Y.O.G.A. BOOTY BALLET & THE MODERN Y.O.G.I.
Among innumerable phony yoga sites (99% of what is passed off as "yoga"), visit YogaBooty.com to answer the question: "What is the problem with presenting yoga as simply a physical exercise?"
First, it is simply a blatant lie to say that Hatha Yoga (generally mis-labeled "yoga") is not part and parcel of the Hindu religion. The true facts of what is Yoga are available to anyone who does the most simple form of research. There are some, among the more educated and/or compassionate, that have realized their mistake and seek to rectify this huge lack of discernment. In the effort to clarify the Hindu/Yogic Dharma, one must also take an honest look at some of the origins of the distortion of Yoga.
Second, because of the denial of the true facts about Yoga, so-called "yoga" has degenerated into all manner of the weird and bizarre. As a cult of the body, the "new-age phony yoga" has become exactly what the original Hindu Hatha Yogis warned against. True Hatha Yoga is suppose to be kept secret! It is interesting to note that the vast majority of those into "modern yoga" are women who are more interested in their physical appearance. However there are also some males (like those at Beach Body, the parent company for Yoga Booty) who arrogantly and ignorantly do their part in perverting Yoga. It is, of course, the highly egotistical among both these sexes that pretend to claim the bogus title "Certified Yoga Teacher." In an egocentric delusion (which, naturally, attempts to "rationalize" itself), these individuals simply seek to quickly become a recognized "authority."
The perversions that make up "new-age yoga" are prolific. Much of this totally distorted "yoga" is found in Gyms--an interesting modern phenomena. In rural cultures, and certainly in times past, the thought of going to a place to exercise and even paying for it seem completely absurd. Often divorced from nature, "modern people" seek out such places. It is interesting how the spurious "yoga" (real Yoga has always had a deep connection and reverence for nature) is a mainstay in the Gym world consciousness. The stealing of Yoga from the Hindus is reminiscent of invaders throughout history. Arrogant thieves have always looked down on the humble and those deeply connected to the earth--simply look at the origins of the words "pagan/peasant," "heathen/heath" and "savage/belonging to the wood."
Failing to understand another culture and its religion has devastating effects. Stripping the Spirit from real Yoga/Hinduism has resulted in simply another in a long list of historical elitist segregations. One of the newest examples of phony yoga is Yoga Booty Ballet. Billed as a "Hip Hop funky way to flat abs and a firmer booty," this recent perversion of yoga truly fulfills the acronym Y.O.G.A.; i.e., You Only Got Ass (or Absurdity). As these female Y.O.G.A. students proclaim, "I look great, and I know everybody who is behind me is saying the same thing!" With such blatant theft and distortion, the modern Y.O.G.I. is an acronym for: You Only Got Idiots. Not coincidently, this Y.O.G.I. even has their own book appropriately entitled: "Yoga For Dummies."