Below is something Angie posted on another 3FC thread in response to another christian about yoga...I thought it might answer a question or two here...ps...I thought she said 19 came to her first class
ANGIE HERE:
I've never had an issue balancing yoga and my beliefs as a Christian. When I go to a yoga studio, I go with an open mind and heart. I know will be hearing things that I do not agree with and, quite frankly, are a little "out there". I just let these ideas run off my back and focus on Christ as my center. I attend yoga classes because I know of the positive benefits yoga will bring to my health and well-being.
I just taught my first yoga class at my church and had 17 people participate. This class was enthusiastically backed by my pastor. I've had such a postivie response, that it looks like I will be adding additonal classes.
Below is an excerpt of something I wrote and read to my new class to introduce them to yoga and how I plan to integrate Christian principles into our practice.
I hope this helps you.
The meaning of the word “yoga” is to yoke or to join. The goal of yoga is the uniting of the body, mind, and spirit. The development of yoga predates written history. It is not a religion. It has no creed or fixed set of beliefs. Yoga is a system of techniques that can be used for a number of goals from simply managing stress better, learning to relax, and increasing limberness to becoming more self-aware and acquiring the deepest knowledge on oneself.
Hatha yoga is the branch of yoga concerned with asanas or postures. These postures are intended to prepare the body to sit in meditation. Through the asanas, we stretch and strengthen our muscles, increase our flexibility, and the mobility of our joints. With continual practice, our body becomes stronger and we begin to feel better. All of our little aches and pains disappear.
When our body is free from aches and pains, we are able to focus and quiet the mind. When we can sit in stillness our mind can also become still. This is the opportunity for meditation.
As Christians, we want to meditate on God’s word. God promises to keep us in perfect peace when we keep our minds are fixed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3). Yoga helps us to control our wandering minds. Yoga gives us techniques to bring peace to our mind and our body.
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