Indian yoga teacher and expert Varun Veer believes that while yoga has gained immense popularity across the world, its true essence is often overlooked in the West, where the practice is largely focused on physical postures rather than its deeper mental and spiritual dimensions.
According to Veer, yoga is a holistic discipline that integrates the body, breath, and mind. He noted that Western interpretations of yoga are “about 95 percent focused on asanas (postures),” with far less emphasis placed on prana (breath) and meditation, which are central to traditional Indian practice.
A yoga practitioner for over four decades, Veer opened his own studio in New Delhi in 2023 after teaching in countries including Greece, France, Canada, the United States, and Hong Kong. He traces yoga’s origins back more than 10,000 years and explains that many modern styles, such as Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Sivananda Yoga, are rooted in the ancient practice of hatha yoga.
Introduced to yoga by his father at the age of nine, Veer holds a doctoral degree focused on the origins and philosophy of the discipline. Despite concerns about the commercialization of yoga, he welcomes its growing global appeal, which expanded significantly during the 1970s and 1980s as Indian teachers introduced the practice to audiences in North America and Europe.
Veer also emphasized that meditation is deeply embedded in Indian culture. Everyday expressions encourage mindfulness and concentration, reflecting principles that align closely with yoga’s teachings.
He praised the increasing recognition of yoga in India, where it has been incorporated into school and university curricula, and acknowledged the role of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting the discipline internationally, including championing the United Nations’ designation of June 21 as International Day of Yoga.
However, Veer stressed the need for stricter regulation of yoga teacher training worldwide, warning that inadequate instruction can undermine both the practice and its benefits. After more than 40 years of dedicated practice, spending up to two hours daily on yoga, he hopes the West will embrace a more comprehensive approach to teaching and understanding the ancient discipline.
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