Religion A-H

Madonna practices Yoga, Photo: Ronald Grant

In the capital alone there are now dozens of new centres and hundreds of classes dedicated to the practice of yoga.

From Hatha to Ashtanga or to Hot yoga all are competing for those who want fitter and leaner bodies, so why is it so popular? How can a group of stretching postures be so appealing?
 
David Swenson is considered an authority on a style of dynamic yoga called Ashtanga. It is the style that has been made popular by stars like Madonna, Sting and Trudie Styler. After having practiced Ashtanga for over 35 years, David now spends his time touring the world conducting yoga workshops for people who want to improve their routine. But for David, Yoga is so much more than the postures he teaches, he believes it can improve your life.

"The greatest asset of yoga is the universal nature of it as a tool for life. Whether it is the student looking for greater abilities of concentration or an athlete wanting more agility or the business person wanting to de stress yoga has something for all of these people. It is truly an incredibly diverse tool with applications and benefits in myriad facets of life."

David Swenson demonstrating a handstand

As it transpires David is not the only one to have been profoundly affected by yoga. Jonathan Sattin, once a senior partner in a law firm now runs a lucrative yoga business in London called Triyoga. He describes his life of yesteryear like being stuck in pinball machine, describing it as "good but speedy." Looking for some sense of balance an  experience in a yoga class was a turning point in his life. Within six months he had given up smoking as well as the 40 mugs of coffee he drank in a day. 

To hear Jonathan's experience click on the audio feature link below: -

The Exercise of breath

In Yoga the focus is on the breath. The idea is that the conscious awareness of the breath helps the practitioner develop a deep understanding of the body. One can move deeper in the posture and hold the poses for longer if one concentrates on the breath, also known as 'prana.' In recent years, Yoga instructor Yogiraj Bikram Choudhary has added an additional variable.  Inspired by the humid conditions of  India, Bikram has successfully launched 'hot yoga' in which people practice traditional postures in temperatures of 107 degrees. He believes that the heat helps create a deeper stretch but also helps to protect muscle from sprain or strain. Bikram yoga is now practiced worldwide including here in London.

David Swenson

History of Yoga

Yoga or "yuj" translates as "yoke together" or "unite" in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. First sited in the Hindu text the Upanishads the concept could be as much as 5000 years old.  But it was around 300 BC that yoga was fully explained in a text by Patanjali. In those texts he states the eight limbs of yoga, of which only one relates to "asana" or "posture." The purpose of patanjali's yoga was to prepare the body and the mind for "samadhi," a deep state of meditation or unification with the divine.

The eight limbs of Patanjali

1. Yama - refers to non-violence,  truth in word & thought, non-covetousness, celibacy and non-possessiveness
2. Niyama - cleanliness of body & mind, satisfaction, discipline, study of Vedic scriptures, worship.
3. Asana - referring to postures as we understand them today
4. Pranayama - control of the breath
5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of senses from their external objects
6. Dharana - concentration upon a physical object
7. Dhyana - steadfast meditation
8. Samadhi - oneness with the object of meditation

In the radio feature below Professor Gavin Flood the Academic Director at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies talks some more about the history of yoga.

Yoga today

Despite Yoga's growing popularity, not everybody is comfortable with practising yoga that is deeply rooted in Hinduism. As a result some groups have adapted the idea so it is more in keeping with their religious sensitivities. In the US now there are over 70 centres practicing "Christian Yoga."

Your thoughts are welcome email: ramaa.sharma@bbc.co.uk