A Few Thoughts on Life and Yoga Today

 

 

The Growing Need for Online Yoga Classes Today

Whether we realize it or not, we all have a quiet and subtle enemy within us. This inner force can make our lives feel difficult and unsettled. Much of the suffering we experience comes from it. It can appear in many ways, showing up through different situations and challenges in our lives.

To live a calm and happy life, we need to learn how to face this inner challenge. In many ways, the conflicts we see in the world—past, present, and future—are also reflections of this same struggle.

This enemy is our own ignorance, or simply a lack of understanding. 

When we believe that our problems are caused only by others, we are letting this ignorance take control again.

There is only one path that can help us face and overcome this tricky enemy.

Ignorance Is Our Only Enemy

Knowledge is a powerful force. Just as a small torch can instantly push back darkness, even a little knowledge begins to challenge our inner enemy—ignorance.

Yoga gently invites us to study regularly and with care. In the ancient and respected text Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, the fourth step on this path is called Swadhyaya—self-study. It means learning consistently, reflecting on ourselves, and staying open to new knowledge.

In other words, it doesn’t matter how old you are or what your background is—yoga encourages you to keep learning. This is one of the most effective ways to ease the struggles in our lives that come from not understanding.

At the same time, building a steady habit of study can be difficult, especially in the beginning. That’s why support is so important. Our online yoga courses were created to guide and support anyone ready to learn and grow.

“The schoolteachers are the ones who determine the victory in war.” — Otto von Bismarck

Yoga Knowledge Is Disappearing Rapidly

A careful look at how yoga knowledge is preserved today suggests that it is fading faster than we might expect. Although there is an overwhelming amount of information about yoga available in both the East and the West, much of it can be misleading or superficial.

The growing number of yoga books, magazines, and films does not necessarily reflect true depth or quality. In many cases, the information presented is unclear or inconsistent, leaving those who are genuinely interested in yoga more confused than informed.

To preserve this profound system of self-exploration, meaningful and thoughtful efforts are needed. Only clear, dedicated action can help protect and pass on the true essence of yoga.

First and foremost, we need knowledgeable and well-trained yoga instructors—people who are deeply familiar with the traditional teachings and can share them in a way that is clear and accessible. Without such teachers, interest in authentic yoga knowledge will gradually fade, and over time, it may be lost.

We need instructors who offer practical, grounded classes. We need people who can inspire genuine interest in yoga. And we need those who are willing to support it in every possible way—from preserving and publishing ancient texts to carrying out the essential behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed. These needs become clearer when we consider the different ways yoga is currently being presented in the modern world.

The first approach is a more modern, accessible, and commercially driven form of yoga, often seen in Western countries, where yoga is primarily presented as physical exercise or a fitness practice. This trend is sometimes referred to as “Pop Yoga.” It naturally appeals to people who are influenced by lifestyle trends and media, and while it may not always focus on the deeper philosophical aspects, it has helped yoga become widely known and accessible. This approach has helped make yoga widely known, with most people now having at least some awareness of it.

The second approach is an attempt in the West to recreate a small version of traditional Indian culture within certain yoga schools. In some cases, this includes adopting Hindu-style clothing, eating Indian food, and following cultural customs in order to feel closer to the roots of yoga.

This approach may also include certain codes of conduct that are traditional in Eastern contexts. For example, in some settings, men and women may study separately, with the intention of maintaining focus and minimizing distraction. These practices are simply part of a cultural and traditional framework that some schools choose to follow, rather than a requirement of yoga itself.

Among some practitioners, this direction is sometimes referred to as “Hindu Yoga.” In many cases, it brings together people who are deeply committed to both the theoretical and practical study of yoga, and who dedicate themselves seriously to its teachings and discipline.

In practice, two main approaches can be observed today: one presents yoga in a more accessible, modern, and often simplified or surface-level form, while the other follows a deeper, more traditional framework with a stronger emphasis on study, discipline, and cultural context, often involving adherence to Eastern traditions that may feel foreign in a Western setting.

As a result, there is growing interest in approaches that can bridge these differences and remain suitable for contemporary learners while still respecting the depth of the tradition. 

The online yoga classes of the International Open Yoga University were created in response to this need.

According to the estimates of the International Open Yoga University, there is currently a need for thousands of qualified yoga instructors in order to preserve, adapt, and share the ancient knowledge of yoga, and to integrate it harmoniously into modern life so it can be accessible to everyone.

It is not realistic to rely on the idea that Western countries will simply “export” teachers trained abroad, as the training standards and level of experience may vary significantly. At the same time, in a consumer-driven environment, education can sometimes become more focused on certification and quantity rather than depth of preparation.

For this reason, a more sustainable approach may be needed—one that emphasizes thorough training, responsibility, and a higher level of qualification for yoga instructors worldwide.

Indeed, a future yoga teacher is expected to study a large amount of theoretical material. This requires significant time and effort, but the theoretical aspects of yoga can be learned remotely through the internet. The same applies to assessing knowledge through homework assignments and reviews of studied material.

At the same time, personal contact with experienced teachers remains important, especially for those who intend to continue and pass on this tradition to others.

Online Yoga Classes and the Risk of Attracting a Broad Audience

Online yoga classes are accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This is a very positive development for the study of yoga, as it gives more people the opportunity to learn and engage with it.

At the same time, open access can also attract a very wide and diverse audience on websites and forums dedicated to yoga, including individuals with very different intentions, behavior styles, levels of responsibility, and respect for others.

Some participants in online forums may sometimes express themselves in a critical or confrontational way, including debating opinions or questioning leadership and authority within yoga communities. In open online spaces, this can occasionally lead to tension or unproductive discussions.

These behaviors often reflect personal frustration or a search for recognition and connection within online communities. While such situations can be understood on a human level, they may still negatively affect the learning environment if they dominate discussions.

For this reason, it is important to maintain a respectful and focused learning environment. 

Constructive feedback is always welcome, but it should support learning and mutual respect. 

Criticism expressed elsewhere does not diminish the quality or value of the work carried out in our courses.

The real issue lies at another level. When people who are just taking their first steps in yoga and still know very little about it suddenly encounter disruptive or unhelpful behavior, it can be discouraging. This is especially sensitive in a learning environment like yoga, where such interactions can interfere with the learning process and overall experience. Over time, this may distract from the main purpose of the course.

However, this is also part of the trade-off of making knowledge freely available on the internet.

The general advice is not to engage in discussions with such individuals. Their messages can simply be deleted without reading or responding to them. If even a small amount of attention is given, it may encourage continued interaction. In many cases, the most effective approach is to not respond at all.

In yoga teachings, it is often noted that external provocation is not as impactful as our response to it. 

Therefore, when encountering such situations in life, the recommended approach is to remain neutral—do not react, do not engage, and do not give attention to the behavior.

We encourage all students to avoid negativity and critical remarks on our platform. There are many other spaces where such discussions can take place if needed. We also discourage unfair or excessive criticism of other yoga schools or teachers, as we believe we do not have the right to judge anyone. We do have moderation filters in place, but reviewing and managing content takes time.

Yoga and Plagiarism

As soon as we began sharing yoga knowledge with the public through Internet Yoga Courses, we noticed an interesting phenomenon. Some individuals began taking selected parts of the material that suited them, while combining it with information from other sources—often unrelated to traditional yoga.

In some cases, this leads to people forming groups of followers and presenting the resulting material as a new form of “yoga teaching.”

How should we respond to this, and how should our students respond?

We see this as an opportunity to observe how ideas evolve when shared openly. At the same time, it becomes especially noticeable when new interpretations or teachings are created based on existing material.

If you become aware of someone outside our school using the content of these courses without proper reference and presenting it as their own work, please contact us at AskYogaOpenYoga@gmail.com.