What does yoga mean to Hindus, Christians, or people of other faiths? Many religions believe that the main traits of yoga are not in accordance with their religious beliefs. Today the practice of yoga has become so controversial and confounding. People all over the world are divided on the subject. So, is yoga a religion? No, it is not a religion in itself. However, it is connected to religion and originates historically from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
India is known to be the birthplace of yoga. The practice of yoga finds mention in the ancient Indian texts and is also a major part of Buddhism and its meditation practices. This is the reason why many people from other religions think that yoga is too Hindu and practicing it is like ignoring their religious sentiments. But that is not true! Yoga can be practiced as a way to feel closer to any higher power you believe in. Whether you are after a new workout or a bit of calm, anyone can benefit from spending few minutes on the mat.
How did Yoga Originate?
Yoga is believed to have originated thousands of years ago in India and was later adapted in different countries in several ways. The origins of yoga could be traced to some 5000 years ago in Northern India. The word “yoga” first found its mention in the ancient Hindu texts called Rig Veda. Rig Veda is one of the earliest sacred texts among the set of four and contains over a thousand hymns and mantras and was used by the priests of the Vedic Age. Yoga was later developed by sages who recorded their beliefs and practices in the Upanishads, sacred texts containing over 200 scriptures.
The Bhagwad Gita is a scripture of yogic philosophy that was written between 400 BC and 200 CE. It is a sacred text that focuses mainly on the practice of yoga. The text emphasizes that enlightenment is the true essence and origin of yoga. Along with the practice of yoga, the idea of sacrificing one’s ego through wisdom, action, and self-knowledge was developed.
During the classic period of yoga, all the Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism texts started to discuss the systematic presentations of yoga practices. It was during this period that Patanjali created Yog Sutras which is also referred to as the first compilation of yoga philosophy. Patanjali created an eight-limb path or also called Ashtanga, which gives guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life.
The post-classical period saw the rise of Hatha yoga and Tantra yoga. Many of the yoga poses were developed during this period. During the 19th century, yogis started to travel and began to spread the practice to the Western world. Swami Vivekanand was the first Indian monk who traveled the Western world and organized several world conferences on the topic of yoga. He translated the Sanskrit texts into English and promoted yoga as a science of the mind.
Yoga and Hinduism
According to Hinduism, yoga is a path to establish communion with God or attain moksha (freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth). Yoga finds an important place in the Hindu texts because this ancient practice allows the practitioners to attain self-realization which can happen only when the mind is turned inwards and connected with the self.
Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” which means “to join” or “to unite”. However, for advanced practitioners, the meaning of yoga is paradoxical. The true essence of yoga is to unite the two things which were never actually separate in the first place. We just have to remove this illusion of separation. Hindus traditionally practiced yoga to achieve calmness and to practice the love of Brahman, the universal spirit.
Yoga and Buddhism
Yoga and Buddhism have the same roots and are aimed towards enlightenment. They recognize compassion to be the vehicle for freedom from all suffering. Patanjali’s Yog Sutra also talks about the practice of ahimsa or non-violence which results in good karma. Your good deeds eventually result in the experience of peace and happiness.
Yoga and Buddhism emphasize the same concepts and practices like mantra and meditation and karma and rebirth. Despite the similarities, we cannot overlook the differences. The Buddhist approach to meditation requires you to have no belief in any Self at all. However, the Vedantic approach requires implicit faith in the Self and becoming one with it. Yoga meditation traditions teach only samadhi or concentration practices whereas, Buddhist traditions stress insight or vipassana practice. Today you will find many yoga classes that incorporate Buddhist teachings to help the students get the peaceful results that are sought.
Is Yoga Religious or Spiritual?
Yoga’s connection to Hinduism is sometimes the source of confusion. People believe that yoga is a religion. Many poses and helpful stretches in yoga also have spiritual significance in the Eastern Religion. Although the roots of yoga are in religion, it is not in itself a religion. Yoga is better understood as a spiritual practice. You don’t have to adopt Hinduism or Buddhism to practice yoga. Although yoga can be an introduction to spiritual life and can strengthen your existing faith, it does not need any particular religious beliefs. The philosophy of yoga is all about improving health, living a harmonious existence, and achieving inner calm.
Classical yoga predominantly comes from the Hindu tradition. However, the modern yoga understood and practiced in the West is more on the asana side and in some groups has moved away from the religious and spiritual connection. Many of the dimensions of yoga such as yoga asana, Pranayama, meditation to clear the mind don’t necessarily have a religious connotation but they do have a spiritual connotation. I think yoga is a spiritual discipline that draws you closer to God. We should honor all forms of inner quest regardless of where and when they come from.
Yoga and the Western Society
The modern yoga that is practiced today in Western countries is very different from the ancient practice. Yoga in the West is synonymous with physical fitness and is known to improve strength and flexibility. It has evolved from traditional asanas to a combination of different workouts and formats. Today different forms of yoga are practiced in the Western countries such as power yoga, hot yoga, prenatal/postnatal, even beer yoga, nude yoga and cannabis yoga. But yoga’s meditative ability to mitigate stress and calm the mind has become more relevant in this digital age.
Some non-Hindus even meditate on God’s words, but what they do is not truly yoga – it is just physical postures. The practice of yoga postures has shown to have a plethora of health benefits but is not the true purpose of yoga. Without actually understanding the true goal of yoga, faith, or intention, it is merely practiced as a physical exercise.
Some people in the West are concerned about whether they should be doing yoga at all. They think that yoga is a Hindu spiritual practice. However, there are many people in the West, who think that there is no need to be of a specific religion to practice yoga. There are many conflicts between Yoga and Christianity and they cannot coexist. However, we also know that yoga is not a religion. Yoga is a science and its principles are universal. Yoga combines science and philosophy that can help attain physical health, mental control, and self-awareness.
Yoga can be practiced as a way to become one with yourself. When you are on the mat, that time the only thing that matters is the connection you have with your mind, body, and soul. The outside world ceases to exist.
The Takeaway
So the answer to the question “Is yoga a religion?” is simple. Yoga is not a religious practice but spiritual. It allows you to unite your faith with your yoga practice. Yoga does have roots in Hindu philosophy but you don’t have to be a Hindu or Buddhist to embrace it. The fact is that yoga predates many of the religions that incorporated yoga techniques.
In a culture that is noisy, busy, and fast-paced, practicing yoga can give you time for reflection and restoration. People of other religions can use yoga to glorify their God. Moreover, no other exercise method can offer and encourage intention, focus, and mindfulness.
