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Ananda Yoga brings hatha yoga back to its original spiritual essence.

 

Conservative Community (March 2006)

ORIGINAL QUESTION:

From Deborah Warlick  July 2005

Dear AYSutra,

Last summer I opened a yoga studio in the small, Hill Country town of Leakey, Texas. [Pronounced like "Lakey"] . The area is growing with retirees, and I have been asked to speak for about 20 to 30 minutes about yoga at the Newcomers Meeting at the local library. The meeting is usually well attended with about twenty to thirty guests, newcomers as well as people who have lived in the area for generations, and is covered by our local paper. (There's not much news in Leakey).

I have heard the rumor that I have brought paganism into the community. (There are eight local, conservative churches in the town of a population of 400). At the local inter-denominational bible study group, participants were told that the practice of yoga is non-Christian. The reason given implied that yoga focuses on the self and not on God.

I know I can avoid the subject entirely, and just focus on the physical aspects, but I don't feel comfortable in leaving out the most important aspect of yoga. The challenge is to address yoga in a positive light in regards to Christianity. I wonder how Paramhansa Yogananda would address this group. How would you approach it? Do you have any sources I could read for lifting up my own spirits? This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce yoga and clarify any negative preconceptions. The meeting is in March so, I welcome your thoughts and ideas. I do have a loyal, core student group and enjoy teaching yoga.

Thank you,
Deborah Warlick

ANSWERS:

From Mary A. Yost Byars, March 2006

Here are a few ones I have used in this area of teaching. I just stay more Scientific with my talking and less spiritual:

This first statement is by Dr. Ornish
"…. Yoga is a very powerful system of stress management, these techniques were designed for something much greater---as tools for transformation.”
”The system of yoga was first compiled by Patanjali somewhere between 5,000 BC& 300 A. D….   In his book, Yoga Sutras, Patanjali outlined general principles showing step by step how a person can find inner peace & knowledge thru yoga.”
”Patanjali did not limit his instructions to any particular technique, religion, or philosophy, for yoga is not a religion.  The methods of yoga are ecumenical (definition: general in extend or influence; esp.: promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity) and all encompassing. It is a system that can help broaden a person's present experience of his or her own philosophy, religion and daily life." Pg. 141 from the book:
-DR. DEAN ORNISH'S PROGRAM FOR REVERSING HEART DISEASE
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Yoga is a scientific art/tool to assist anyone in any religion to be able to quiet their mind and their body to listen to their own personal Divine Path....... The reason Patanjali's aphorisms and 8 fold path are accepted, as a Universal Scripture is that he was dealing with Universal Spiritual Truths, not with sectarian practices. Every truth seeker, regardless of religion, eventually reaches the same state of divine calmness that is yoga.

"Yogas chitta vritti nirodh" "Yoga is the neutralization of the waves of feeling." Chitta (feeling) has been variously translated as"mind-stuff," "consciousness," "subconsciousness," "the lower mind."
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This was something I wrote for an over 50's Woman's Gentle Floor Yoga Class...............

The ABC's of Yoga

The true purpose of yoga is the development of Self-awareness as a door to an expanded awareness of the surrounding universe. At Allahabad Swami Kriyananda met an ancient Yogi named Deohana Baba who was 140 years old his body was muscular and black hair looked as though he was in his 50'd's. Old age and sickness settle first in the joints and in spinal disc. Anatomical studies reveal that these spinal discs often show signs of degeneration in the twenties. Yoga postures loosen joints; they stretch and irrigate the vertebrae, Keeping youthful even in old age.  They promote the free flowing energy throughout the nervous system and assist in elimination of toxins and poisons from joints and other body parts where these foreign elements tend otherwise to settle, sometimes permanently.

The postures exert a beneficial pressure on various glands and interval organs,  flushing and stimulation them.

Yoga postures help create a joyous sense of vitality and well being.

Even the pattern of breathing is affected by one's mental attitudes. Fear and anxiety tighten the stomach muscles.

 But just as one's mental attitudes affect her body, so also her bodily postures affect her mind. Slumped shoulder and a bent spine can actually, to some extent, induce moodiness.

The connection between the body and the mind is the energy Prana in the body. It is energy that transmits signals from the senses to the brain. It is energy that carries impulses from the brain to the body.  The yoga postures are designed to promote and to harmonize the flow of energy in the body.

 I hope that some of these thoughts will be able to make it a little easier with this population of people.

Namaste,
Mary A. Yost Byars
March 2006

From Diane Calabria, November 2004

Dear Deborah,

Well, now that is a tricky one.   Some (most?) conservative Christians are very fearful people, thinking that the devil is around every corner ready to nab them.  I've consulted with my husband, a former nut case conservative fundamental Christian, now reformed into a good yogi on how best to present your case.    If you avoid the topic, it will look like you are hiding something.  Go for the pre-emptive strike.    In a matter-of-fact style, introduce yoga by mentioning that it is a physical practice has endured for millennia because its practitioners can see the benefits on their health through their own experience.   What does physical health have to do with spirituality?  Well, yogis are nothing if not practical.  Better health means practioners are free to be better Christians since their good health permits them to pray more (raja yoga) and serve God better (karma yoga).  It's imperative to use their terminology because they will not relate to yoga terminology.  Link yoga to serving and praying but fail to mention "unity with God" because that's just too radical a concept. 

Although you probably don't have time to read it, if you could even skim a bit of Yogananda's Second Coming of Christ, (1600 pages) you would be assured in your own mind that there is absolutely no conflict between yoga and original Christianity. People will tend to pick up on your sense of certainty and feel reassured even if you provide few details.  On the other hand, if there is doubt in your own mind, people will sense weakness and attack you.  So assess where you are and craft your message accordingly.

And most importantly it would be a good thing to ask Yogananda for guidance.

Good luck and should your mission fail, I will disavow any knowledge of this conversation.  (I haven't figured out how to incinerate my electronic trail.) 

Namaste,
Diane Calabria

 

From Susan Hayes 1999

Dear Deborah:

 Greetings from the other Bible belt – the Sierra foothills of Northern Calif., about 45 miles southwest of Ananda Village. I have encountered lots of Christian anti-yoga sentiment since I started teaching yoga here in 1999 (including brochure-stealing and sign-demolishing). One of my first yoga students had a daughter who went to Catholic high school. She told me that her daughter came home from school reporting that the nuns had told her that yoga was an “instrument of the Devil,” because it was urging people to go into their mind. I think obedience to Catholic doctrine is more important than independent self-realization.

I also knew a Physical Therapist who owned a beautiful work-out studio in his office, and he really wanted me to teach yoga there. However, his PT partner was a Jehovah’s Witness, and she adamantly refused to allow yoga to be taught there. I couldn’t figure this out, ‘til I asked a woman I knew who was a Jehovah’s Witness: ‘What is up with J.W.’s and yoga?”

She explained that JW’s believe that theirs is the only “true” religion. They believe that Hinduism in general, and yoga in particular, is “pagan” because it is pre-Christian. That is what pagan means to Christians. I guess that means that Judiasm, Hinduism, Buddhism, and any other religion that was founded more than 2,000 years old is “pagan.”

I don’t think that you should try to reconcile Christians with the teachings of yoga. Yoga is steeped on Hinduism, which –- by definition – is not Christianity! No matter how much Yogananda may have endeavored to convince Christians that the Bhagavad Gita is right up their alley, most fundamentalist Christians ain’t buyin’ it.

I introduce my students to yogic concepts by prefacing them with words like: “In Ancient India, the sages believed….” or: “The Hindus believe that….” You are actually giving them some “comparative religion” – not a bad thing, these days. Ultimately, they will figure out, on their own, that all roads lead to Rome. Which is Yogananda’s great message of non-secterianism.

Good luck!
Susan Hayes, AYTT 1999

From Trina Ford

Dear Deborah,

  My heart goes out to you.  I am well aware of what you are going through.  I live in South Carolina on the Carolina/Georgia border.  Your story is all too familiar to me. 

I can say with a positive note that energy is constant and ever changing.  It is like the pebble in the water.  You, dear one, are the one  that drops the pebble and sends that ripple/ outward.  Let's imagine the shore representing the people in your area.  The ripples or WAVES are the yoga teachings.  Once this wave embraces the shore, it returns.  How it is received and is given back to you is dependant on a couple of views. The wave could be a little too big.  You don't want to send a Tsunami!  Forget the waves...now everyone is scared of the water!  (a little humor goes a long way) Another thought it is all in who you are talking to (or where the ripples are going)  If the shore is jagged, rocky and unforgiving....the waves will return to you agitated with an attitude.  If the shore is soft sandy beaches...well the sand could even come back with the movement of a gentle ripple. 

I have found over the 18 years of teaching that it is extremely important to start where the majority is spiritually.  Jesus even said "Speak with your words seasoned, so that others may understand" 

It has just been in the last 4 or 5 years that I put Yoganandaji's pictures up in the yoga studio.  This is after many years of educating the public.  Now there are several yoga studios around.   

Now what DID work was  separate classes.  Basic fundamentals and classes for those who wanted more whole body mind yoga ...I did offer workshops, kirtans and meditation classes for those great souls that wanted more.  It is important to provide both.  I think Yoganandaji would want you to do what is best to spread the teachings.  You might just have to do it a little slower with alot patience and commitment.  I know how lonely it can feel.  Know that you are fully supported always, feel free to write or call anytime.

Blessings to all,
Trina Ford
Integrative Bodyworks, N. Augusta, SC