Hi Jot1. Could you elaborate on what you just said? I do agree with you in some ways. But I think Hinduism itself is a distortion. For example, Hinduism isn't really a polytheistic religion. People who are worshipping all the different gods are really just worshipping aspects of one God. I think that this may have been forgotten some time along the way.

I have also read that asana yoga practice was practiced by a small minority and that it was shunned by the hindu majority because of its strong focus on the physical body. Hinduism is a distortion? Hinduism is polytheistic (polymorphic would be the better term). Even you understanding of worshipping different aspects is polymorphism. Except for sectarian Hindus, we recognize an impersonal force (Satchidananda) that takes on innumerable forms. There is no one God/form. Regarding asana, one must always remember that sitting in one comfortable position (Stirasukamasana--actually the only asana advised by Patanjali) is something all Hindus are very good at! Also "posture" is more about an attitude. You are right about the caution about a "strong focus on the physical body" for this is exactly what has happened (sadly).

Even if Mr. Iyengar has distorted yoga, its a great practice. One should never justify the distortion. Like Christian evangalists, Iyengar has allowed his name to be outfront and he disconnects "yoga" from Hinduism and makes non-Hindus "yoga teachers."

jot1

I'm curious as to why you are on the Iyengar forum. I gather from your postings that you are not a yoga teacher or Iyengar practitioner.