The State of Modern Yoga: A Report from the Field
Recently, I have had the opportunity to experience a variety of yoga classes in western yoga studios, something I have not done in quite a long time. I was curious to see what ‘normal’ classes are like and what students are being taught. I started a Yoga Training School in 2008 and have rarely been to classes outside of yoga training situations and outside of Thailand, India and Bali, so I felt that a little research on the state of modern yoga would be useful for my teaching.
As a teacher of Yoga Teacher Trainings, I have the luxury of both time and depth of content. The morning classes on the trainings are about 3 hours long. We are able to explore meditation, and extended breath practice and explore a complete and balanced asana practice. Unfortunately, in modern cities, people are busy and most yoga classes have shrunk to an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes. It seems that it’s very hard to create a balanced practice in in such a short time.
Due to the time constraints and also due to the trends in exercise and fitness, these short classes are nearly always very intense. Yoga is used by many people as their ‘workout’ which is not a problem in itself, for yoga is a dynamic and adaptable practice, but some very important aspects of yoga are being sacrificed in the interests of the ‘yoga workout.’
In most of the classes I went to, the majority of the practice consisted of standing poses and Chaturangas, Upward and Downward Dogs and arm balances. The intention seemed to be to try and do the hardest things continually until the class was over. Some of the classes were truly relentless. Instead of creating focus on particular areas or peak poses, many teachers simply wandered (without direction) through a series of unrelated strength poses. Interestingly, in every single class I attended the teachers always taught Half Moon Pose and Warrior III. These poses are certainly on trend at the moment!
Accompanying this highly stimulating physical practice was, nearly without fail, a soundtrack that belonged in a gym, not a yoga studio. Often the teachers were competing with the music for the class’s attention and I found concentration extremely difficult with pumping music going. It’s not a problem to have music which helps the teacher get the students in the right mood and mind-set, but because the focus seemed to be ‘workout’, the music created an atmosphere of external attention.
One of the greatest benefits of yoga is that it helps us go in inward in this very outwardly-focused world. To come to a yoga class and have my attention continually pulled externally by the teacher and their teaching is a great loss to all of us. When I go to a yoga class, I want to space to be in my own practice and the time to go inwards and really feel myself and what is happening with me. I am not there for a DJ set or to be entertained by a chatty teacher. Silence and quiet do not seem to be as valued as they might be, and students are not given a chance to find their own space and internal connection.
What also seems to be forgotten in these classes is that yoga is a practice to adjust and align our personal energy, which yoga calls prana. Prana has 2 main qualities: stimulating and calming. When there is only 1 hour to practice yoga, what seems to be sacrificed is the calming parts of the practice. In many of these classes there were very few seated, cooling or calming poses. In some cases, there were actually none! Calming was not a priority. Most people spend their lives in speed and stress, and quieting practices are the things they actually should be doing more of. Instead, they choose to take more stimulation in their yoga. In Ayurveda, we say ‘Like increases like.’ Stimulation added to an already stimulated person simply increases their stimulation. Stimulation can be a very addictive quality and it can be hard to ‘come down.’
All of this is not terrible in itself, but my greatest concern is the loss of the wisdom and depth of the tradition. To truly experience what yoga is and what it can do, it takes time and intelligent use of the practices. Most modern students will never really feel can yoga can do unless they take the time to attend longer workshops and do practices that are more balanced in their use of yoga tools, which would include meditation and breath-work. It’s encouraging that yoga is so widely practiced through the western world, but we need to make sure that we don’t forget the essence of yoga and what has made it such a powerful practice over that last 2,000 years.
Swara Yoga Academy offers a variety of Foundation and Advanced Yoga Teacher Trainings:
In our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and our Advanced 100 Hour Modules, we teach a breath-based yoga that includes a comprehensive breath system called Swara Yoga. Swara Yoga helps every Yogini (regardless of experience) the beauty and art of yogic breathing and Pranayama. Swara Yoga is a special and unique system of Yogic breathing that you will not find in other schools. If you are a teacher, it is a very powerful tool to help you effectively teach breath to your students. Join us on a Teacher Training or 100 Hour Module soon and learn the art of breath and posture!
If you are interested in breath and Prana, join us in Portugal for our Prana and Pranayama 100 Hour Module. It’s a unique experience of yogic energy work and breathing that will transform your practice.
Prana and Pranayama Yoga Teacher Training
If you especially interested in breath, prana and life force, consider joining us for our 100 Hour Prana and Pranayama Teacher Training. It’s an amazing opportunity to explore this subtle art deeply, guided by experienced yogis and practitioners.
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Thailand
Our classic and most popular course has been running for over 12 years. The Yoga Teacher Training Thailand features an in-depth exploration of asanas and how to teach them, a comprehensive pranayama and breath section with out signature Swara Yoga breath system as well as transformative meditations, philosophy for living and much more. Join us on a course!
Yin Yoga Teacher Training
The intention of this Swara Yoga Yin Yoga Teacher Training is to immerse students in meditative practices and philosophy which relates to the process of the mind and senses, our way of relating to life, our deeper sense of Self, and to pure free awareness.
Yoga Nidra & Yin Yoga are the main take-home teaching techniques, but this Yin Yoga Teacher Training course also explores seated & active meditation, asana & Tai Qi.
