The Latins had wisely guessed it: mens sana in corpore sano . In the East, from tai chi to yoga, there are many disciplines where body and mind are combined in the physical gesture.
This philosophical system, as we know, has been lost in the course of history in favor of a less holistic conception of the individual: body and mind have been considered for centuries in the West as two separate entities, two parallel lines that never meet.
Currently, modern science is undermining these assumptions in the light of new experimental evidence: from the placebo effect to the many therapies based on the connection between psyche and soma, it is now certain that they are closely intertwined and intertwined.
So they are finding more and more listening and space, both among experts and amateurs, all those psycho-physical disciplines that work on the whole person or, at least, aspire to do it.
In this regard, I recommend reading the article on psychophysical disciplines in relation to modern times.
Yoga and ego: the rotten in the apple
The gymnastics is "disguised" as yoga
The word yoga derives from the Sanskrit root "jug" which means to unite, to tame. Stefano Piano explains in his Encyclopedia of yoga : " It means subjugation, discipline of the body and mind, but also unification, union, spiritual, deep meditation, meditation ". As is evident, the perfect starting point functionally to the speech made at the beginning.
At the time of his transplantation into the West, yoga could not fail to undergo adaptations due to the different cultural terrain in which it was planted. The problem arises (for those who believe it is a problem, which is not considered by all to be a problem) by the fact that these adjustments have transformed this discipline into something that it was not originally betraying often its aims, techniques, aims.
We have witnessed and continue to witness the odd hybrid, most of which aims to combine the psychological and mental benefits of yoga with the most varied types of gymnastics aimed at muscle toning. These two ingredients, cooked together, should give life to the "perfect dish", a discipline that sculpts the body and shapes the mind . Let's look at some of the most recent findings on the subject:
- Acroyoga: mix between yoga and acrobatics. It is practiced in pairs and generally a member (called base) has the function of supporting the companion (called flyer) that hovers above. Together the two draw asanas.
- True power yoga : type of training where the asanas are performed dynamically in order to improve endurance and physical strength.
- Piloga- yogilates: as the name suggests, it comes from the union of pilates with yoga . In other words, the gymnastic exercises of the discipline devised by Joseph Hubertus Pilates are carried out with a meditative approach.
- Bikram yoga, yet another flow version of hatha yoga, which is practiced in an overheated environment up to a temperature of 40 °.
Bikram yoga, pros and cons
Yoga and fitness: two ways both valid, but different
As is evident, fantasy is not lacking and, undoubtedly, these disciplines can be fun and beneficial for the body and improve endurance, strength and flexibility.
Unfortunately, when these courses promise an unidentified "yogic well-being", or "inner peace", or "mental calm" - in my opinion - they do nothing but satisfy that consumerist and throwaway drift that wants reduce millennial philosophies to fitness practices.
Attention, self-discipline and control are attitudes that go far beyond the power yoga in the gym and require constant and profound work .
A job that not everyone is willing to do (or do not feel called to do) while not wanting to give up the full-blown physical, mental and mental benefits that would derive from it: hence the success of all these holistic-like gymnastics that sell mirages. Little practice, short time and the path of lighting will unfold before your feet ... A little too low cost.
