FAQ
How can yoga help in overall development?
Yoga is not about self-development; it is about self-dissolution. It is the method or the process which allows an individual piece of life to yoke itself to the cosmic. When your experience of life shifts from being a limited entity to universality, this is yoga. When there is a kind of oneness or wholeness within ourselves, this is yoga. Then you have a certain freedom to play with your life whichever way you want, but at the same time life cannot leave a scratch upon you.
What is the difference between Isha Hatha Yoga and other forms of Yoga?
In the yogic tradition, the word “yoga” is attached only to a complete path which leads to self-realization.
Isha Yoga is a comprehensive system that integrates the core of yogic science and presents it for the modern human being. Isha Yoga programs allow individuals to take tangible steps towards their inner growth. Designed by Sadhguru, a Yogi, mystic and a humanitarian, these programs are a rare opportunity for self-discovery under the guidance of a realized master.
Tailored to suit individuals from every social and cultural background, Isha Yoga programs provide powerful tools for inner exploration.
What's the difference between Jiya Hatha Yoga and Isha Hatha Yoga?
Jiya Hatha Yoga is an offering by two Isha Hatha Yoga teachers, from Italy and South Africa, of transformative tools designed by Sadhguru, rooted in yogic science, to guide human beings to discover their ultimate potential.
Our fundamental mission is to offer the science of inner wellbeing through Isha Hatha Yoga programs to every human being.
Can I do Isha Yoga practices without any prior yoga experience?
The Isha Yoga programs involve simple postures, meditation and powerful ways of transforming one’s energies. They do not require physical agility or any previous knowledge or experience of yoga.
Is Isha Hatha Yoga a religious thing?
What religion you belong to has nothing to do with your ability to make use of the yogic systems, because yoga is a technology. Technology does not make any distinction as to what you believe in and what you do not believe in. What you may believe in or not is purely a psychological process – it has got nothing to do with making use of a technology.
Yoga is Hindu just the way gravity is Christian. Just because the law of gravity was propounded by Isaac Newton, who lived in a Christian culture, does it make gravity Christian? Yoga is a technology. Anybody who is willing to make use of it can make use of it. It is ridiculous to even think that there could be a religious tinge to yoga.
The spiritual process and the technology of yoga predates all religion. Before human beings started thinking of forming religious groups to fracture humanity in a way that you can’t fix them, the idea that a human being can evolve himself came from Shiva, the Adiyogi.
Does yoga require the help of an instructor or can it be self-taught?
Let us say you are seeking to go to a distant city. If you are alone and there are no proper directions, definitely you would wish for a map. It is not that you cannot do it yourself, but we do not know how long it will take. On an uncharted path, if you go without a map, you may take lifetimes to get there. If you go with a map, you will cross easily. If you go with a good bus driver, you will cross very easily; that is the difference. When you want to walk uncharted terrain, it is intelligent to choose a person who has already walked the terrain.
Can I learn the practices if I am not that flexible or overweight?
Anyone regardless of their weight or flexibility can learn these practices as long as they are no severe underlying medical conditions, where medical consent by a doctor will bee required.
Can Hatha Yoga replace gym and build muscles?
Angamardana is a good way to strengthen the muscles. Some people find that they lose weight after the practice, while some find that they develop a leaner muscle tone.
But, to put on muscle mass, it’s important to be conscious of your diet also.
Isha Classical Hatha Yoga definitely strenghtens the body, but that’s not it’s purpose.
It focuses on the overall wellbeing strengthening the skeletal system, nervous system, circulatory system, tendons and ligaments and muscular system as well as the organ health of the individual – leading to better body, mind, emotions and energies.
Are any of the practices dangerous or have any risk of injury?
The practices are taught in such a way that there is no risk of injurying oneself, if done correctly and according to the instructions.
Why is an empty stomach condition necessary to attend the classes?
It is necessary to maintain an empty stomach condition for the classes and practices, because only when the stomach is empty the body and mind function at their best. Sadhguru says when practicing yoga it should just be you and the source of creation. There should not be foreign objects in the system (ie empty stomach, empty bowels).
Can I correct my postures by keeping my eyes open?
The purpose and experience of yoga will be fulfilled only by keeping your eyes closed and doing it with awareness and an inward focus rather than opening your eyes and checking your postures, even if they are slightly out of alignment. The alignment will come with practice and awareness and we can support you by giving you corrections when needed, but the priority is to do it with an inward focus.
Can I do yoga if I eat non-veg and drink?
Yoga isn’t a restriction, it’s a deeper understanding of life. If you knew how to become absolutely ecstatic just by your own chemistry, you wouldn’t smoke or take a drink in your life. Yogis look at alcohol, drugs and these things as kindergarten stuff because we can get intoxicated a thousand times over just with our aliveness. Why simply wine? You can get drunk with the di-vine!
Can yoga help me lose weight?
Regular practice of Hatha Yoga exercises the body and can lower one’s compulsiveness towards eating, leading to leaner ad slimmer phisics. Although this is ot the main aim of Yoga, this is only a fringe benefits.
Can yoga reduce stress?
Daily practices of Hatha Yoga can lead to a more organized body and mind, reducing stress in the system.
How old I have to be to do the programs?
Most of the practices that are spiritually inclined, the minimum age is 14 years, but there are specific practices that children under the age of 14 can do including Surya Shakti and certain aspects of Upa Yoga.
What program would you recommend to someone starting out?
For someone that is new to Yoga and would like to prepare the sytem for more advanced practices, Upa Yoga is the ideal starting place. Although, beginners can also learn Surya Kriya and Bhuta Shuddi quite effortlessly. Yogasanas as well as Angamardana are little more advanced and require more time to learn and do the practice.
When learning a program, are all the sessions mandatory?
The practices are taught in such a way and in a specific sequence that is essential to attend all sessions so that practice is transmitted effectively and all the instructions are clear.
If for any reason you cannot attend one of the sessions you will have to speak to the teacher to arrange a makeup session at an additional cost.
Why is important being on time?
It is mandatory to be sitted and ready for the class at least 15 minutes prior to the starting time. All late comers will be asked to wait outside and speak with the teacher at the end of the class to reschedule another program.
What is the first step to increase awareness?
Every hour, remind yourself, “Wow! I’m still alive”. You may think this is silly, but over a hundred thousand people will not wake up tomorrow morning. So, if you are still alive tomorrow morning, smile because the fact that you woke up is not a small thing. Then check whether the few people who matter to you are alive – great! At least a million people lost someone dear to them, but if none of those dear to you are gone today, fantastic!
Only when you are conscious about your mortality, you will want to truly know the nature of this life. You will have no time to do nonsense that doesn’t mean anything to you. You will only do what really matters to your life. Becoming aware will naturally happen because the significance of being alive will blossom.
What can spirituality give to youngsters?
Youth means lots of energy. But unbridled energy without stability and direction is always dangerous and destructive. Only those who are stable can use whatever quality and talent they have to the fullest extent. So the most important thing for youth is, they need to become meditative. If they are a little more stable, this energy which you call as youth, could be put to better use for their own and for everyone’s wellbeing.
Before youth manages the country, the world and business, it is extremely important that they learn to manage themselves. The whole process of yoga is the science of inner management. You create an inner possibility where being blissful, joyful and peaceful is of your own nature, and not because of something that happens around you.
Can I learn the programs one on one?
Isha Hatha Yoga programs are generally taught in group sessions but private one on one sessions can be arranged at an additional cost and according to the teachers availability.
Can I learn these practices online?
Only certain aspects of Upa Yoga can be taught online, the other core practices including Surya Kriya, Surya Shakti, Angamardana, Yogasanas and Bhuta Shuddhi have to be transmitted in a live class in person.
Can I teach these practices once I've learned them?
It is very important that participants do not attempt to teach the practices that they have learned to anyone under any circumstances, as they could cause harm to themselves and to others.
Isha Hatha Yoga teachers undergo 6 months of intense training and only if qualified can transmit these practices.
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“This is not about being super human.
It’s about realizing being human is super.”