The Return!

Finally, I have returned to my mat.  Yes, as I've said before, there is much more to Yoga than just practicing asanas but there is also a great satisfaction in practicing asanas.  Tonight I limited myself to two sun salutations  I then practiced deergha swasam and anuloma viloma.  To complete my first asana practice in far too long, I lay down in svasana but before I could actually do that my back began crying out for ardha matsyendrasana.  Before I could even begin the twist in earnest, my back and hips gave a loud pop and everything settled gently into place.  I have not felt such ease in my body for such a long time!

Namasté

Obstacles

Yoga is, in large part, about identifying obstacles and eliminating them.  I am sure that many would say that a tight hamstring or in-flexible joints are obvious obstacles, not so.  Whether I can sit for an hour in padmasana or whether I have troubles just sitting in sukasana does not matter, the asanas are to train the body for stillness and that can be accomplished regardless of how tight or loose one's body is.  In truth, the notion that my body being too tight or too loose is the true obstacle as I am missing the opportunity that my body is giving by only focusing on whether I can do such a pose perfectly or not.  In reality, the only way to do a pose incorrectly is to hurt oneself.

I have run into a bit of an obstacle though:  Time.  As I've mentioned on my other blog, I am now working four ten hour shifts each week.  This schedule has potential to wreak havoc on my practice.  Previously, I was arriving at home by 16:30 and so had time to practice before dinner.  Now I arrive home about 18:00 which is when we eat dinner.  To be able to sleep well enough to function the next day, I need to be in bed by 21:30 which is about the time that a regular meal will have digested enough to not hamper an asana practice (adho mukha svasana is very unpleasant on a full stomach).  This is going to mean a rather drastic change in my lifestyle to eliminate this obstacle:  Two half meals.  Each night I will take the same portion of food that I would normally and I will half it.  I will place half of it in a container for my lunch the next day and I'll eat the remaining half.  Hopefully, this will allow me to still have a good asana practice each evening.

Namasté

Side Note

I've updated the template to allow for better rendering on IE for those of you who are still clinging to that piece of software instead of migrating to Firefox or Opera.

Namasté

At Last!

Well, eating the half-meal for dinner worked wonders.  Honestly, it was very trying at first because the meal was delicious and I really wanted more.  This was compounded by the fact that I still felt very hungry.  Surprisingly enough, my hunger seems to have stayed at the table as it went away as soon as I stood up.  Practice was particularly rewarding.  Three sun salutations followed by vrksasana and svasana.  The first salutation was done rather quickly, checking to see where I was tight (everywhere) and where I felt at ease (not to be found today).  The second was more intense and slower.  Standing taller in tadasana or maintaining a better alignment of my spine in chaturanga dandasana  The final was even slower, holding each pose for five complete breaths.  Focusing on the breath this way really allowed me to draw inward and increased my sense of vitality as my breath quickly filled my lungs and then slowly drew off the spent energy as I exhaled (exhalation twice as long as inhalation).  Tonight I was reminded of the many reasons why I wanted to make Yoga a part of my life when I first started practicings the asanas.  What a grand way to end the day.

Namasté

A Curiosity

Don Livingston asked about seeing a picture of my finished floor.  I had considered putting some up the first time that I used it but decided against it at the time.  I really wanted to show it off a bit, strut my stuff as it were and that was the very reason that I decided against it.  I realized that if I put up the pictures because I wanted to show off what I had done that I was feeding my own ego and would turn my floor from a dedicated space to a mere vaunted object.  By keeping it to myself I made sure it was not an object of my own pride but that it remained a space full of satisfaction and personal well being.  Now each time I fold out my floor, it really does transform this room into a sanctuary and so now I have no qualms about sharing my humble practice space.

The first image shows the floor folded and against my bedroom wall.  The second shows the floor on the floor.  It is about 8 feet (2.44m) by 4 feet (1.22m) and about 3/4 of an inch (1.91cm) thick.  I believe I said before that I used oak (red oak actually) because I wanted to use a hardwood for durability and it was readily available.  The end result is one heavy floor which is one of the reasons I went with two hand holds instead of one.  I could have trimmed off nearly two feet from the length to reduce the weight but I'm finding that the extra length adds to the sense of seclusion.  The width is perfect, no edges to interupt svasana which was one main reason I did not go with a premade floor.  Things I would do differently if I were to do it again:  Add a router attachment to my wood working tool as sanding the edges and hand holds was labor intensive.  I would also hold out for 1/2 inch (1.27cm) wood as that is plenty thick and much lighter than thicker lumber.  Evenso, I've been very pleased with the end result.  Feel free to email me with furhter questions.

Namasté

A New Time

As I mentioned back in January, I've divided the year into twenty sections so I can focus on each of the yamas and niyamas throughout the year.  Today begins the seaon of brahmacharya.

Namasté

Christianity and Yoga:  A Series of Studies

Recently I was given the opportunity to read an article titled The Truth About Yoga by Holly Vicente Robaina on the ChristianityToday website.  I've linked the article at the end of this entry for although I will be referencing the article, this entry is not about the article but about my own study which began when I first started investigating Yoga and my recent review of that study.  If you would like to read the article first, just scroll to the bottom of this entry and read away!

Lest I be accused of trying to deceive anyone, allow me time to point out that I am LDS (you may be more familiar with the term Mormon).  That alone is enough for many Christians to immediately discount anything I might say.  Knowing that, I limited my study this time to the Bible only.  If you want further references from modern scripture, please feel free to email me.

Onward to the article and my own findings!  The article is about Laurette Willis, founder of PraiseMoves, and how Yoga destroyed her faith in Christ for 22 years.  The following is from the PraiseMoves website:

As a child growing up on Long Island, I became involved with yoga at the age of seven when my mother and I began watching a daily yoga exercise program on television. For the next 22 years I was heavily involved with yoga, metaphysics and the New Age movement until I came to the end of myself and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in 1987.

. . . .

From experience I can say that yoga is a dangerous practice for the Christian and leads seekers away from God rather than to Him. You may say, "Well, I'm not doing any of the meditation stuff. I'm just following the exercises." It is impossible, however, to separate the subtleties of yoga the technique from yoga the religion. I know because I taught and practiced hatha yoga for years.

The article at ChristianityToday has this to say:

Throughout her childhood, Laurette's family regularly attended church. "If someone had asked us, we would have said we were Christians," she says.

Put the two together and it is clear that Ms. Willis feels that Yoga robbed her of her faith at a young age and that it kept her blind to faith in Christ for 22 years.  After reading more of the arctile at ChristianityToday, I am of the opinion that Yoga was not the root cause of Ms. Willis' lack of faith in Christ:

Throughout her childhood, Laurette's family regularly attended church. "If someone had asked us, we would have said we were Christians," she says. "But we never heard the message of salvation at our church." Lacking knowledge about the Christian faith, Laurette's mom found herself drawn to New Age practices, and began reading books by Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce (both claimed to have psychic abilities) and taking Laurette to an ashram, a Hindu yoga retreat.

As an adult, Laurette immersed herself in every New Age and metaphysical practice she came across: chanting, crystals, tarot cards, psychics, channeling spirits.

"I tried everything — Kabbalah, Universalism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism — because I was spiritually hungry," Laurette says. "I call the New Age movement 'Burger King' because it's like the fast-food restaurant's motto: 'Have it your way.' That's what the New Age movement tries to do, to achieve God on its terms."

There was one thing Laurette wasn't remotely interested in pursuing: Christianity.

I agree with Ms. Willis as to the cause of her spiritual hunger:  A missing faith in Christ.  I do not agree that Yoga was the root cause of that lack.  Part of the root cause, according to her own words, was that she "never heard the message of salvation at our church." The other part being that her mother seems to have taught her about everything except Christ.  Regardless, the crux of Ms. Willis' statements is that Yoga and Christianity are opposed to each other to the extent that "yoga is a dangerous practice for the Christian and leads seekers away from God rather than to Him."  As the hour is late, I will break this study into a series.  Tomorrow I will cover the Yamas.

Namasté

ChristianityToday article.  If the article is no longer available but you would still like to read it in its entirety, please email me.  Link to PraiseMoves here.  Please note that at the time of this writing, the PraiseMoves site does not support browsers other than IE very well at all (some images won't load except in IE).

Christianity and Yoga:  A Series of Studies – Overview

Yesterday I began writing about my review of Christianity and Yoga.  This most recent review was spurred by the article on ChristianityToday (see links from yesterday) about Ms. Laurette Willis and her belief that "yoga is a dangerous practice for the Christian and leads seekers away from God rather than to Him." I intend to highlight the very strong similarities between Christian teachings and those found in Yoga.  I will cover not only those specific areas that Ms. Willis that either Ms. Willis or the article's author target as being problems with Yoga but I will actually cover all eight of the limbs identified by Patañjali.  In addition to Biblical backing for much (yes I said much and not all) of Yoga's principles, I will apply to further tests.  The first being Paul's council to the Philippians:

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8, KJV

Paul knew that there were and would be a great many good things outside of the church as well as within it and this was Paul's council on how to recognize such things.  Does Yoga fit into any of these categories?  Secondly, I will turn to the test given by the Savior Himself during the Sermon on the Mount:

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:15-20, KJV*

This test was given to give us a way to determine whether a prophet is true or false.  If the prophet brings good fruit (his prophecies are fulfilled, his teachings lead one to follow God, and so forth) then he is a true prophet.  If these things are not so, then he is a false prophet.  The same basic test can be applied to any thing or any person:  Does this thing/person increase my faith, my desire to do good or improve my relationship with God?

On a final note before beginning:  I am not trying to belittle, impugn or otherwise discredit either ChristianityToday nor Ms. Willis, especially not Ms. Willis.  She identified a problem in her life, identified a possible cause of that problem and took action to correct it.  Even further, she has the courage to stand up and tell others about her experience.  I disagree with Ms. Willis' findings and want to stand up and tell others about my own experience.

Namasté

* All future Biblical references will also be from the King James Version

Christianity and Yoga:  A Series of Studies – Yamas Part I

In the Yoga Sutras Patañjali (see the front page for links) identifies eight limbs of Yoga.  The first limb is Yama (outward observance or restraint).  Patañjali goes on to identify five Yamas:  Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (sexual continence), Aparigraha (non-greed).  He further says that these five restraints together form a great vow and are not limited by rank, place, time nor circumstance.  It would be fairly simple to just point out that these five Yamas are covered within the Ten Commandments:  Thou shalt not kill.  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.  Thou shalt not steal.  Thou shalt not commit adultery.  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.  However, I want to review a few more passages:

Ahimsa – Non-violence

Yoga Sutra 2.35 When one is confirmed in non-violence, hostility ceases in his presence.

5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Psalms 11:5

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Luke 3:14

Clearly, violence of any kind has no place in the life of a disciple of Christ.

Satya – Truth

Yoga Sutra 2.36 When one is firmly established in speaking truth, the fruits of action become subservient to him.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Dueteronomy 32:4

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Psalms 51:6

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 4:25, 29

God is a God of truth and wants truth to be in the very core of our being.  Paul tells us to put away lying and to even go so far as to only speak things which will edify or improve the lives of those who hear what we say.

Asteya – Non-stealing

Yoga Sutra 2.37 All jewels approach him who is confirmed in honesty.

3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.

Zechariah 5:3

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Ephesians 4:28

Not only are we warned against stealing but we are instructed to labor so we have enough to give to those in need.

Tonight's review is somewhat of a whirlwind that just briefly touched on three of the Yamas but, then again, these three tenets are so time honored that I didn't really even need to do any work to show how practicing these three Yamas not only is compatible with a Christian life but they are actually requirements of a Christian lifestyle.  Tomorrow I will review Brahmacharya and Aparigraha, two traits that are sorely lacking on all sides.

Namasté