Top 5 Myths about Yoga

Still today there are many myths about Yoga. Here are some of them:

• Yoga means yoga postures
  This is possibly the biggest myth about yoga. Postures, though important is just one of the limbs of yoga. Other limbs are such as Yama, Niyama, Pranayama and Meditation are in fact more important. Postures keep you physically fit but yoga is much more than postures. Some yoga teachers are to be blamed for this belief. To impress their students they demonstrate �extreme� postures and tell that one should strive to achieve these postures. In his Yoga Sutrats, Patanjali says-�Any pose that keeps you steady and in comfortable condition is Asana�. The main aim of asana is to be able to sit in meditative condition for long hours and to keep body healthy.
   
• Yoga is to be practiced by a specific religion
  It is a fact that origin of yoga is in Indian civilization. However, no where in the yogic texts it is mentioned that they are to be practiced only by Hindus. In the modern age where technology has broken the barriers of country, religion and cast only narrow minded people can say that yoga is for a specific religion.
   
• Yoga practitioner must keep away from worldly duties
  The ultimate goal of yoga is self-realization or union with god. However, that doesn�t mean that only monks or renunciates can practice it. Everybody has right of freedom , be it a renunciates or a householder. In fact it is much difficult to remember God when doing day to day duties. Those who want to achieve results quickly can devote themselves completely for �Sadhana� but others can very well do it by following their daily routines.
   
• Yogic signs of progress can not be seen in modern age
  We all claim to be modern and with scientific vision. However, we often overlook the possibility that there can be ocean of knowledge we never explored. Ancient Yoga texts speak about various Yoga powers and signs of Yogic progress (seeing light, hearing mystic sounds, knowing future incidences etc.). These things are considered obsolete and even some yoga teachers tell that they are something not be believed or out of the reach. However our faulty practice is to be blamed for this. If one practices with honesty and sincerity then you also can experience these mystic looking signs.
   
• One can practice yoga without changing one�s uncontrolled lifestyle and attitude
  Big wrong. Many so called modern teachers seem to be telling their students that yoga will work like a miracle in their life and they can continue their uncontrolled life style �As Is�. The real teacher will never promote un-controlled life style; be it in terms of material pleasure, diet or sense enjoyments. Every relationship is give and take relationship. If you want to get good results you must give up un-controlled things of your life. Then and only then light will come to you. In Bhagwat Gita it is said that one who practices extremes (too high and too low) in work, sleep, eating etc. can not attain Yoga. A yogi must follow moderate path in his practice.