2: Yoga in Canada

Yoga is a widely used term, not only in Hinduism, but also in Buddhism, the New Age, and other forms of modern spirituality. In North America, many view Yoga as simply physical exercise for the body. Hindus refer to this type of yoga as hatha yoga.[1] Among the other common types of yoga, there is bhakti yoga (devotional meditation), karma yoga (performing good deeds), and jnana yoga (proper use of the mind).[2] Hindus believe that these forms of yoga are meant to culminate in spiritual growth and union with the divine. Tantric yoga is the most controversial of yogic practices since it can involve engaging in illicit sex and drunkenness as a path to spiritual liberation.[3] Similarly Raja yoga, which is the classical form of yoga, is incompatible with Christianity. It is designed to fulfill non-Christian mystical objectives; it tends to engage the participant in idolatry and has spiritually dangerous connections to the occult.[4]

Here in Canada, yoga studios are blooming like mushrooms after a spring rain. Many forms of yoga have become popular in Canada to meet the needs of individuals across the lifespan and continuum of health. The most common yoga practice styles are Hatha yoga (means “forceful” and is the union of the internal sun and moon through purification practices), ashtanga yoga ("eight-limbed” or steps / path to merge into a larger. Universal Mind – to feel one with the Universe of God[5]), vinyasa yoga (“the marriage of breath and movement”), Yin yoga (derived from the Chinese healing system yin-yang and some yoga studios included Qigong), Kundalini yoga (goes beyond physical, it untapped the serpent power), iyengar yoga (works on the principle of meditation in action by using props, such as blocks, chairs, and belts as aids in practice), and bikram yoga (hot yoga, established by Bikram Choudhury in the early 1970s emphasize the body holds the secret to spiritual and that through the development of a “healthy animal” the god in man may be revealed) have been the most popular types of yoga practiced in Canada.[6]

Since the ’90s, power yoga or “gym yoga”, such as P90X, P90X2, Insanity, and Insanity the Asylum, have rocked in, giving an option to those who want to “work out” at home. These new form of 90 minute yoga combined quick, intense cardiovascular exercises with moderate-level strength and weight training moves and, at the same time throw around a little Sanskrit along the way, dropping a namaste here and a vinyasa there, and blend in a series of sun salutations. While NAMASTA resources and statistics on wellness reports that there are more female yoga practitioners than male (82.2% Female vs 17.8% Male in America and 72.3% women vs 27.7% men in Canada), power yoga such as P90 series have captured lots of men who want to transform their one-pack tummy to six-packs muscles, and at the same time tone up their muscles.

I have done some research by calling yoga studios and yoga teachers, asking for their opinions on various types of yoga. From their answers, I realize that most yoga studios love to mix and match various yoga ingredients into one style. For example, in Hot Yoga Wellness, the temperature in every yoga classroom is maintained just above 98.6 F and in 40% humidity. Their foundation class will start with a vinyasa flow (movement that is synchronized to the breath, vinyasa is literally translated from Sanskrit as meaning "connection"), then through a balancing flow, transit to a more restorative, “yin” floor series (Chinese yin-yang) or a combination of Chinese Qigong (氣功)[7]. When asked if it is safe to combine yoga with Qigong, Lina, the yoga teacher at Hot Yoga, explained to me that yoga is actually a type of Qigong (Hindu style), and mixing the two will only add benefit to a person. As I have personally come across many who got demonized by practicing Chinese Qigong, her answer brought goosebumps to my body.


[1] James A. Beverley. Nelson's illustrated guide to religions. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 2009. P 169
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Miller, Elliot. "The Yoga Boom: A Call for Christian Discernment Part 2." P 23
[5] Miller, Elliot. "The Yoga Boom: A Call for Christian Discernment Part 1." P15-16
[6] Katie I., Chapman, and Bredin Shannon S. D. "THE PRACTITIONER’S CORNER Why Yoga? An introduction to philosophy, practice, and the role of yoga in health promotion and disease prevention." Health & Fitness Journal of Canada 3, no. 2 (2010): P 18-20
[7] An ancient Chinese practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness through exercise, and meditation; some say it has the power of healing.