Intellectuals choose yoga style in Armenia, says Federation president

Yoga in Armenia is practiced by different age groups, particularly by individuals aged between 18 and 70, but it is mostly the intellectuals who choose this style of living, according to the president of the Yoga Federation.

Speaking to Tert.am, Hakob Baghdasaryan said that their organization, which was launched three years ago, has now over 6,000 members and is a full member of the International Yoga Federation.

“There have been and there are also political figures, but more active are the people who deal with creative work: art, medicine and psychology,” he said, when asked to explain which classes and age groups in the Armenian society are affiliated with the Federation and whether there are any politicians among them.

Many try to learn the yoga technique through the internet for self-treatment and other purposes, but their activities are limited only to breathing exercises, hunger treatment and cleaning of organs. Asked whether it is possible or useful to practice yoga independently, having the internet as the only source, the Federation's president said, “I have heard [the phrase] breathing yoga many times, but let me note that breathing yoga, as such, doesn’t exist. Pranayamas or breathing exercises are part of the yoga lessons, so doing breathing exercises alone is not considered yoga.”

Quoting Patanjali, the founder of yoga, Baghdasaryan said that it is important - after enriching the body with oxygen - to start the other phases of yoga, including the breathing exercises.

He said all the phases have to be balanced not to harm the person who practices yoga.

“Hundreds of types of yoga and video materials – containing hundreds of mistakes, disadvantages and advantages – are now available on the internet. That would offer a mess to a beginner. It is very important what trend and what teacher he or she has chosen. Yoga is an entire world, which contains both philosophy and psychology, and physical exercise and healthy food. There’s no question not having an answer in the yoga frameworks. Yoga is a surprising phenomenon that helps reveal the real world through illusions,” Baghdasaryan added.

Asked whether yoga is first of all a worldview, style of living or a religious trend and whether its followers have the comprehensive thinking or pursue religious views, he answered, “Yoga is beyond religious classification; it neither belongs to a religion or bears a religious libel. Love and freedom are the values underpinning yoga. There are no restraints and no fears in yoga; there is no Satan. Because if you are directly looking for the God, that will become your imagination. That will be a Hindu, Muslim or Christian god. Such a god will not be a real one. Search through love because love is never Christian, Hindo or Muslim. Love will be love, without any epithets.”

Baghsaryan describes yoga as the well-forgotten good, something which actually existed in the Armenian culture. He thinks this form of lifestyle has also gained actuality in Armenia. “Yoga is moving forward at big paces around the world; in acclaimed universities, yoga and meditation have been event included in the compulsory curricula. That’s what people do. I wish the same were here,” he said.

The Federation president added that the competent bodies to whom they have applied for help have so far taken no measures towards making yoga more popular in the Armenian society,