As many are now aware there is a tide in the yoga world that is rocking many boats. The efforts of certain bodies to establish controls and regulations over the teaching of yoga is being met with deep and resolute resistance by many long established yoga teachers. At the heart of this resistance is the meaning of the word yoga. For its meaning points to its significance. Its significance is based on its impacts. Its impacts are based on its actions, its activities. This is the heart of the problem.

For yoga is exactly what it says: union; unity. The essence of this union is the unity of body and mind, of matter and spirit, of the physical and the spiritual. This union is in danger of being denied by the corporate impulse being expressed by certain government bodies, and supported by certain yoga organisations. Yet, to cast that impulse in a benign light, their concerns are not invalid. For one of the remarkable characteristics of yoga practices is how clearly and deeply they reveal and express that unity.

Yoga addresses itself directly to that inherent unity. It bases its activities upon it. While the range of its activities is broad and deep, to most, yoga is arranging the body parts into specific relationships, the body itself into particular shapes. To many millions yoga practice is posture practice. This is perfectly valid. In fact this is one of the great gifts of the nature of being human, and of yoga: that profound and subtle internal results can come from mundane and overt external actions, if integrated (organised) effectively.

But yoga is not a physical culture. It is a human culture, addressing fully the irreducible mystery of being human. Yet when it is based, as it usually is, on the articulation of the body, physical concerns and criteria must, and do, apply. In order for the spiritual benefits of yoga postures to take place, they must be undertaken with integrity. And this is the only justification that any organisation, or individual, can ever have for establishing guidelines and standards for the teaching of yoga: integrity.

The integrity of yoga goes far beyond the wellbeing of joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Nevertheless, when its practice involves making shapes with the body, their well being is not only paramount, but fundamental, to the deeper integrity of yoga. Therefore it is not only justifiable, but necessary, that yoga be taught with physical integrity.

The rapid proliferation of interest in yoga posture practice has brought this issue to a vital head. Yoga is being taught in yoga centres, private houses, church halls, hospitals, schools, commercial offices, government buildings, and not least; gymnasiums and fitness centres. It is very likely that the majority of yoga classes take place within premises owned and operated by the ‘Fitness Industry’.

The heart of being human is a vital and irresistible spirit. A spirit that can not be contained: not by political, religious or any other systematisation. A spirit that is the fount of all human creativity, indeed all human endeavour. We are, to misquote, spiritual beings trying to become human. It is to and from this spirit that yoga speaks. Yoga is, in essence, a spiritual phenomenon. It is because being human is also a spiritual phenomenon that yoga has lasted so long, and will last as long as the flames of human life continue to burn.

What we are faced with now is an institutionalisation of yoga that robs it of its depths, its power and its relevance. It cannot be left to the fitness industry, to the government to define and regulate yoga. Yet the teaching of yoga in accountable organisations cannot be left to ignorance. They will not do this. Yet they themselves, and their regulatory bodies, are neither competent, nor qualified to establish regulations, standards or guidelines for something that is so much more than physical.

Yoga cannot be guided, regulated, from ignorance. Neither from ignorance of the integrity of the human body; nor from ignorance of the spiritual heart of yoga and being human. Therefore it is clear that the yoga community itself, must meet this challenge with clarity, conviction and commitment.

This is of course a huge undertaking. Yet it must be done: avoiding it will serve only to undermine yoga, and to possibly force its truest expressions aside and underground. If the current interest in yoga is to be met it must be met by us. We must be willing to unite and establish guidelines, standards for teaching yoga. Standards that respect the irrefutable needs of the human body and the irresistible needs of the human spirit. Standards that permit the practices of yoga to be taught with physical safety and spiritual effectiveness.

The above contribution represents the personal views/researches of the author - a founder member of: www.independentyoganetwork.org. Godfri Devereux may be contacted directly at: info@windfireyoga.com or www.windfireyoga.com.

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(IYN-114) Yoga is a Human Culture, not a Physical Culture. We value your feedback, information and personal experiences and would be pleased to hear from you.