Let’s be honest - yoga has come a long way from its roots. What started as a profound practice to transform the self has, in many places, turned into a fitness routine, a trendy lifestyle, or even just an aesthetically pleasing Instagram post.
And while I absolutely love that more people are discovering yoga, I can’t help but feel we’ve lost a bit of the soul along the way. It’s not all doom and gloom, though.
There’s still hope to reconnect with the essence of asana practice - but it takes a little digging, a little honesty, and a willingness to go beyond the surface.
What is an Asana?
The word “asana” in Sanskrit comes from the root word “आस उपवेशे (āsa upaveśe),” which means “something on which you sit.” A chair is an asana, a cushion on which you sit is an asana.
In the same way, if your mind sits inside the body when you are in a specific position, that too is known as an asana. It’s not just a posture, but a method where the mind finds a seat within the body.
Maharshi Patanjali explains in the Yoga Sutras, “स्थिरं सुखम् आसनम् (sthiraṃ sukham āsanam),” meaning it should be steady and comfortable, creating good space for the body and mind.
The Origins of Asana Practice
Asanas have been an integral part of spiritual practices for centuries, but not in the way modern yoga studios might suggest. You can find references to asanas in Purva Mimamsa Darshana as part of rituals, and in Tantra practices as essential components of sadhana.
Seated asanas like Padmasana, Siddhasana, and Vajrasana are seen in many Vedic and Puranic rituals. Early methods of asana practice were not about sequences or fancy transitions - they were foundational for spiritual practices.
Asanas were taught in Gurukulas - traditional educational systems where a teacher (guru) would personally guide the student. Temples, being centers of knowledge and spiritual practice, were also places where asanas were taught.
This one-to-one teaching method ensured personalized guidance and careful progress. That’s why you don’t see much detailed explanation of asanas in early Sanskrit, Pali, or Prakrit texts — they were taught directly through experience and mentorship.
Asanas: The Gateway to Pranayama and Meditation
You see, asanas were never meant to be just about bending your body into pretzel shapes. The whole point was to prepare your body and mind for something far deeper - pranayama and meditation. The ancient texts like Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita didn’t glorify fancy poses.
They talked about creating steadiness (sthira) and ease (sukha), preparing your body to sit comfortably and breathe efficiently so that you could dive into deeper practices. Asanas were about building a strong foundation, clearing energetic blockages, and settling the body so the mind could follow.
But somewhere along the way, the emphasis shifted. Now, it’s all about picture-perfect poses and impressive flexibility. While that’s visually appealing and certainly builds strength and discipline, it’s not the whole story.
It’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics and forget that asana was never meant to be an end in itself. It was always about paving the way for that inner transformation.
One-to-One Teaching: The Heart of Traditional Practice
Here’s another thing - yoga has always been a deeply personal journey. Back in the day, it wasn’t about huge classes or mass practices. The Gurukula system of education was all about one-on-one guidance. The guru knew the student, understood their strengths and challenges, and guided them on an individual path.
This individualized teaching is preserved today in the Mysore style of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Students move at their own pace, with the teacher offering guidance as needed. It’s personal. It’s intimate. It’s transformative.
But what do we see today? Packed yoga studios where teachers barely know their students, and classes are designed to cater to the majority rather than the individual.
Sure, it’s fantastic that yoga has become accessible to so many, but let’s not pretend that mass classes carry the same depth as one-on-one teaching. When yoga becomes generic and commercial, something vital gets lost.
From Inner Transformation to Outer Aesthetics
The word “yoga” means union, right? It’s about merging the individual self with the universal consciousness. But today, it seems like we’re more interested in merging yoga with fitness trends or lifestyle statements.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating physical strength and flexibility, but it’s a problem when that’s all yoga becomes. Originally, asanas were meant to help clear the nadis (energy channels) and prepare the mind for meditation. Now, they’re more often associated with sculpting abs or nailing a handstand.
Let’s not forget that yoga was never meant for Bhoga - sensual pleasure or indulgence. The intention was to rise above the body’s demands, not to glorify them. When the focus shifts entirely to how a pose looks rather than how it feels or what it unlocks within, we’re missing the point.
Finding Balance: Tradition Meets Modernity
It’s not that modern adaptations are entirely wrong. Making yoga accessible is beautiful in its own way. But as practitioners and teachers, we have a responsibility to remind ourselves and our students of the real purpose.
It’s about finding that balance between staying true to tradition and embracing modern approaches that make yoga relevant today. It’s okay to evolve - but let’s evolve with awareness.
Keeping the Traditional Roots Alive in Modern Classes
As yoga teachers today, how do we balance modern adaptations with traditional wisdom? Here are a few pointers:
Emphasize Pranayama and Meditation: Dedicate time in every class to pranayama and meditation, not just as an afterthought but as integral parts of the practice.
One-to-One Connection: Even in group settings, try to build personal connections with your students. Offer adjustments, observe individual progress, and give personalized guidance wherever possible.
Share the Philosophy: Regularly share stories and insights from the traditional texts like Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, or the Yoga Sutras. Let your students know why they’re practicing a particular asana beyond just physical benefits.
Mindful Movement: Encourage students to move mindfully between asanas, with an emphasis on breath and awareness rather than just achieving the “perfect” pose.
Preserve the Language and Chanting: Use Sanskrit names for asanas and include mantra chanting to honor the roots and vibrational aspect of the practice.
Yoga’s resilience is incredible. Despite commercialization and dilution, the essence still exists - waiting for us to reconnect.
Let’s teach and practice in a way that honors the roots while staying open to innovation. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how it looks on the outside. It’s about how it transforms us on the inside.
