Is yoga a religion? How does spirituality fit into the practice?
Yoga is not a religion. It is meant for anyone, regardless of their background. Yoga has been used in some religions, but it is a discipline that stands alone. Perhaps you will see evidence of eastern cultures in yoga, but that makes it no more of a religion than taking a trip to India or eating Italian food. If there’s anything you encounter in a yoga class that makes you uncomfortable, you have full liberty to leave that part out. Some consider the type of union of body, mind, and emotion attained through yoga inherently spiritual. But no matter whether you experience spirituality as literal, metaphor, or myth, you are encouraged to ask questions and decide for yourself what the system of yogic principles and practices mean to you.
