By some estimates there are more than 10,000 different religions in the world today. Could yoga be one of them? Countless books and DVDs espouse the spiritual benefits of yoga practice, and there are certainly some enthusiasts who find it to be a religious experience. Others though, insist that yoga is no more a religion than jogging. What does yoga truly represent?
Ordained Monk
Framing the question as “Is Yoga a Religion?” leads me to say “No,” because Yoga clearly is not “a religion.” However, if the question were something like “Is authentic, traditional Yoga ‘spiritual’ in nature?” I would answer, “Yes.” However, Yoga is also clearly not a mere physical exercise, as has become a common view.
To the ancients, Yoga is a complete system, of which the postures (asanas) are a small, though quite useful part. The word "Yoga" referred to the whole, not merely one part, which is the postures, or asanas. The entire purpose of Yoga is spiritual in nature, according to the ancient sages.
In modern times, the relative position of the postures has been elevated, so as to lead people to believe that the word "Yoga" refers to physical postures or asanas, and that the goal of these is physical fitness. The whole and the part have been reversed, terribly misleading and confusing people about the true nature of authentic Yoga.
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