My friend sent this to me last week, and I've been thinking about it for days, trying to wrangle with some of the strong accusations made both in this article, and in Laurette Willis's writings. (see ridiculous hair style at left) First of all, the way this article is written, and the way that Laurette writes is quite questionable. Like many other right wing articles I've read in my time, these works present one interpretation and one woman's experience, and uses it as the model for all other experiences. Also, the word choice is often odd, if not laughable, using dramatic sentences like "her family never suspected this seemingly innocent exercise would open the door to a New Age lifestyle that would affect Laurette for the next 22 years." We're talking about yoga, not cancer folks. And this "New Age lifestyle"--what the hell is that? Does it include sprouts? Organic farming? Progressive ideals? Or is it more about crystals, faith healing, and tarot cards? Oh...I guess I'm digressing.First of all, this article ultimately says that yoga is contradictory with Christianity and Christian ideals. Obviously, I'm coming to this from a very doubtful view...I'm not even remotely Christian. (I didn't realize Christmas had anything to do with Christ until 5th grade, so I'm clearly not qualified.) I had my doubts in this article at the bottom of the page when Laurette (founder of "Praise Moves"...AKA.stretching for Jesus.) writes "I thought Christians just wanted to give me a bunch of rules and dogma...I didn't know they were speaking about a relationship with Jesus." DUH! Hello? How did this women miss the boat on that one? Even I know that. Laurette then ultimately blames yoga, meditation, and the "New Age" lifestyle for her resulting alcoholism and promiscuity and loneliness. Now, as a non-Christian, I have a) never had sex b) never been an alcoholic, so somehow, I don't think asanas are to blame for those acts. Let's find out more about why Laurette disagrees with yoga.
"The goal of all yoga...is to obtain oneness with the universe...or union with Brahman. Yoga wants to get students to the point of complete numbness in their minds. God, on the other hand wants you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind through his Word." Frankly, I think this is just wrong. Numbness in the mind? How can you be numb or out of your body when you're doing an arm balance or a ton of ab work? When your body is working its hardest, I think if anything, you are more present in your body. This sort of presence can actually enhance your spirituality, in my experience. You discover strength in parts of your body that you've ignored for years, you realize that other muscles are weaker, and that your body and YOU are amazing creations of awesomeness. Whether you are an divine creation of a Judeo-Christian God, or just a mass of nuclei and cells, you appreciate your body and your mind after yoga. This "numbness" she refers to has no place in yoga, in my opinion. If anything, we are trying to weed out the bad stuff (like numbness!) from our minds: our inability to pay attention, our desire to worry, fret, and suffer, and trying to be present with each moment, which is evanescent. Let's continue.
Laurette also believes that references to other gods is sacrilage and worship of false idols. "The word namaste...means that I bow to the god within you." In all of the yoga classes I've taken, I've never been told that Hinduism is the only way, or that we should all bow down are worship Shiva or Ganesh. My yoga teachers have always casually told us information about classic Hinduism from a historical perspective, rather than that of a Hindu practitioner. If we look at the yoga journal article about yoga and religion we'll see that yoga is not actually a religion, which is what Laurette seems to believe it is. Yoga has no fundamental tenets or agendas, and it is not actually a Hindu practice. Yoga is, however, a spiritual practice.
The article discusses "spirituality" as having to do with one's interior life, which I think, is something that can be compatible with all religions and spiritual beliefs. Another article from YJ says "Religion serves humanity by helping people move toward a union with that which is vaster than the petty self...unites human beings and helps them grow and feel fulfilled. Thus, the essence of religion is the same as the essence of yoga." Later in the article, the writer says "You do not have to be a Hindu to practice yoga- indeed yoga has almost nothing to do with Hinduism. It does not demand practicioners to worship any Hindu deities or deny any faith." 
What Laurette doesn't realize is that it's possible to be open minded enough to have experiences outside your own, and then apply them to your own beliefs. Yoga can make you live your faith or religion more completely. Wisdom from the East is just that...wisdom. And you can apply it to your own experiences. It is not inherently conflicting. The conflict is just man-made, like most of our issues in society. Anyway, I could on and on about this for days, but I just wanted to get the rant out and here from our yoga superstars about their experiences.
So, Namaste. Really. Because we all have a bit of God or goddess or Tara or Kali or Allah in us.
Currently listening to: ipod on shuffle, getting through all the tunes I got from the library last week.
2 comments:
'The day I realized goodness and kindness were more important than everything else and other truths...' ~for your edification~
Was Satan Jewish? A little mistranslation of the word "light" to "horns" in the New Testament along with an uber famous statue of Moses by Michaleangelo has led to centuries of undue prejudice of Christians against Jews. Also, people killing other people in the name of God--I don't think he/she/it appreciates that. In short: religion is frequently abused by its believers to further their own ends.
Indeed, Ms. Willis's myopic view could spoil it for many a Christian yoga practitioner. Although I agree with her that yoga is inexorably tied to Hindu religion/myth, it is no tighter than Christianity's hold on kindness (Jesus, "love thy neighbor as thyself" and all that jazz), Judaism's hold on justice (leviticus, kashrut, and love of laws in general), Hinduism's hold on being present, Buddhism's hold on karma, and so on.
The world religions have many of their these ideas related to one another, that (dare I say), it nearly doesn't matter which religion you practice: Buddhism's karma looks an awful like Judaism's kavanah and mitzvot (actions with intention having necessary "eye for an eye"/yin-yang consequences). The 5 Islamic pillars sound suspiciously like Catholic sacraments. Bahai, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hunduism, Islam, and os on all have some form of the Golden Rule.
Furthermore, is it so bad to want to better yourself at any art? Does it matter where my good ethics come from so long as I treat people (including myself) well? No religion has at its core principle "screw with other people," "make sure your voice is heard above all other voices," "only hang out with people who agree with you," and so on.
So whether or not you're like me with a bible bookmarked on pslams next to your bed or you've never stepped foot in any religious hall (save for a gig) for your entire life, roll up your sanctimonious bullshit and put it away for a time when that should matter (hint: it won't, ever) and roll out a mat for some bliss, self-improvement, and grace (what could be more Christian than grace!):
I open my heart to the power of Grace
That lives in us as goodness
That never is absent and radiates peace
And lights the way to transformation
Om (Anusara Invocation)
somewhat related 1:
Next on my queue is the book Jewish Dharma, which explores similarities between Orthodox Judaism and Zen Buddhism. This book will surely touch on some yogic thought.
somewhat related 2:
My Portugese Water dog (who is not faithful to any religion, I assure you), wakes up in the morning and after naps and automatically performs his little vinyassa of downward dog, upward dog, drain each leg, lie on the floor with his hips splayed out, wag the tail. woof.
~SH
sarah's right. it's all related.
my friend katie and i went to a jewish class last night that delved into just one verse of text from the exodus, and everything about it was completely applicable to mormonism. i loved it all.
i also really love ancient traditions, which is why i love the old testament the most and also why i love yoga-- IT IS OLD. and what i hate about the idea of praise moves is that it is trying to adapt an ancient tradition to new thought. now, this idea is not new, but it seems like a rather shallow thing to do, in my opinion.
little bubbled mormon communities have a lot in common with this woman and her ideas sometimes-- i grew up understanding that we should fear things that had other gods in them. that meant that satan had taken truth and twisted it, and would snare and lure you to hell if you became involved with any of his practices. so, regrettably, i understand where she and her followers are coming from.
but would it surprise them also to know that the hindu and budhist roots were exactly why i wanted to practice yoga? the fact that most of these faith traditions have so much in common, just a different word for it or way of putting it is not random. there are universal truths. i have come to the conclusion that i can keep my faith tradition, but if another tradition's language works better for me for one concept than another i should go with it. god wants me to understand his truths, and any language will do. exploring this does not threaten my relationship with god through my own religion.
this article and the whole idea of "praise moves" and this woman's hair also made me very angry. thanks for taking it out here!
<3
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