All Paths Lead to the Cross Roads

Terra Ciolfe

Feeling like an amateur; sitting with your legs crossed uncomfortably; hands in some unnatural position, resting on your knees; back straight; eyes awkwardly closed in public; desperately trying to understand how it is that your shoulders could possibly be gentle, and what exactly that means anyway.
"Just breathe, nice and down into your tummy. Inhaling up, expanding and opening to receive the sunlight. Exhale. Closing the flower down for the night," she said in a slow and calming voice - while adjusting her microphone - to the sea of her pupils that sat before her on their mats, clad predominately in lululemon gear.
Go into any gym across the country and you are likely to find yourself in a similar situation.
With the increase in popularity of yoga within the past few decades, somewhere along the lines this Eastern tradition has managed to transition into the mainstream. It now has a massive following within the West and can be considered a multi-billion dollar industry.
There is a multitude of accessories available; from ohm decorated mats to yoga bricks, entire stores and particular gyms dedicated to its practise, instructional DVDs, yoga retreats, magazines and even YouTube videos - all in the name of Namaste.
With all of these easily accessible to the general public, it is easy to by-pass or forget what the crux of yoga was initially intended for: spiritual enlightenment - to reduce it to its most basic ideal.
While millions of people attempt to stay balanced in their tree positions, some are concerned that with the increased commercialization of this ancient tradition, that its true nature is being completely eroded, leaving the practise of yoga caught in a contradiction of ideals.
This is not to say, however, that yoga as we know it is an evil demon. In fact, it would be hard to argue that this increase in popularity is necessarily a bad thing.
Speak to anyone who claims to practise yoga or has been to a few classes and they will most likely speak its praises. People tend to enjoy it. It gets them out to the gym, gives them some time to themselves, improves strength and flexibility and makes people feel calmed or centered - whatever the terminology may be.
However, the problem comes in the definition.
Is this really yoga?