Yoga in the Modern Era: Evolution or Dilution?

Oh this is a juicy one today! This is a topic that has been simmering under the radar for quite sometime and on reflection it doesn’t surprise me at all that this has happened as the West continues to adopt practises originating from the East. Today I am talking about the psychology-driven makeover of embodiment practises like yoga and meditation. 

Or the ‘psychologisation’ of spiritual practises. 

Psychologisation? What does that even mean!?

Picture this: you’re in your favourite yoga studio. The lights are low, incense wafts through the air, gentle music plays and as you settle yourself onto your mat your instructor begins talking about all the benefits of the practise you’re about to embark upon; stress relief, improved mood, enhanced focus. There is, however, not one mention of anything spiritual. No talk about connection to spirit, soul, or something bigger than yourself. Importantly, there is no talk of anything beyond the mind. This shift - this focus on the psychological experience is what I mean when I say the “psychologisation of spiritual practises”. 

Slightly off topic… This isn’t a phenomenon that lives exclusively within the yoga & meditation field. Language rooted in psychoanalysis & psychotherapy is everywhere nowadays; terms like OCD, ADHD, Narcissism & Trauma are commonplace in contemporary conversation. We are becoming a society of pseudo-therapists with, at best, surface level understanding of these concepts or, at worst, complete misunderstanding of the fundamentals of these ideas. It’s something I think we need to be really careful of as we, lay people, navigate our keen interest in the workings of the mind. 

Back to Yoga… You’re likely to say, but Yoga does reduce stress, meditation does enhance focus and improve your mood! You may say that talking about the positive effects of these practises in this way can make a seemingly distant and unknown way of being approachable to the skeptics out there, who wouldn’t dream of exploring these practises if they were only sold in the shape of energy centres, transcendental experiences or non-dualist philosophies.

And you know, I would absolutely agree with you. If it’s easier to digest, it’s easier to practise!

But there is (and you probably guessed that I wouldn’t end the article there!) a flip side.

What affect does diluting these practises have in the wider understanding of them? And how does it impact our ability to experience them in their richest form? 

Embodiment practices like yoga have profound spiritual roots that do not only centre themselves on body and mind. Yoga, for instance, encompasses the physical postures (asanas) yes, but also breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and ethical principles (yamas and niyamas). The psychologisation of yoga might lead people to focus solely on the physical aspects, treating it as a mere workout routine with a few beneficial impacts on our mood. Certainly there is nothing wrong with valuing the physical experience of the practise, but neglecting the other dimensions of this rich, ancient philosophy can rob us of the vast transformative potential that lies at its core.

Approach these practise from a psychological perspective only and we’re also risking an extensive cultural disconnect that comes from not recognising, honouring or even KNOWING where these practises have come from. Positing Yoga and Meditation in the form of self-help, stripped of it’s cultural heritage, historical context and philosophical underpinnings perpetuates the separation between the practise and its roots, possibly erasing the centuries of wisdom that Yoga carries; it smacks of appropriation to me.

So what do we do?

How do we balance the scales of what we prioritise in our Western society, whilst also honouring the roots of these Eastern practises?

Learn the stories of the postures. While many of the postures we know and love are inspired by nature (downward facing dog, cat pose, tree pose) many of them have rich stories behind them. Explore the story behind Natarajasana, Marichyasana or Koundinyasana (there’s many more!) and see how the inspiration for the posture might shift the way you practise them moving forward.

Why not go beyond the postures completely. Yoga offers us a full and varied spectrum of practises - do you explore them all? Perhaps now would be a fab time to dip your toes into practises that there has been resistance towards? Meditation? Pranayama? Self-Reflection? Stillness? The list goes on.

You don’t have to do it alone! Seek out teachers that share the wide variety of these practises and listen, learn, approach that which might not initially make sense to you. Use their guidance to help you navigate the complexities and layers of this rich wisdom.

I totally understand many people’s experiences of yoga begin and end with the physical practise; it is relatively simple, easy to comprehend and extremely accessible, especially when we view it as an enjoyable pastime or hobby. However, I believe that even if we are only ever dipping our toes into the practise we still have a responsibility to understand the practise as a whole and the depths to which it can be explored; beyond mind and body.

Ultimately what you put in equates to what you get out; it takes time, effort and faith to truly experience the benefits (beyond the mind) but this is what makes it a lifelong practise with no time-line and no time limit.

Yoga is something to return to again and again for the long haul, not simply the quick fixes.