Being a practicing Christian myself, there are very few things in Yoga that conflict with Christianity. Some critics argue that Yoga and Christianity cannot co-exist, and yet we know that Yoga is not a religion.
However, that depends on your opinion. Recently, I was reading about someone who claims Kundalini is "new age witchcraft." Sorry to say, another person recently stated, "Good Christians should avoid the devil's exercise," in reference to Yoga.
Are the Salem witch trials still so close to our hearts? These claims are interesting because ministers and priests have been practicing meditation for centuries, without any complaints.
I suppose, if someone devoted enough time to meditating on bad thoughts, meditation would be a bad experience.
To be honest, it depends upon what you meditate about; and in truth, within some schools of Yoga, Hinduism, or Buddhism is taught. For me, this has always been a conflict, as I love Yoga, but have no desire to change my faith.
The many teachings of Yoga and meditation, are non-sectarian. Now, if Yoga were a religion, which would it be? The principles of Yoga are universal.
The Yamas and Niyamas are similar, in principle, to the Ten Commandments, but as a Christian you have the right to pick and choose what you want from Yoga. You also have the right to avoid sectarian ashrams.
Yoga practice, and meditation, give many Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Moslems, a closer connection to God, but there will always be someone who feels tempted to change their faith.
Let's be honest, the people who worry about a sudden change of faith are, for the most part, rooted in two distinct camps of thought.
1. Someone who is on the fence about their own religion and not quite sure where they really stand.
2. Severe intolerance of any idea that is new or might result in opening the mind.
Let's stop the intolerance now. When you are driving in your car, waiting in line, or come face-to-face with someone who is different from you, please set an example for your children and give the other person a break.
Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
weekly home cleaning Lake Forest ..Self Mastery, alone, sounds like a selfish term; but if... Read More
A true Yogi(practitioner) is one who has acquired self-knowledge and... Read More
Yoga is an ancient proven tradition that exists for thousands... Read More
Yoga for a beginner is an exciting time when you... Read More
Yoga is an ancient system of movement designed to generate... Read More
The benefit of yoga practice goes far beyond the actual... Read More
For some reason, I had the time to sit down... Read More
I often wondered what the value of each type of... Read More
There is an interesting article in the September 5th issue... Read More
Here are some guidelines and realistic expectations for parents, who... Read More
Cultivating positive energy: Most of us who study Yoga have... Read More
Every woman wants to have a healthy baby. Yogic practices,... Read More
What you are about to read applies to teaching, in... Read More
Patanjali in his Yogasutra describes that people are afflicted with... Read More
Yoga mats are a basic part of every practice. What... Read More
A healthy anal and genital area is of great importance... Read More
Yoga has become part of Western fitness training techniques. However,... Read More
One of the many subsets of the 5000 year old... Read More
Yoga clothes should be comfortable and functional. They should allow... Read More
Yoga is controlling of thoughts arising in the mind. When... Read More
To continue with our overview of the physical component of... Read More
Are you one of those folks who have never tried... Read More
It was not so long ago that eating disorders, such... Read More
I suppose it was only a matter of time before... Read More
Being a practicing Christian myself, there are very few things... Read More
best cleaning company Arlington Heights ..I absolutely love using yoga DVDs and yoga videos during... Read More
In order to understand the basics of Pilates and why... Read More
As described in my earlier article... thoughts in the mind... Read More
I suppose it was only a matter of time before... Read More
The great sage Patanjali in his work Yogasutra codified all... Read More
Patanjali in his Yogasutra describes that people are afflicted with... Read More
Internal defeat is a state of mind, where you begin... Read More
One of the many subsets of the 5000 year old... Read More
Many people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness.... Read More
The next large component of self-mastery is mental health, and... Read More
We all want to feel loved, open, free and peaceful.... Read More
You finally made the decision to practice yoga, but which... Read More
Self Mastery, alone, sounds like a selfish term; but if... Read More
I am often asked by beginners about how to evaluate... Read More
After five thousand years of written documentation, Yoga may well... Read More
Yoga has become part of Western fitness training techniques. However,... Read More
At this point, let's break down the major components of... Read More
Even though the world population has shifted from mainly rural... Read More
Yoga is an ancient system of movement designed to generate... Read More
Some people may wonder if using a yoga prop can... Read More
Senior Yoga / Chair YogaIs it possible that grandparents are... Read More
One more study tells the world, that Yoga can help... Read More
Many people feel that there is a limited amount of... Read More
To continue with our overview of the physical component of... Read More
Yoga is becoming a more and more popular activity in... Read More
Yoga |