Yoga in Nepal: following a worldwide hype or rediscovery of ancient wisdom?

In the US alone, more than 15 million people practise yoga, and myths such as ‘Yoga is for old people’, ‘Yoga is boring’ or ‘Yoga is religious’ seem to be a thing of the past. Yoga studios around the world are offering several different style yoga classes every day. Some classes focus more on precise alignment of postures, some incorporate dance and flow sequences and others contain meditation and awareness practises.

People have many reasons to start practicing yoga, from looking for a healthier life, improved flexibility and endurance and weight loss to more spiritual reasons. Some just follow in the footsteps of famous movie, music and sport stars. Whatever the reason, yoga certainly has a positive impact on many lives.

The immense growth of interest in yoga in the West has lead to an increase of scientific study into yoga. Benefits from yoga that were already described in ancient Vedic texts are now being presented as new medical research results.

"Yoga as medicine represents the next great yoga wave," says Kaitlin Quistgaard, Yoga Journal. "In the next few years, we will be seeing a lot more yoga in health care settings and more yoga recommended by the medical community as new research shows that yoga is a valuable therapeutic tool for many health conditions."

It is said that the East treats the person; the West treats the disease. Stress, anxiety and depression are the root of many health issues.

"Our system of medicine is very fragmented," says Dr. Carrie Demers, who runs the Center for Health and Healing at the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the USA in Honesdale. "We send you to different specialists to look at different parts of you. Yoga is more holistic; it's interested in the integration of body, breath and mind."

Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peacefulness of body and mind, helping to relax and manage stress and anxiety. Traditional yoga philosophy requires that students adhere to this mission through behavior, diet and meditation. But someone who is simple looking for better stress management — whether because of life's daily hassles or a health problem — and not an entire lifestyle change or way of life, can still benefit from yoga.

Pranamaya Yoga Kathmandu wants to attract more people to yoga in Nepal by offering different styles of yoga at two convenient located yoga studios in Moksh complex, Pulchowk and 1905, Kantipath.

Asthanga yoga, Iyengar yoga, Power yoga, Hatha yoga and Pregnancy and Postnatal mom and baby yoga are some of the styles of yoga available.

Sam Voolstra from Pranamaya Yoga: “Our team of Nepalese and international experienced yoga teachers hopes to bring together an active yoga community in the capital, by organising daily classes and workshops, inviting international guest teachers and starting teacher training programmes.”

Pranamaya website: www.pranamaya-yoga.com.