Yoga::

There is nothing surer to make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, than a question or comment that makes us think of the things we do, not as separate disciplines, but as different facets of the same gem. ...

Whilst reading this article on Yoga.com, we were particularly interested by this passage:

"I have frequently been asked how yoga differs from gymnastics or, for that matter, from any of a number of other physical disciplines or regimens such as aerobics, calisthenics, Nautilus workouts, or jogging. One answer is that none of these activities seems to have a spiritual focus. Most of them have performance or competitive orientations, and concentrate on the achievement of external goals."

As we read on, we found ourselves wondering whether any of the spiritual aspects mentioned were necessarily missing from these other practices or, indeed, whether they were necessarily present in a yoga practice.
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"Tree Pose" (Vrksasana) is one of the most familiar looking asanas and so like other "simple" poses can often be dismissed as practitioners seek more physically demanding poses to test their bodies. As My Yoga Online says:

"Often considered an introductory asana for teaching basic ...