brighid

Amos,

Kundalini Yoga is a VERY specific type of yoga that aimes to release the Kundalini energy (female serpent goddess) from the ("crotch" area) laying dormant at the spine through specific movements. The movements of Kundalini yoga are very different (IMO) from Ashtanga, Hatha, Kripalu and most other forms of yoga (which there are many.) The releasing of Kundalini energy in this yoga practice is done not to impede ones sexual drive or energy, but to enhance it. It is to reunite the divine lovers (male and female), while release the Chakras. Furthermore, IF the goal of Kundalini yoga WAS to bring the sexual energy of the groin up to the heart (but more correctly to the brain where Shiva resides) one would think that would be considered a good thing by theists - removing the lustful nature and blending it with the emotional and loving nature of the heart (or brain). The priests are ill informed and there is nothing to fear by teaching any person upward facing dog (which may not be found in Kundalini yoga), heros pose, warriors pose or any yoga exercise.

Brighid

ju'iblex

something tells me these priests werent thinking about getting laid anytime soon anyway.

Bree

I have had many "free movement" dance classes that were extremely 'religious' - lots of OHMMMM and "be one with the tree" and "let your skeleton melt into the ground and return to the earth to be with your ancestors" crap. The yoga class I took was free of all that BS - the only strange things the teacher said to us were visualisation type stuff like "feel your belly button come close to your spine."

So what this pastor is saying is that yoga does something spritually to the practitioner, whether he/she is actively trying to be spiritual or not?

brighid

Yes, that is what they are saying - more along the lines that the divine connection yoga alleges to establish opens one up to "demonic possession." Since we all know NONE of that crap actually exists I think it's safe to say yoga doesn't do more then make one feel very, very good, while increasing muscle strength, flexibility and over all health.

Pulling your belly button to your spine is just a simple way to make you think about activating the abdominal muscles in order to facilitate proper posture.

Brighid

Amos

Hello Brighid, it sounds like you know lots about yoga and hope that this serves you well. I just know that the premature raising of the Kundalini is a bad thing because sex is a good thing. Yes, first to the heart and then to the mind. I don't think they are ill informed and have the right to point out this mind altering state of consciousness that can go either way (increase or decrease our sexuality), as you suggest. From there it is beyond their responsibility.

Ensign Steve

I used to love doing yoga, and I have got to be one of the least spiritual people on the planet (well maybe not on this board, but definitely on the planet). My yoga instructor was a devout christian, and her christian friends used to try to convince her that doing yoga was evil. They said that people who did yoga worshiped false idols, horrible, evil false idols like the earth and the sky. Even the CAPalert guy knocks points of a movie if it has yoga in it, although he doesn't give a good reason. My instructor tried to explain to her friends that "honoring" and "worshiping" are not the same things. She held the position that yoga is nothing more than physical and mental exercise, and it is good for anybody who is willing to give it a chance. I am inclined to agree. As a materialist and a monist, I can really understand the utility of combining physical and mental exercises. After a session I felt as though I could take over the world. Euphoric, I guess. I feel that way after any exercise, but especially yoga. A phrase like "feel the energy flowing out through the top of your head to the sky" meant nothing to me intellectually, but in just hearing it and trying to imagine it, my spine would straigten up and my form would improve. It's just a metaphor. The language is different and more mystical sounding than we're used to, but it's no different from saying "keep your eye on the ball" or "give 110 percent" two other metaphorical and helpful phrases in athletics.

Phew, long story short, yoga is harmless. It does not teach to worship or even agree to the existense of any gods. It has nothing to do with religion, IMHO. Besides, children can imagine themselves being bananas without the help of yoga. I remember playing "cat and mouse" as a kid, and I never actually believed that I was being transformed into a cat.

Shake

I don't have a lot to add that Jen, Brighid, and Blexy haven't already said, but I feel it necessary to reiterate that spirituality does not equal religiousness. LOL, Jen, about the "cat and mouse" thing. Likewise, I turned neither into a cowboy nor an indian!

I worked with a guy once who was taking martial arts (exactly which flavor escapes me right now - Tae Kwon Do, I think, but don't quote me on that), with an Xian instructor who merged Xian teachings into his instruction. That seemed to work OK for the people taking it. He understood the difference between the spiritual part and the religious part. He said is was very distinct, but it was easy to see how the two could be brought together.

Darth Dane

Yoga in and of itself is NOT religious. It is teh science OF religions, not a religion in itself.

And yes, the theories should be taught, it is a good critical tool, to view how the world works. It is not teh whole picture, but a very usefull tool, on what aspect you want it to influence you. Just want a better health? Just want a calm mind? Just want to be at peace. Yoga offers freely to those who want. What they want determines what they get.




DD - Love Spliff

brighid

I will add that at times I dislike the New Agey spiritual mumbo-jumbo that is quite prevalent in the present day, American yoga movement. I have been interested in obtaining my certification in yoga so I can provide that with other exercise services once I obtain my personal training certification. I personally enjoy the exercises of yoga very, very much! They are always challenging and I have an enormous amount of respect for those yoga practitioners that possess incredible strength, flexibility, balance and inner calm. I feel those goals can be achieved without abdicating to the spiritual fluff that can accompany the practice of yoga. However, I do find plenty of outlets that hardly include any sort of mystical mumbo jumbo and concentrate on the mental and physical well being of the practitioner.

Yoga can be very good exercise for children who have trouble focusing. It is fun, it is relaxing and it does take a certain degree of practice to acquire the necessary focus to truly complete a pose.

Yoga is good for all ages, physical conditions (unless otherwise advised by a personal physician) and with regular practice it will increase strength, flexibility, circulation and promote health. If you don’t like the jarring movements of an aerobic class, if weight lifting is boring, or if you find yourself in a state of physical deteriation that you find yourself intimidated by other exercises yoga can be a great place to start on the road to wellness.

Yoga teachers try to promote a non-judgmental view of ones self and others. There is no “correct” pose. There is no perfect body type. There is no judgment, or at least that is the goal. You are to do the best you can with what you have and work to do things a bit better.

Although I am, at times annoyed by the mumbo-jumbo that can be found in the world of yoga I also find many healthy alternatives to dealing with anger, stress, loss, and other life issues every person faces. If it is promoting some “divine connection”, it also seems to seek to promote harmony with ones self, others, as well as the natural world in a non judgmental, or violently separatist way that other religious and spiritual factions promote as a necessity to the continued dominance of their faith.

My over all view of yoga is a very positive one and when I do obtain my certification you can bet that my clients won’t be getting any sort of psuedo-scientific, mamby-pamby fluff. Finally, I have never had the experience that any religious, mystical or spiritual aspect of yoga being forced upon students. It is optional, and as another member stated the students gets out of it what he/she wants. If you don't want spiritual nonesense you will get none, or at least it won't be forced upon you. If a Christian wants to use it to open up the "spiritual pathways" to Christ in a meditative, yet physical practice they can do that too. If one wants to attempt to unite the sexual energy of the Goddess Kundalini with her lover Shiva ... by all means go for it.
I have had very positive sexual experiences awakening my 'inner goddess'

Brighid

Brighid

Amos

Yoga can be very good and I have heard that some fertility clinics recommend it to wake up the goddess of fertility. Is that the same one?