Is Practicing Yoga Selfish?
Have you ever felt like you were visiting “Bizarro World” or some sort of parallel universe? On a rare occasion, you may get a chance to hear a unique opinion about Yoga. Listening is always a chance to learn something new.
Some of my best memories are of listening to people talk about the benefits of Yoga; but recently, I had a chance to overhear a conversation about how self-centered Yogis are. This person’s point of view is an interesting one, even if you do not agree with it.
Apparently, this gentleman felt that Yoga was part of a self-indulgence wave that has swept the Earth. All of the time that Yoga practitioners spend meditating, practicing asana (Yoga posture), and practicing Pranayama (Yogic breathing), appeared to him as if it was a form of self-love.
As his theory goes, all of this self-love, over indulgence, and basic selfishness, has created an evil “New Age Movement” that is confused and has no direction. Well, upon listening further, this gentleman revealed that he has never practiced Yoga, but he was very sure about it.
Unfortunately, people do not always think for themselves. They may be parroting an opinion that is not based on fact, but they heard it “somewhere.” In the west, most of the public has still not attended a Hatha Yoga class because they picture it only as a form of physical exercise.
Fear of exercise, and the possibility of becoming healthier, as a result, are their “logical reasons” for staying away from Yoga. After all, it is better to spend a few twenties on a carton of cigarettes or a stack of scratch tickets than to improve your life. Who wants to make a change toward healthier living, happiness, lower stress levels, and possibly losing some weight, due to a lifestyle change?
Let’s address the issue of selfishness again. There seems to be some confusion about what constitutes selfishness. If someone willingly chooses to be negligent, in all matters of his or her health maintenance - that is selfishness.
To live an unhealthy life, in complete disregard to the concerns of loved ones, family members, and friends, is self-centered - not to mention, the drain one voluntarily puts on the rising cost of health insurance. In contrast, if you are taking care of your health, you are making everyone else’s life easier.
Yoga can create healthiness and happiness. In turn, this makes a more pleasant world for all of us. Healthiness and happiness are gifts for the world to share.
Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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