A lot of people have one major misconception about yoga: that it is a religious practice belonging to one particular religion. The reason for this misconception is that chants, mantras, and shloka are used in yoga quite greatly. However, it is notable that yoga does not belong to just one religion; it rather belongs to multiple religions that originated in ancient India.
The first mention of yoga is in the Rig Veda, which is one of the oldest sacred texts. From the Rig Veda came religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Hinduism is widely followed and practiced by people in modern-day India. When you ask any Indian, they don’t like to describe Hinduism as a religion; rather, they describe it as a way of life. So, essentially, yoga becomes a part of life rather than a religious practice. So whichever religion you may be following and practicing, integrating yoga into it can be very easy because when you perform yoga, it isn’t any type of prayer or religious chanting; it is a physical, mental, and breathing exercise that you perform for your wellbeing.
In this article, Open Circle Yoga Studio, which is one of the best yoga classes in Abu Dhabi, will take you through some tips and advice that can help you apply yoga to your religious practices.
You Can Perform Breathing Exercises in Yoga
Breathing exercises in yoga are essentially the art of controlling your breath. According to yogic philosophy, life is measured in the several breaths you take and not in years. Yoga also says that animals that breathe slowly, such as turtles, live much longer, whereas animals that breathe fast, like dogs, have shorter life spans. That is why it is recommended to reduce your breath.
At an open-circle yoga studio, we conduct regular breathing and meditation classes in Abu Dhabi. While you perform breathing exercises, you can focus on religious chants of your religion and keep your focus on the god you believe in. This way, you can associate yoga with your religious practices and get the best of both worlds.
Mental Health and Yoga
No matter which religion you follow, there will be phases when you have to deal with your mental health. Even when you are in the best phase of your life, if you exercise for your mental health, it will always stay in a better phase.
Various yoga poses help with generating positivity in your mind and body, which results in better mental health. If you are a woman struggling with mental health lately you can search for yoga classes in Abu Dhabi for ladies and join them.
Most yoga practices and poses are secular, and they are not associated with or linked with any religion. Most of the yoga poses are inspired by natural elements like animals and birds. When you engage in yoga poses like sun salutations, you are paying respect to elements of nature and not any religious identity. This can be a very good beginning towards better mental health and applying yoga to your daily religious practice.
Yoga Is a Practice for All
Many people in the West argue about whether yoga is a religious practice, a spiritual belief, or simply a healthy exercise routine. There is one common thread running through all of the available data on yoga: its unique ability to adapt to the needs of the student. Yoga adapts to the needs of the culture in which it is practiced. It is not necessary to emphasize religious or spiritual practices to reap their benefits. The versatile and easily adaptable nature of yoga helps one easily blend religious customs with yoga.
Your religious beliefs can be easily associated with your yoga practice. The following are some of the physical benefits of the practice:
- increased adaptability
- improved muscle tone and strength
- improved breathing, energy, and vitality
- maintaining a healthy metabolism
- slimming down
- Cardiovascular and circulatory health
- improved athletic performance and injury prevention
All these benefits of yoga make investing your time, energy, and effort in it worth it.
Meditation, religion, and Yoga Practices
Meditation is one practice of yoga that helps you stay calm and focused even in the most stressful situations. Yoga incorporates meditation elements such as a connection between mind, body, and breath as well as an emphasis on being present in the moment. It may only take a few simple changes to transform it into a form of moving meditation.
“Moving mindfulness” is being mindful and conscious of movement without a goal or destination, says one practitioner. If you have ever done Vinyasa yoga and gotten lost in the flow, you have certainly experienced this moving meditation without even trying. To get the maximum benefits of meditation, you can combine your religious practice with yoga practice. You can also join private yoga classes in Abu Dhabi at Open Circle Yoga Studio and start your religious yoga practice under the guidance of a qualified yoga teacher.
Concluding Lines
Yoga can be easily integrated with your religious beliefs and practices. For best results, you must initially try yoga under the guidance of a licensed and qualified yoga teacher in Abu Dhabi. At Open Circle Yoga Studio, you can try different types of yoga classes and get the overall benefits of the practice.
