One can perform some chanting or prayers before and after the yoga practice, or not, as one like. It is neither a compulsory action of respectfulness towards Gurus and the teachings of yoga nor a form of compulsory ritual before and after the yoga practice.
There’s nothing wrong with people perform some chanting and prayers or rituals before and after the yoga practice, but one doesn’t need to be a Hindu, or know any chanting or prayer or to perform any rituals at all to be practicing yoga, or to have peace and be compassionate. Yoga, or unconditional peace and love, is unlimited by any names and forms.
Inquire the truth of everything.
One doesn’t need to perform any particular form of chanting and prayers or rituals to be free from ignorance and egoism, to be peaceful or to be compassionate.
If one thinks and believes that one must perform chanting or prayer as a compulsory ritual before and after the yoga practice, otherwise, one is being disrespectful towards the Gurus or the teachings of yoga, or there will be obstacles or problems during the yoga practice, then this is just one kind of limited worldly superstitious thinking and belief, it’s not what yoga is about.
During an emergency life threatening situation, one just performs immediate action to save life. One doesn’t need to perform chanting or prayer as a ritual before the action of saving life. If Gurus or God exist, they won’t be offended. If there are Gurus or God would be offended when one doesn’t perform chanting or prayer as a ritual before the action of saving life, these are not Gurus of yoga or God.
Be free from worldly superstitious thinking and belief, is part of the yoga practice.
Be determined and vigorous to free the mind from ignorance and egoism is the greatest form of respect towards all Gurus and the teachings of yoga. All the other names and forms are meaningless if one doesn’t work on the annihilation of ignorance and egoism.
Be free.
My Daily Yoga Practice 