Yoga is 1 percent theory and 99 percent practice ?

                                                         

Yoga is 100 percent practice

Most of the yoga practitioners must have listen this saying, Yoga is 1 percent theory and 99 percent practice. One of the tradition proudly using this quote frequently. But is it really true  or people totally misunderstood this ? What I always see is that they believe only Asanas (physical postures) as practical and do it regularly. Most probably their Guru/Master didn't mean it literally or students totally misunderstood this statement. If we see the various traditions of yoga then we can find out that all traditions or Masters of yoga has given practices not theory (Theory is the explanation of the practices and technique), whether it is Hatha yoga or Patanjali's Eight limbs or even Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga or Gyana yoga. Yoga is all inclusive and practical knowledge. Yama, Niyama, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana, Mantra Chanting, Shatkriya, Mudra, Bandha, all these are practical not theory. Only Asanas are not 99 percent practical. Yoga is a lifestyle to practice and follow not to listen and read theory only.

I used to teach yoga in one Yoga institute where teachers from all other traditions used to teach yoga. They all had different approach of teaching. I used to teach Asanas, Pranayama, Yoganidra, Meditation and all other traditional practices and all other teachers mostly used to teach or mostly like to teach strong and advanced Asanas, so students always used to say that I teach theory and when the students want to learn theory, then they come to my classes. This perception was very interesting and funny to me and still I strongly feel that how popular traditions spreading misunderstanding about yoga  consciously or unconsciously.

There is nothing like theory in yoga . all are just practice and there is theory or concept  behind the practices and certainly Asana (posture) is not 99 percent of yoga. Yoga is 100 percent experiential knowledge not theoretical . Yoga is to seek not to believe. Other practices like Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Mantra  are also has same importance as Asanas. In fact Asanas are just warm up and preparation to experience the state of Yoga higher consciousness. The outcome of Asana is that we feel comfortable physically in other practices or action.

I read interviews of many teachers, who were teaching those traditions of flow/vinyasa/postures, saying that after teaching 15 years or 20 years, I stop teaching and shift to basics or Pranayama or dhyana.  What does it mean ? Are you wasted your time and also your students time for 15 or 20 years ? That is why it is said that if you want to practice yoga then you need a right Guru or teachers not just an instructor. It is highly possible that few people like to do more physical practices or few like to do Pranayama or Meditation, there is nothing wrong in it but saying Asanas as 99 percent practice and other practices 1 percent theory is totally wrong. Even if one percent of theory is wrong than our 99 percent practice will be totally waste of time.

Fast Facts:

• Other limbs are as important as Asanas (Postures).
• Focusing on breathing and specific part (Drishti) is not Pranayama and Dhyana.
• Training body vigorously gives perfection of postures but the purpose of yoga is to train the mind and go beyond body and mind not just keep challenging body.
• Practice should be according to the need of an individual. Someone need more physical, some need more Pranayama, some need more Dhyana.
• Ideal should be combination of all limbs and moderation.