This discussion was recorded in London at the new Mission studio where Jason led Module I of his hybrid YTT a few weeks ago. Together, Jason and I explored the question — Is this thing that we’re all doing still actually yoga? Our power-hour or our 30-minute glo class or our rolling on foam rollers with some poses sprinkled in — are those still yoga? Or has yoga in the West evolved into something else altogether?
A few tidbits that we discuss in the episode:
- The fact that the word “yoga” has more than 350 definitions in Sanskrit, revealing its diverse nature.
- The belief in a singular, authentic yoga tradition is challenged throughout history.
- Swami Vivekananda’s influence on bringing yoga to the United States and his perspective on Hatha Yoga.
- Different yoga traditions, like Iyengar and Ashtanga, were once considered radical innovations.
- The long-standing tension between “head up” and “head down” yogas: intellectual vs. physical practices.
- The importance of focusing on one’s practice and impact rather than judging others’ practices.
- The five common denominators of yoga traditions, including liberation teachings and philosophical infrastructure.
- The significance of Abhyasa (effort) and Vairagya (letting go) in all yoga practices.
- Yoga as a gradual process of replacing unconscious patterns with conscious beliefs aligned with self-realization.
Links related to this episode
Jason will be back at Mission in London in October! Join him for a 6-day immersion or for Module II of his Hybrid YTT. Get the details at: jasonyoga.com/london
We referenced Andrea Jain’s book on the podcast, which you can purchase here
If you are interested in this topic, I also highly recommend Stefanie Syman’s book, The Subtle Body, The Story of Yoga in America and Richard Rosen’s Yoga FAQ
Jason will be leading his online 200-hour YTT some time this fall. Join the waitlist and we will send you the details and a discount code when we’re ready to go!
