Essay On Modern Day Yoga

The discipline of Yoga provides the fabric of life in which disciples secede from the material world in the direction of ‘the great disembodied thought’ and spiritual freedom. An idea that people are not bound to what appears to be the only real existence. A way of freeing the mind and true identity from obstruction and society. (pg. 29) The basis for Yoga is control of the body and working towards separation from the physical self and material world. The goal is to become an observer in which all relations and stimulation from the surrounding environment dissipate. (pg. 30) As an adventurer for freedom from 1990’s society, Christopher McCandless stated that he similarly aimed to, “Kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual pilgrimage” (Krakauer, pg. 111). A student of Yoga is one who seeks inner …show more content…
The focus of modern day yoga is of posture and breathing; the teachings stop there. In the original text, the physical aspect of posture and the breath is only the gateway to a whole different realm of Yoga. (pg. 58) Current society has transformed the postures from a gateway to a method of exercise. The industry has become very powerful, raking in $27 billion a year, which is also hypocritical with the morals of Yoga. The idea of greed and material desire must be removed from the mind when performing yoga. (pg. 54) In addition, the majority of modern day yoga performers belong to the upper-middle class and fill their world with material desire. The modern day perception of Yoga is simply an athletic training utilizing postures and breathing techniques. The teaching held within the ancient text are not common knowledge to today’s participants. The concepts of Yoga are being stretched thin as it becomes more and more