It is technically part of a repressive religion itself so the placement in the list does seem a bit odd to me, but the nuance is that nonpractitioners can use it to stretch and exercise without any spiritualism.
Yeah I realized after writing that, it’s a little flippant. My favorite yoga teacher once described American yoga as an unholy mashup of British calisthenics and ancient Indian spiritual and contemplative practices, and that sounds about right. I do know it’s orientalist, and that’s problematic, but goodness it is a great physical practice, the way we do it here.
I think I read that originally yoga was a mental and physical practice that later on had all these layers of religiosity added. Someone more knowledgeable feel free to correct me.
originally hindu meditation for seeking… well… I’m not sure I understand it.
in the modern era there’s both the traditional, religious yoga, and the people doing it for generic mindfulness and physical fitness. it’s also in Jainism and Buddhism, but it started in hinduism.
It is technically part of a repressive religion itself so the placement in the list does seem a bit odd to me, but the nuance is that nonpractitioners can use it to stretch and exercise without any spiritualism.
Yeah I realized after writing that, it’s a little flippant. My favorite yoga teacher once described American yoga as an unholy mashup of British calisthenics and ancient Indian spiritual and contemplative practices, and that sounds about right. I do know it’s orientalist, and that’s problematic, but goodness it is a great physical practice, the way we do it here.
I think I read that originally yoga was a mental and physical practice that later on had all these layers of religiosity added. Someone more knowledgeable feel free to correct me.
originally hindu meditation for seeking… well… I’m not sure I understand it.
in the modern era there’s both the traditional, religious yoga, and the people doing it for generic mindfulness and physical fitness. it’s also in Jainism and Buddhism, but it started in hinduism.