I still maintain a rather liberal view that all people of the world have the right to their own faith, wherever they are called, and in their own cultural context. I believe it is in our human DNA to always ask the question 'why' and 'where do we come from and where do we go?'. To seek a personal relationship with god, creator, etc.. We can put names on all these entities, but in the end it all comes back to Love and compassion, in my opinion.
As a yoga teacher, I am daily reminded of the gift that I am in service of providing to others on their paths, and nurturing their own questions and concerns about the inner spiritual life that yoga has to offer, if it is something they are interested in. More and more, I began to find that there were many of the Christian faith in my room, alongside those of other beliefs, or even non-believers or atheists. I am tolerant of all who come; it is THEIR journey, not mine, and I'm merely the vessel to hold space for them, and it is an honor. However, as my own personal journey began to shift towards Christ, I began to have people draw to me with questions about how these two ideas merge or conflict: yoga and christianity. I have reflected and prayed upon this.
And I have arrived at the conclusion that there is no conflict, at least not for me. I am trying to teach people how to love themselves, the world around them, their creator, family, friends, strangers. And that is true for me as well. It seems that there is no 'coincidence' that God has put me in the position of bridging this gap in a kind and gracious way, putting minds and hearts at ease about what yoga 'is' and what it 'is not' in terms of faith and god.
I have a friend who came to me recently, telling me about a woman who believes very strongly that yoga is 'devil worship'; this is not the first time I have heard this, and it saddens me greatly. In a purely pragmatic way, yoga is a system of poses meant to relieve stress, pain, injury, and give relief and pleasure in our busy lives. It seems that many people who consider themselves 'strongly of God' have somehow put themselves and their beliefs into a 'god box' ie a limited mindset where nothing but their own literal beliefs can exist, and everything outside of those beliefs is wrong, a sin, an abomination to God's word. I do not find anything in the bible which says 'yoga is a sin'. Worshipping false idols is stated, but I do not ask that of my students. If i chant, it's to help them breathe and come into the yoga space ready to practice. I do not pray to the hindu gods; however they are mentioned in pose names, and in chants. I see them as parables, cautionary tales or aspects of our own humanity.
When I picture Jesus in the here and now, I picture him not as someone has TOLD me to picture him, but as my own friend or father figure, interested in all things that speak to spiritual improvement, or being closer to Him, to our source. I actually (and lovingly) picture him in his board shorts doing yoga with us, as we laugh, sweat, sit in prayer/meditation, and rest and revive. Isn't that what God wants us to do?And so I cannot tell this woman she is 'wrong'; I cannot force my own ideology down her throat just as she cannot mine. I can however continue to serve what I believe to be my gift in His name, and help people in need of a loving ear, a kind hug, or a good laugh. I can only bring about change by my example in word, thought and deed. Not by force or dogma.
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu: may all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may our thoughts, words and actions support this. How can that ever be against God? The definition of sin is 'separation from God'; yoga surely does not ask us to do that, in fact quite the opposite.
I was baptised on Sunday; it was one of the greatest days of my life. And what made it so completely amazing what that two of my students, and believers, were the ones who baptised me. That was a huge gift and a blessing, to feel that my yoga life somehow brought me to my own personal relationship with God.
