Week 4

I believe yoga is framed as sooooo much more than exercise. We saw in the films we have watched that yoga is a religion in some parts of the world. But as for the US, i feel it is a type of exercise with additional spiritual benefits. Yoga-lovers of the united states say that yoga will open your third eye (a common phrase i hear in the classes, yet i still do not know what they even mean by that). i have even heard that you should feel spiritually connected to mother nature. the instructors use phrases such as 'self realization' or 'self empowerment', to get you  to feel present, and in the moment.  i asked a woman after class how she felt about self-empowerment and yoga. she told me that yoga will help you find self-love and happiness, and from that you will bring happiness and love into your personal relationships. The instructors and people in the classes all claim that the practice of yoga will make you feel magical ways (all in addition to it getting you in shape), which i believe is why so many people do it.

You never a marathon runner or a zumba dancer making these extreme claims about their sport. i think a lot of people choose to practice yoga as their form of exercise as opposed to running because it is a very calm form of exercise. think about running or even weight lifting, there is a lot of effort and exertion involved--it is very intense. not that yoga cannot be intense, but it is way more calming. you are in a relaxing, serene enviroment. the point is that yoga can help you work out without feeling like you are actually being active--and the claims of the benefits made also convinces people to practice it.