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Yoga is associated with extraordinary physical abilities, intricate body positions, and a special breathing system. But this is only the outer part. Professor Ganesh Shankar revealed to us the essence of yoga, along the way debunking the most common myths about it.
Like any popular teaching, yoga over the centuries of its existence has been “overgrown” with all sorts of myths and conjectures. You can list them endlessly. We have mentioned only the most common ones.
Yoga is a religion
Of course not. According to statistics, more than 15 million people practice yoga in the United States alone, and they all adhere to different religious views.
“Yoga is tolerant of all faiths, otherwise it would never have become so popular all over the world,” explains Professor Ganesh Shankar. — At the heart of all practices is the idea of self-improvement and gaining inner freedom. But this is not a religion, but a way of life. Yoga teaches you to set goals and consistently go towards them. Your goal can be anything – to become calmer, become healthier, unleash your creativity, find harmony, or just lose weight.
Regular practice can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease
“Yoga does not promise instant results, it teaches patience. If you practice yoga for a long time, it gradually changes your lifestyle. Many do not notice how they begin to choose healthy and light food, comfortable clothes made from natural materials. You begin to surround yourself with pleasant and harmonious things and throw out everything unnecessary from life. So yoga becomes your lifestyle, but only if you yourself want it.”
Yoga is only suitable for young, healthy and flexible people
“Yoga is open to everyone. There are classes for pregnant women, young children and older people. Many start practicing yoga at 70 and achieve amazing results in a couple of years, says the professor. Today, yoga is recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease. It has already been proven that regular practice can slow down the development of the disease.
Yoga prevents psychosomatic illnesses and helps to enjoy life. Less stress means less disease. As for flexibility, then, of course, it is necessary to perform many complex asanas. But no one will force you to do them on the first lesson. And after a year of regular practice, perhaps these asanas will not seem so difficult. And even if not, no big deal. Everyone has their own maximum.
Yoga does not provide adequate exercise
Many people think that yoga is endless stretching exercises that do not allow you to work out all muscle groups and develop endurance. But Ganesh Shankar strongly disagrees with this.
Yoga is good because you can practice it anytime and anywhere.
“To be convinced of the opposite, it is enough to attend a power yoga class or Ashtanga Vinyasa (dynamic practice). But there is still Bikram yoga, which classes take place in a room heated to 35-40 degrees.
Today there are many types of yoga that train endurance and give a good power load. Some classes require serious physical preparation, and I would not recommend them to beginners. But in principle, there is a kind of yoga for everyone.”
Yoga should be practiced every day
“Regularity is really important if you want to achieve serious results,” says Ganesh Shankar. – This is the only way to increase the mobility of the joints and the elasticity of the ligaments, which are necessary for mastering more serious asanas and moving to the next level. But don’t worry if you can’t go to class every day.”
Yoga is good because you can practice it anytime and anywhere. Even short sessions are helpful. Ten minutes is enough to feel better. A little morning practice can improve blood circulation, strengthen the body and give a sense of harmony.
You need to follow a vegetarian diet
Many equate vegetarianism and yoga, but this is not true. “There are no absolute prohibitions in yoga, there are only recommendations that are relevant at various stages of practice. A person who practices yoga decides for himself whether to eat meat or refuse it. You just need to listen to the needs of the body,” says Professor Ganesh.
“Most of those who consciously practice yoga for several years themselves come to the idea of vegetarianism. It happens gently and completely naturally. At a certain level of immersion in yoga, the attitude to food changes, as the body itself and the style of eating change. As a result, some products simply leave the daily diet.
About expert
Ganesh Shankar – Professor, President of the World Council of Psychiatry (Asia Division), President of the Asian Federation of Psychotherapy (AFP), Secretary General of the Yoga and Psychotherapy Association of India (YPAI), Professor and Dean of the School of Education, Dean of the Faculty of Human Consciousness and Yogic Sciences (Sagar University, India), Certified Psychotherapy Yoga Specialist (WCP).