It has been suggested that yoga can be 'westernised' and divorced from its spiritual content. This is hardly a sustainable argument and would surely be considered inappropriate by Hindu teachers of yoga. The popularity and spread of TM during the past thirty years is generally attributed to the influence and teachings of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to whom the Beatles and other 'spiritual searchers' made west to east pilgrimages in the I 960s. I believe that we need to take note of the tree and the roots from which yoga and TM originate. It is useful to examine the word 'yoga' itself and define its meaning.
Karma yoga relates to an attitude of service to others.
Hatha yoga is mainly concerned with health through the mastery of the mind, ie the supremacy of mind over matter. Yoga is widespread and popular at some universities and YMCAs. It is also interesting to note that in the 1980s the Department of Education investigated yoga and decided not to allow certain funding for this on the grounds that it was a religious activity. It is sometimes claimed that there is such a thing as Christian yoga. This must surely be a contradiction in terms.