| The Yoga tradition has developed over many | | | | the core philosophies of Yoga and the more |
| centuries and has been influenced by different | | | | aggressive competitive urges which can sometimes |
| practitioners and philosophies. It will come as no | | | | emerge in sport is useful to keep in mind. |
| surprise, then, that Yoga has numerous branches and | | | | The therapeutic applications of Yoga have begun to |
| variations. There are however, five major approaches | | | | emerge where instead of Yoga being predominantly |
| to Yoga from which you may find the one that fits | | | | focused on those without physical ailments, it is now |
| best with your goals and lifestyle aspirations. These | | | | being used specifically for people with disabilities or |
| five different approaches started to develop in the | | | | physical ailments. For example, Yoga therapy is being |
| late nineteenth century when Yoga was first | | | | used to assist people to address conditions such as |
| introduced to Western cultures from India. | | | | back pain, rheumatism and asthma. |
| Yoga is now generally practiced in five different | | | | Yoga as lifestyle is the approach most closely aligned |
| ways: | | | | with 'proper' Yoga. Yoga a few times a week is |
| - as a way to improve health and fitness | | | | certainly beneficial, but with Yoga as lifestyle, you are |
| - as sport | | | | practising daily, either poses or meditation. One of |
| - as therapy using the body | | | | the foundation principles of Yoga is to live life 'lucidly', |
| - as a lifestyle / approach to life | | | | that is, with awareness, so Yoga as lifestyle goes |
| - as a spiritual discipline | | | | beyond the physical activity and melds the emotional |
| The first approach to Yoga is the way that most | | | | and spiritual philosophy into a conscious dedication and |
| people are introduced to this activity. This is the | | | | study of Yoga, as well as incorporating ideas of how |
| most common approach used in Western cultures to | | | | to eat, sleep and live with others. |
| adapt Yoga. While certainly Yoga traditions, especially | | | | In contrast to Yoga as lifestyle, which is concerned |
| Hatha Yoga, put an emphasis on the necessity of the | | | | with healthy, functional, wholesome and benevolent |
| body to be strong, flexible and resilient, what you | | | | living, Yoga as spiritual discipline adds a further |
| may discover in many Yoga classes is that this is a | | | | dimension of enlightenment to this approach. |
| foundation for the emotional and spiritual aspects | | | | Enlightenment is concerned with discovering your |
| that exist throughout the Yoga tradition. | | | | spiritual nature. This spiritual nature is a uniting |
| Yoga as sport has emerged quite strongly in some | | | | super-conscious that is the same for all living beings. |
| Latin American countries and is a little controversial. | | | | The wonderful activity that is Yoga exists at all |
| It's practitioners, many of the elite athletes, master | | | | these levels and each person can choose to |
| very challenging Yoga poses and postures to | | | | participate in as much, or as little of the full Yoga |
| perfections and then participate in international | | | | experience as works for you. The physical benefits |
| competitions to demonstrate these skills. It is this | | | | of regular practice continue whether or not you |
| competitive aspect of approaching Yoga as sport | | | | choose to explore and experience the lifestyle or |
| that has concerned more traditional practitioners of | | | | spiritual aspects, or decide to get a little competitive |
| Yoga. From their perspective, competition has no | | | | with your poses. Whatever approach appeals most |
| place in Yoga. As in all things, perhaps a balance | | | | to you, seek out others who share your enthusiasm |
| between good natured competition, which supports | | | | and enjoy the increased wellbeing it will bring you. |