Have you Goat yoga?

It was the Yoga Day last Wednesday and I read about Goat Yoga! You strike these yoga poses and goats are supposed to roam around you ?? I have attended many yoga classes in my life, but none of the teachers have actually explained or helped me understand what yoga truly means. This prompted me to think deeply about how the word 'yoga' has been misused in modern times. It's time we discuss this publicly so that nobody falls prey to the modern yoga practices marketed under funny names and themes. Yoga has been diluted to simply a form of physical exercise and mental well-being. In reality, it is way deeper than you can possibly imagine.

When I was in kindergarten, school began with a yoga period almost every morning. I wasn't sure what I was doing then, but after years of practise, I now realize how well it helped me during various situations later in my life. However, due to my ignorance, I thought it was always limited to physical and mental well-being. Asanas helped me cope with the long hours at work and maintain a healthy back and neck despite spending extended periods in front of my computer. Even today, when I hear the word yoga, it immediately brings to mind people striking various poses and stretching their bodies. This understanding of yoga remained so until a few years ago when I started my inner journey.

The word 'yoga' means union. It signifies the union of the mind, body, and spirit. Now, one might ask, isn't "spirit" a form of metaphysics? Yes, it represents the metaphysical state of our pure consciousness, pure being or existence. In classical Hinduism, which finds its origins in the Vedic texts, there are various paths to achieve this union: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Jnana Yoga. Origins are traced to more than 5000 years ago, starting with Rig Veda, later commented and developed by some of the badass monks known as the Rishis.

• Karma Yoga involves achieving union through selfless work. It is for the workaholics! In this, "selfless" is the key word! (eg: Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi)
• Bhakti Yoga emphasises intense love for a personal god as a means to attain union (e.g., all theistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam, ISKCON, etc.). It is the simplest form as it makes use of the most primal of human emotions - Love. (eg: Jesus Christ, The Prophet Mohammed, Swami Prabhupada)
• Raja Yoga is a path to "experience" union by controlling the body, mind and its life energy (Prana). It is the style of the Rishis! All Yogasanas come under this. (eg: Sadguru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
• Jnana Yoga involves analyzing our existence through intellectual inquiry. This is for the intellectuals and the wannabe atheists who want a path of reason. (eg: Swami Vivekananda, Adi Sankara, Vedanta Mission)

Although these four paths may appear different, once you understand one of them, the others mostly convey the same essence. For example, Gautama Buddha has borrowed from both Rajayoga and Jnana Yoga. It is up to you to choose which one resonates with your personality. They are bound to reveal the same meaning of 'Tat Twam Asi,' 'Thou Art That.' You will come to realise the true nature of your existence.

Most of what is commonly taught as 'yoga' in modern terminology derives from Raja Yoga. Sage Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutras, made significant contributions to this Vedic text. Commentaries on the sutras were later adapted into various Hindu philosophies such as Vedanta. While the more body-focused asanas were part of Hatha Yoga, the more mind-focused processes were classified under Kriya Yoga. These practices further evolved into Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa, and so on, all connected with the well-being of the mind and body.

According to the actual definition of 'yoga,' you are unknowingly practicing yoga in the most mundane of situations. While you work out, if you can pay intensely focused attention to your breath and body, you are actually doing yoga. If you engage in an activity and can observe your mind being fully present in that activity, you are practicing a form of yoga. The fundamental concept of yoga is to be conscious of our mind and body in any activity we engage in. When you look at these texts, we find the most core contribution of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras to be its teachings on how to meditate! The sages who wrote these texts were excellent psychologists, and they deeply contemplated our very existence to gain a profound understanding of our mind and body. It is no wonder they achieved such insights, given that their senses were not subjected to the overstimulation demanded by today's life.

When you typically learn a meditation technique, the usual instruction starts with 'sit in a comfortable position.' ?? To be frank, nobody knows how to sit in a truly comfortable position! Honestly, we don't even know to breathe properly! It is the most challenging thing to achieve unless practiced. There is a whole science behind it, such as proper breathing, having an empty stomach, the physics of balancing your skull (the heaviest part of your body), and more. Raja Yoga teaches you how to achieve this comfort. It also teaches you to withdraw your senses, similar to turning off a TV by gradually reducing the volume until you see a blank screen. If you haven't explored it, it is a lifetime journey that is highly recommended. For the yogi, the steps will be asana, pranayama, dharana and finally 'Samadhi'. As swami Vivekananda says, "You will finally know what 'rest' means".

My aim was not to explain the different yogas in detail, but rather to shed light on the origins of 'yoga' and the fact that it doesn't simply mean striking postures. It is a way of life. Hatha Yoga, which primarily focuses on asanas, is just the tip of the iceberg of knowledge hidden within the Vedic texts and Upanishads. It is a gift to the world and does not belong to any particular religion, as Bhakti Yoga encompasses all theistic religions. Whether you are an atheist, or have a personal god or religion, the Upanishads and Vedas are a treasure trove of knowledge that excites the intellect and challenges one's beliefs about the existence or non-existence of God. They not only show you the way but also help you find answers to these questions through personal experiences of your own.

"After long searches here and there, in temples and churches, on earth and in heaven, at last, you come back, completing the circle from where you started, only to find that He, for whom you've been seeking, crying, weeping, as if a mystery in the clouds, is nearest of the near, is your own Self, that is your own nature. Assert it. Manifest it." ~ Swami Vivekananda.

Yoga is the car that will take you in this journey. Drive Carefully, Responsibly.

So, the next time you strike a yoga pose, with or without the goats, let's express gratitude to Sage Patanjali for gifting this knowledge to all of humanity. In fact, he was the GOAT. Peace ??