religion, however, because I have not noticed two very characteristic things at any of my yoga practices that are normally associated with yoga: Tenets relating to morality, or any explanations of the origins of life or existence of an afterlife.

I feel that the yoga life-style and culture has a lot to do with the process of slowing down the mind and body and being introspective.  It involves becoming more connected: with ourselves, our peers, and our environment.

As opposed to being counter culture, I feel that yoga is actually pop culture now.  Yoga 9, for instance, welcomes all sorts of people and even advertises as much.  Back when yoga was considered a counter-culture people just didn't know that much about yoga.  Classes were not on corners of popular streets such is the case for Yoga 9.  I think the effect Yoga has had on the West has been positive.  I believe in the importance of slowing down the mind and being mindful and yoga is an excellent method for doing this.  Yoga has definitely gone through a lot of changes and adaptions over the generations but so does every tradition.  I don't think these changes are inherently bad unless they are making untrue claims.  If they are just marketed as ways to connect with the body, breath, and self through physical movements, then I think that yoga can be a good thing in pop culture.

The last part about yoga that I have found most profound is the sense of community that it provides. Every class I go to I feel welcomed. Humans are social creatures so it is natural that something like yoga that puts such a big emphasis on community and acceptance of alternative beliefs would become so popular.  I will likely continue to try different types of yoga in the future.  My original goal of becoming more physically and mentally healthy was achieved, however I also found an activity where I can quiet my mind and get in tune with my body and spirit.  

Is Yoga a Religion?

The last few months experimenting with yoga have been a great experience; However, I still am unsure whether I would classify yoga as a religion.  It certainly has many of the characteristics of a religion: It's a group of organized individuals performing rituals, and a strong focus on spirituality.  Just like any religion there are many different "sects" or types of practices.

I would still be reluctant to classify yoga as a religion, however, because I have not noticed two very characteristic things at any of my yoga practices that are normally associated with yoga: Tenets relating to morality, or any explanations of the origins of life or existence of an afterlife.

As we learned in class, yoga has changed a lot over the years; From the East, over to the west, yoga has lost many characteristics and gained many other ones.  It has lost its focus on spirituality and gained more of an emphasis on the body.  While all religions change over time and take on new applications, they usually remain somewhat intact because of some sort of scripture.  Because a lack of this sort of dogma, yoga has been free to transform itself.

Yoga as Meditation

Today at practice I tried to focus on the meditative aspects of the practice. I went to a studio in Cherry Hill called Yoga for living.  The type of yoga was called Svaroopa yoga which I had never heard of before. Today I was feeling very exhausted from finals so my body was aching.  While I went through the practice and the mindful meditation of breathing, I realized how much tension I had been holding in my joints.  The practice of meditation seemed to go hand in hand with the physical aspect of the practice; As I allowed myself to look at my thoughts and meditate mindfully, I also was able to see the stress in my body I had been ignoring.

Yoga as a Ritual

I have noticed that my yoga practices do embody many characteristics that would make them be considered ritualistic.

First of all when I entered the practice today I noticed that taking off my shoes and getting on my mat felt like a separation stage stage of a ritual.  As I laid on my mat waiting for practice to start I felt as if I was leaving my old self behind;  I recognized this was the liminal phase.  Finally, there was an incorporation phase when the practice was over I had completed the ritual.

While each yoga practice is only a mild ritual, this ritual was a good way to slow down my busy day and just be.