Yoga, rooted in deep spiritual and scientific traditions, is increasingly at risk of being diluted by modern, hybrid practices that prioritise aesthetics and fitness over inner transformation
Growing up, I always learnt and practised Yoga with a quiet, disciplined, and almost sacred approach. In India, Yoga was never just an exercise; it was a deeply spiritual and scientific system, honed over thousands of years to align the body, mind, and spirit. Whether it was traditional forms like Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga, or guru — shishya lineages such as Sivananda Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, or Satyananda Yoga, the core practices remained largely consistent, with only minor variations, and were intentionally grounded in both physical discipline and profound philosophical wisdom.
Hatha Yoga, which I practise at Sivananda School of Yoga, for instance, is not merely about bending the body into various shapes. It is about balancing the masculine and feminine energies within oneself (‘Ha’ in ‘Hatha’ means Sun and ‘tha’ means Moon). The slow, purposeful asanas are designed to prepare the body for deeper spiritual practices like meditation and so on.
Ashtanga Yoga demands discipline and synchronisation of breath with a progressive series of postures, promoting physical endurance and mental clarity.
Iyengar Yoga, developed by BKS Iyengar, emphasises precision and alignment. Props like belts and blocks are used not as gimmicks but as intelligent aids to help practitioners achieve the correct posture safely. Satyananda Yoga, from the Bihar School of Yoga — also a disciple of Swami Sivananda, offers a holistic system combining asanas, pranayama (breath control), and meditation, deeply grounded in ancient scriptures yet highly accessible to modern practitioners.
These traditional forms of yoga were complete systems — designed not just to build strong bodies but to cultivate resilience, compassion, inner peace, and eventually, spiritual awakening.
But today, the variations presented, especially to attract younger audiences — are at times of concern. In the quest to make Yoga more “appealing”, a whole new breed of hybrid practices has emerged, at times sans focus on posture or mind–breath–body coordination.
While innovation can often bring new energy to old traditions, in the case of Yoga, I worry that something fundamental is being lost. Yoga, for example, was developed to suit the Western craving for calorie-burning workouts. It emphasises speed, strength, and sweat but often sacrifices breath awareness, alignment, and the contemplative aspects that are central to Yoga.
Aerial Yoga uses silk hammocks to suspend practitioners in mid-air. While it might look beautiful on social media, it introduces new risks to the musculo skeletal system, especially if taught without a proper understanding of traditional postures and body mechanics.
HIIT Yoga and CrossFit Yoga attempt to fuse high-intensity interval training and weightlifting principles with yogic postures. The fact is that Yoga was never intended to be a high-stress activity on the body.
Then there’s Paddleboard Yoga and Spin and Yoga, both interesting combinations, but ones that often seem to dilute the inward focus that traditional Yoga demands. Balancing on a paddleboard or spinning on a cycle while trying to breathe deeply and remain mindful often becomes more of a challenge to one’s physical endurance rather than an invitation to stillness and self-inquiry. What concerns me is not merely the creation of these hybrids, but the way they are marketed: Yoga is increasingly sold as a product — a lifestyle choice that promises flat abs, glowing skin, and mental sharpness in 30 days or less.
The ancient aim of Yoga — union with the higher self — is often barely mentioned.
The sacredness of the practice, its depth, and its inherent science seem at risk of being trivialised into a trendy hashtag or a flashy gym class.
Experimenting with traditional practices without a deep understanding of their purpose and structure can be risky. Traditional Yoga evolved slowly, through painstaking observation of the human body and mind.Every asana was designed with attention to anatomical, energetic, and psychological effects. Disrupting this carefully developed sequence, speeding it up, loading it with weights, suspending it mid-air — can lead to injuries ranging from minor sprains to serious spinal issues.
Traditional Yoga balances the nervous system, calming the fight-or flight response and cultivating parasympathetic dominance (rest and digest mode). High-intensity fusions may instead overstimulate the nervous system, leaving practitioners wired and anxious rather than grounded and serene.
Having said that, I believe there is always room for creativity. Yoga should be alive, growing, and meeting the needs of new generations. But this growth must be rooted in respect for the science behind traditional systems. Without that grounding, we risk turning Yoga into just another fitness fad — here today, gone tomorrow — when in fact it is one of humanity’s most precious treasures for holistic health and self-realisation.
As someone who has felt the profound benefits of traditional Yoga, I urge others — especially younger audiences drawn to “new-age” Yoga — to explore the traditional systems first. Understand the depth before seeking novelty. Build a strong foundation before experimenting. After all, Yoga isn’t just something we do, it’s something we become, and it’s a way of life.
And that transformation is far too sacred to be rushed, repackaged, or compromised. Yoga, rooted in deep spiritual and scientific traditions, is increasingly at risk of being diluted by modern, hybrid practices that prioritise aesthetics and fitness over inner transformation. While innovation can breathe fresh life into ancient systems, it must not come at the cost of Yoga’s core purpose — union, awareness, and holistic well-being.
Traditional Yoga is not just movement; it is a precise, time-tested science designed to harmonise body, mind, and spirit. Fusing it with high-intensity workouts or gimmicky formats may attract attention, but it often undermines its healing, meditative essence.
The danger lies not only in physical injury but in reducing Yoga to a trend, stripped of its depth and sacredness. For Yoga to remain a transformative path, its evolution must be rooted in respect and understanding. Before reinventing it, we must first embody it. Let us not forget — Yoga is a journey inward, not a performance outward.
(The author is a certified Sivananda Yoga teacher with over 30 years of practice. Views are personal)
