Feature Story

By Megan Hill

Lagniappe writer

Chris and Dana Garrett are living their dream.

The two fitness buffs had always dreamed of opening their own studio since they began teaching yoga five years ago.

“With our 20-plus year background in the health and fitness industry we were aware of the many benefits of yoga and Pilates, but never seemed to be at the right point in our lives to ‘take the leap’ and open our own studio,” Chris said.

But then the opportunity arose. A fitness director at a local health club approached Dana after he heard she was interested in opening a studio. He had a free space in his building, and the couple took the leap. Synergy Yoga and Pilates was born.

While the studio has been open for less than two years, Synergy sees about 100 students pass through its doors every week. Synergy has several yoga and Pilates classes each day and numerous instructors teaching the classes, including both Chris and Dana.

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning “to yoke” or “bind” and the word yoga itself is often defined as “union.” Yoga, in its original form, is a Hindu spiritual practice that attempts to join the individual with the ultimate soul of the universe. It consists of four main paths: karma (action), bhakti (devotion), jnana (wisdom) and raja or ashtanga (mental and physical control).

The hatha yoga practiced by many Westerners and taught at Synergy is just one small part of this spiritual journey.

The popularization of this 6,000 year old practice began when yoga was brought to the West from India, where it originated. It became a popular hippie pastime and has recently exploded as the exercise of choice for millions of Americans.

The 16.5 million Americans who practice yoga spend about $2.95 billion each year on classes and products like DVDs, books, mats, clothing and even vacations and retreats, according to a study released in February by Yoga Journal.

Yoga as performed by most Westerners consists of a series of poses, some of which are flowing, others that are held for a few breaths. Some postures emphasize balance, while others build strength, massage the inner organs or even detoxify the body. The poses can free the mind and body of stress and tension and they can be energizing or relaxing.

Practitioners and instructors alike tout the endless health benefits of practicing yoga.

“No matter what other activities you have in your life, yoga can assist and augment what you do now,” said Chris. “On the physical side, yoga postures (called asanas) can improve balance, strength, and flexibility as well as help lower blood pressure. Focus and concentration are also improved as you move through a class, and work with the breath (called pranayama) can assist with relaxation.”

Yoga can also decrease the heart rate, improve digestion, prevent injuries, relieve depression and anxiety and more.

The restorative properties of yoga are also some of the benefits.

“Unlike other physical activities that can overuse or overwork certain parts of the body, yoga and Pilates seek to restore balance within and between muscle groups, making them excellent practices to help everyone – from weekend warriors to athletes – recover from and prevent injury,” Chris explained.

Dr. Laurie Shorter, Intermediate School Director at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, started reading books and watching DVDs as a way to keep in shape and stay flexible. She described yoga as “a life-long exercise program.”

“Yoga is something I know I can do for the rest of my life,” she said.

Shorter mentioned that a surprise quality of yoga was its relaxing properties and stress-release.

“It’s great for relaxation more than any other exercise,” she said. “With yoga, it gives me a longer lasting sense of serenity and relaxation.” Shorter, who has been practicing yoga since the 1980s, said that this sense of peace begins immediately after the workout and is an “all over massage” that easily beats the quick high of endorphins from a cardio workout.

And beyond just the physical benefits, there are obvious mental and psychological gains to be made from the practice.

“Yoga fosters a sense of self acceptance and non-competitiveness, and can help develop a non-judgmental attitude,” Chris said. “Yoga practice can also put you in closer touch with your thoughts, whether for your own meditation, personal prayer, or just clearing your mind from the stresses of the day.”

Shorter also mentioned awareness of one’s own body as a side effect of yoga.

“With yoga, it’s important to listen to your own body and be self-responsible. It makes you a lot more aware of your body all the time” and can correct habitual, bad postures that sap the body’s energy.

But often the concept of yoga goes much deeper than simply an exercise you can practice in your living room while watching a DVD.

“The spiritual side of yoga is an important aspect that should not be ignored, but it is not a requirement for one’s personal practice,” Chris said.

But because the spiritual aspect that links breath and movement is hard to exclude, many who practice yoga may find they are doing something more profound than simply exercising.

“However, adding some focus on the breath will allow the postures and breath to work together in calming the mind and enriching your experience even further, while opening yourself to the spiritual potential of your practice can give you the opportunity for personal growth,” Chris said.

In fact, some Hindus are upset that yoga, a sacred practice and a way of life, has been popularized. They feel yoga is being demeaned and that their religion is being disrespected as it enters mainstream Western culture. For example, the sun salutation, a series of postures commonly practiced in hatha yoga, is actually a Hindu ritual. The ritual is performed to show appreciation for the sun and its warmth and energy. This popularization has caused yoga to lose its spiritual importance, these Hindus argue.

The ultimate goal of yoga is to bring the yogi, the person following the path of yoga, into communion with the infinite, eternal reality for Hindus. This involves dissolution of the self at the end of a complex and difficult spiritual path of practicing good action and material detachment. In the end, the individual soul is absorbed by the greater, ultimate soul of the universe.

The yoga practiced in India is much different from that of the U.S, said Dr. John Switzer, assistant professor of theology at Spring Hill College.

“In India, yoga is understood as a discipline closely linked to daily life and the human quest for meaning making.”

He said that Westerners should probably make an attempt to understand the background and history of yoga as a Hindu spiritual practice.

“Westerners have long been fascinated by eastern religions, and this is understandable. I’m a strong advocate for interreligious learning because I believe everyone’s religious identity can be strengthened and enriched by understanding others,” he said. “Simply adopting the practice of another religion, however, doesn’t mean that the practice is truly understood or appreciated. That’s the problem with popularized versions of any religion or culture. I guess it happens primarily because people see something different – and it seems interesting and new to them.”

Switzer said that the distaste expressed by some Hindus at the mainstreaming of yoga probably isn’t representative.

“Offended by popularization? I think most Hindus find it more amusing than offensive!” he said.

Switzer added that ultimately, there is no danger to practicing yoga without fully understanding or incorporating the more spiritual dimensions.

“Ideally, we should care for our bodies and minds as attentively as we do our spirits,” he said. “In our hurried world today, taking time to meditate and relax the body is undoubtedly a good thing.”

Megan Hill is a writer living in Mobile. E-mail her at mahill@azalea.shc.edu

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