Sarah, can u tell me the origin behind yoga? like ugh I want to start it and I was telling my friend and she had a fit told me yoga was a worshiping of deities... It was my understanding yoga was centering your core?
I bet lots of us have the same question!!! Here is my reply.
Yoga is not Dogmatic in nature. Attached is an article for further reading. Yoga is anything you want it to be or not be from centering, exercise, lifestyle, moral code, and so much more. There are so many different styles of yoga, but few of them that are available in the US are teaching worship of Hindu deities... however there may be Hindu figure statues in the studio to symbolize the studios core values. Also, something that throws people off, is the use of chanting OM or telling each other Namaste. Both of which are simple and beautiful mantras aka intentions that are totally worth googeling their meaning.
Is Yoga a Religion?
www.yogajournal.com
Yoga article: Four prominent yogis discuss religion and yoga.
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2625