By Suman , 3 Jan : Yoga studios in USA are customizing classes for every scenario or sub-section of society. Now there is yoga for gardeners, equestrian yoga, mother-baby yoga, laughter yoga, kids’ yoga, prenatal yoga, yoga for surfers, construction workers yoga, yoga for dancers, doga yoga to do along with your pets, yoga for blue collar workers, etc.
Naked/nude yoga is also a recent trend seeping across the nation. Its proponents argue that it is taboo-breaking, thrill, liberation, unique perspective, profound spiritual and healing experience; unifies body-soul-mind; sheds barriers/inhibitions/masks; provides greater freedom of movement; etc.
Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, criticizing Hollywoodization of yoga, has urged celebrities and others to take yoga seriously as, being one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy, it is highly revered in Hinduism. It is actually a mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (jivatman) unites with universal-soul (parmatman).
Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further says that some sages have described yoga as the silencing of all mental transformations, which leads to the total realization of the Supreme Self. Some have used yoga attempting to gain liberation by removing all sensory barriers. According to Patanjali, author of the basic text, the Yoga Sutra, who codified yoga after being founded by Yajanavalkya, yoga is a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.