John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I just recently read over all of the comments on several different posts and I'd like to address some of the hostile comments pertaining to Christians or Westerners who practice yoga. I am not an expert, I am a student, and I happen to be a student that learns the hard way. I've shared my personal experiences, and the fact that I have had and continue to have struggles as a Catholic who practices yoga. As a Christian, what I really desire deep down is a real relationship with Jesus Christ, to know Him as a person. Yoga offers a different perspective: how do I see myself and the potential that is so innate inside of me and inside of every person. How can I tap into my own potential and strive towards a more truthful union with God, Jesus Christ? I believe my struggles arose because I tried to delve so deeply into all of the dynamics that were going in inside of me, and I've learned the hard way to keep it simple. To delve into the spiritual, religious cause and effect of being a Christian who practices yoga opens up a whirlpool of confusion, endless questions, and unhealthiness. I love the practice of yoga! My God is Jesus Christ! Come what may there it is. I was taught and I practice a westernized version of yoga, Baptiste Power Yoga and I love it. Baron Baptiste created the Power Yoga flow. Baron's father, Walt Baptiste, was one of the first to introduce yoga in the West, the details are on his website
The wonderful thing about yoga is the holistic approach to living and being, the focus being on tapping into your own innate potential, seeing yourself in a new light. The discipline and the program does not delve into religious beliefs, but it is open to people of all religions and spiritual practices, and we all find common ground by practicing yoga together. We all have bodies, and we all have our unique challenges. My experience in a yoga class is that all of the dynamics/beliefs/lifestyles/differences that divide us disappear by the end of class, and we can smile at each other. We just shared 90 minutes together going through the same challenging sequence, and we found common ground. Yoga has helped me to be a better person, to find balance in my life, and it has helped so many people to be better people. I believe yoga can be a catalyst to dissipate the differences that divide us and prevent us from seeing each other as fellow human beings all on a journey.
3 comments:
You would love the book, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, by Madame Guyon. It was originally burned, centuries ago, due to it's perceived conflict and revolutionary thinking. It is certainly in line with the way you (and I) view Christianity.
I was brought up Catholic, then was born again and then attended various non-denominational churches. I've studied extensively and even preached from the pulpit and led Bible Studies.
I am convinced of this truth..."The Kingdom of God is Within Us." If we never become quiet enough, or self-searching with a balance of surrender and abandon to our God, we will never truly walk in the light.
There are so many who preach and proclaim so many of the material blessings and benefits or on the other end of the pendulum swing, the rules and list of do's and don'ts...without realizing that the highest form of truly following after Jesus is to walk in love with our fellow men and the body of Christ as a whole.
Without a real and living relationship with our Creator, this isn't even possible.
I discovered your site after watching the movie, Eat, Pray, Love. I stumbled upon it and I find it immensely refreshing. It is in silence and meditation that we can hear from God and begin to walk in His ways.
I hope you continue to write on these topics without regard to who you may or may not offend. Yours is a message that should get out. God is love, God is peace, God is serenity and clarity of thought. We won't find this in the chaos of life. One of my favorite quotes is, "Hasten unto Him who speaks to you in the silences of your heart."
Keep going and walk in the light.
Many blessings to you on your journey.
Robin Hale
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Yoga includes breathing practices known as pranayama, which can be effective for reducing our stress response, improving lung function and encouraging relaxation. Many pranayamas emphasize slowing down and deepening the breath, which activates the body’s parasympathetic system, or relaxation response. By changing our pattern of breathing, we can significantly affect our body’s experience of and response to stress. This may be one of the most profound lessons we can learn from our yoga practice.
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