The Principle behind Christian Yoga
Christian yoga is a spiritual practice of Christians most
common in Eastern and Western Countries. It is a discipline that
one practices to be much closer to God. Taking the path of
Christian yoga can lead to healing of the mind and body. But
perhaps even more important than that, it can lead to the discovery
of what at the moment is only a potential within you.
Many of classes in the U.S. teach the practice of yoga, the
physical discipline that focuses on postures or asana, and employ
no religious teaching at all. Other yoga teachers have training in
yoga schools.
Practitioners say that Christian yoga fills a need for believers
who want the health benefits of yoga but are put off by the
practice's ancient Hindu roots. With this, it brings together the
wonderful physical benefits of yoga within their spiritual
beliefs.
The doctrines and practices of yoga date from the period of the
Upanishads. The word yoga originated from Hindus, it is a religious
practice of Hinduism that through the practice of certain
disciplines one may achieve liberation from the limitations of
flesh, the delusions of sense, and the pitfalls of thought and thus
attain union with the object of knowledge.
Though developed in the ancient Hindu tradition, the movements of
Christian yoga are so universal that they can adapt to or be
adopted by any culture or spiritual path.
The yoga has been known for many years, and was practiced by some
of the Early Christian during the persecution. The spirit and love
that touched the Early Christian has been inherent from the men and
women today. Christian yoga is about unfolding some of these
wonderful possibilities each hold latent.
It is about possibilities so amazing that many early Christians
were willing to die in support of keeping a doorway open for other
people to claim them. Go into it and are transformed by following
the Christian pathway, the Christian yoga.
In the Eastern belief, Christian yoga is not an Eastern postures or
breathing techniques, rather the aim is to open to an influence
that can transform and heal. Eastern yoga attempts to drop the ego,
the Christian path aims at transforming the personality.
Christian yoga is described absolutely in the New Testament in
the story of Jesus' life as an allegory. It is a step-by-step way
of transformation and the finding of a new life. As Jesus promised,
this 'heaven', this new awareness of your life, is not far away. It
is already yours if you know how to find it.
In Western, Christian yoga from its very beginning women played an
important role in its practice and teachings. It is about universal
processes of life, of mind and heart.
Christian yoga has garnered criticism, despite of its
prevalence.
Many Christians says that Christian yoga is incompatible with
Christianity, and emphasizing that it is not a religion in itself.
Other says that there is no such as Christian yoga because it
blends two different belief structure.
Catholic priests in Mexico City instructed their parishioners
not to attend Yoga classes because this practice would lead to
other god's and Eastern religion beliefs.
Though critics have charged that yoga's ancient Hindu origins are
incompatible with Christian faith, practitioners say the exercise
is an ideal vehicle for spiritual reflection.
