Yoga for anything?

Is the yoga market saturated? – there seems to be a whole industry generating all types of ‘different’ styles away from the established varieties.

Yoga with goats, cats, dogs? Any takers? How about lamas, snakes or fish?

Face yoga, eyes yoga – naked yoga?

What is Yoga?

I guess it begs the question ‘what is yoga?’ – for as I’m always saying, yoga is not just a physical practice with physical benefits. Can the principles of yoga be extended to these new genres?

The basis of yoga is ‘to connect’ – to connect the internal world of mind, body and spirit with the medium of the breath (or more accurately with prana – or life force). Also, to connect with the external world of the Earth and universal consciousness. As within, so without – as it were.

The path of Yoga

Following the eight limbs of Yoga as describes by Patanjali: Yoga starts with lifestyle – making choice which are good for the self and for those around us – as well as humanity and our universal home. Movements – that is, postures and flows – form the part of the practice of yoga which has become a popular for of exercise. When we move in time with the breath we can invite inward focus – and the start of a mindful journey which increasingly takes the intention towards stillness of the mind; a path towards meditation as it were. Indeed, the physical movements can be considered a preparation for allowing the body to be able to sit in stillness for a period of meditation.

Yoga for Anything

So back to that yoga with animals – how does that fit the pattern of connection and inward focus. Would the presence of animals direct the attention outwards, or are we hoping that the animals will become engrossed with the practice and the benefits will be mutual?

And yoga where the movements are limited to one part of the anatomy? – certainly the physical benefits would be concentrated and the rewards equally so. The movements could go with the breath and the inward focus could still occur – worth a try? Or maybe keep those as ‘just’ the exercises?

Naked yoga – hmm. I think that’s a different story: but maybe that’s just me.

Yoga for anything? What do you think? Is there a genre I’ve missed?