Thread by @IamRajii

#1 I never learnt yoga professionally before. Recently went through #Ishayoga Hatha yoga workshop and I'm simply amazed by the practice and also by what the trainer shared during the session.
Why yoga over Gym, sports or aerobics?
does it really work?
Here are few answers

#2 Any Western fitness practices concentrates only on Physical fitness whereas Yoga concentrates on the well-being of five layers of your body-
Annamayakosha - Physical
Manonmaya kosha - Mental
Pranamaya kosha -Energy
Vijyanamayakosha -Wisdom
Anandamaya kosha- Bliss

#3 Yoga is a way of living and not to be confused with only asanas (Postures) whereas Yoga-asanas is only a part of the Yogic practices. In other words, meditation, yogasana, paranayamam, suryanamaskar and others are mere tools for one to attain the state!

#4 Any human body is designed only to react in two ways - Flight or fight.But the modern day scenarios demands much complex reactions to any situation and that's the result of stress, anxiety and subsequently to any disease. So, every thought has a particular chemical reaction

#5 The tools like Hatha yoga, suryanamaskar, upayoga let's you take the control of your body and mind. In this way, you decide the chemical reaction inside you and thus safeguarding you from any diseases. This is not a mere physical transformation but it is spiritual too

#6 Hatha yoga as such teach us to be adamant and pursue something which otherwise is not your general physical comfort..in other ways it teaches you to make your comfortzone universal. When anything is comfortable, there is no uneasiness, frustration which will end up in stress.

#7 It is important to learn it from a trained yoga professional because every single detail in a posture is important. It brings an equilibrium in your body and aligns all the chakras in order to channelize your energy.
Being aware and conscious of what you do is vital

#8 is Yoga secular?
Yoga is universal. Human being should embrace this and seek benefit out of it irrespective of religion.But yoga gets complete only through combining devotion to it. You pray Surya, you pray Shiva , you pray shakthi, you pray yourself which is the energy form.

#9 Every unique details of Yoga is from the roots of Vedic culture, Hinduism. Something which must be appreciated, cherished and practiced. Any Western influence on it, or taking away the spirituality away from yoga will not provide a holistic benefit to any individual.

#10 I would personally request everyone to take up Yoga and especially Hatha yoga for physical fitness. Zumba, boot camps can make you slim and fit any day but what's the use if you are still not healthy? Let's embrace our ancient practices proudly :) learn and teach your kids :)

And hey if you really want to wait and decide like how you did for Thoppukarnam until it was hijacked as brain yoga and became a multi million dollar business, that's totally okay with me :D after all Western endorsement is very important for us right? ;)