When I decided to teach Christian yoga, not just plain ol' yoga or Ashtanga yoga, I thought my critics would be other yogis, yogi purists, who think that yoga should be taught according to it's Hindu roots. This has not been the case. Turns out yogis are quite an accepting bunch and stand true to their word as outlined in Yoga Alliance to accept all. However, it is Christians who are wary. A pillar of the Catholic church has been somewhat outspoken about practices he deems "new age" and includes yoga in his cautionary study warning Christians against potential dangers. I knew how I felt about this. I knew what my heart was telling me, but wanted to bounce it off of someone wiser than I (particularly regarding the Catholic church and all things faith), and wanted an objective yet Catholic opinion. I received a beautifully thoughtful and insightful letter back when our conversation about it a couple of days before would have sufficed that included articles and most importantly his opinions. Below is what I wrote back to him and how I would answer the nay sayers of this world, in love of course.
I love this! I love your passion and insight and mostly (selfishly) your interest in my life and the newest goings on within it. There's is NO SUCH THING as you EVER crossing any boundary with me-- you are a brother. I admit that the articles were painful for me to get through, but I did try. However, I was delightfully surprised at the room he gave for different kinds of prayer and communion with God. I was delightfully surprised by how open He was to the good Eastern teachings. I was delightfully surprised that I mostly (in my intentional skim) agreed with him! :) Thank you for pointing out his softer sides before I read them-- I think this had my heart in the right place so that I could really read it without being closed off to it. I like most how you explained that the church has to be cautious considering the size of her audience. This made a lot of sense to me.
Here are some of my thoughts:
I am aware that yoga has Hindu roots. I think you bring up an excellent point about many of our cherished HOLYdays having pagan roots. However, Hindu gods don't practice yoga with me. Or with anyone else in my class. Our time together is bathed in prayer, with our Christian music blaring, and a mini devotional and scripture hanging the back (or front!) of our minds. I believe this time seeking communion with God is covered. Our hearts are fixed on Him and our motives are pure and to think that God doesn't protect that or honor that just isn't the God that I know. BUT, let's just say...
Let's say I lost my mind, started speaking only in sanskrit during class (I use only the English names for poses), played jingly little foreign tunes, chanted Om (which by the way just means mind, body, spirit), chanted other things as well, said "Namaste" to end our class (which by the way means my soul honors your soul), all of these things very typical to yoga classes taught today in gyms, let's just say I did it their way. Then what? Would everyone in my class renounce their Christian faith and become a Hindu?
I just don't think so. Worship is a decision. It is an act. It doesn't happen by accident. It is intentional. And in Christian yoga, we intentionally focus on Christ. Our minds are fixed on gratitude to God for the way He made our bodies, for the blessing of this day, for whatever He might have for us to learn together. To suggest that a god or two or an idol or three might slip into my practice... I simply wouldn't have the open space in my mind. Worship is intentional! And all of this is moot anyway because it's not how I lead a class. There is no room for the devil or gods other than ours in that room PARTICULARLY the way this yoga is taught. Where two or more gather...
Christ in. Resentment out. God in. Love out. Love in. Fear out. Breathe. Yoga, particularly THIS yoga, doesn't (can't!) trigger any harmful impulses or lure anyone to "dangerous" places. It's a physical moving prayer with intention to seek Him. I have to believe He honors that. And, I'm sorry, but isn't it Him that came up with the magic of our bodies, what makes them healthy, and the science of oxygen, carbon dioxide, stretching, breathing, and the beauty of great music?
Arms are open wide in honor of Him, people lay silently in prayer. There's no way someone could watch and say it's not glorifying. Now, if this exorcist who wrote these articles and I ever met and he disagreed with me for any reason I wouldn't stand a chance in an argument with him. And in this way, I have to trust my own heart, the Holy Spirit dwelling in me the exact same way that it dwells in him. I am listening, too. And I love that you are listening with me.
Thank you again for your insight and wisdom. I pray for you often as I know so many people rely on it and are blessed by it. Seth and I feel honored to be on the receiving end of your gifts!
