The benefit of yoga is twofold-- increased health and unification of the spirit with the body. It is achieved through using various elements, however primarily through the combination of Asanas, or postures, and breathing/meditation practices.
This raises many concern in the Christian community. In my research for this article, I was very stunned at the viewpoint of the Christian apologists, and their handle yoga and its practice. I have actually thought twice on writing this short article because of that perspective. However, I feel that this question and the position of the Christian community warrants reflection on the topic.
Yoga has a history dating back over five thousand years, to the beginning of the civilization of man. Little is actually learnt about Yoga. it is thought to have come from Mehrgarh, a neolithic settlement in what is now Afghanistan. Scholars believe it has outgrown Stone Age Shamanism. In this early duration of civilization's beginnings, Yoga was a community resource, because of its efforts to identify cosmic order through inner vision, and apply it to daily living. In later years, yoga evolved into an inner dialogue through which the Yogis looked for to develop their own salvation and knowledge.
Historical evidence of the presence of Yoga first appeared in stone seals excavated from the Indus valley. It depicted figures in numerous Yogic Asanas, or postures, and officially put Yoga in the time duration of around 3000 B.C. Of higher import, it also linked yoga to the great Indus-Sarasvati Civilization, a duration in time that was thought about modern and effective.
From the Indus-Sarasvati civilization came the ancient texts referred to as the Vedas, the oldest bibles on the planet. The Vedas are a collection of hymns that praise a greater power and includes the earliest documented history of Yoga teachings. The Vedas required the specialist to go beyond human constraints, and reach a greater spiritual aircraft. In later years, texts referred to as the Brahmanas were composed to explain the rituals and the hymns of the Vedas. Following this came the Aranyakas texts, which outlined the practice of Yogis living in the privacy of the forest. This caused the beginning of India's medical tradition, referred to as Ayurveda. All in all, Yoga changed into a practice of health, harmony of the spirit, and a lifestyle.
The Christian perspective resources is therefore-- if one opens the mind to clearer thinking and inner vision, they open the spirit to demonic possession. It is felt that Yoga practice borders on occultism, and that opening one's mind and spirit to the benefit of yoga is both harmful and against everything Christianity preaches. Christians think that studying yoga is akin to practicing Hinduism, and one can not separate the approach of Hinduism from their Christian beliefs, despite the health benefit of yoga.
As a practicing Buddhist, I disagree with this viewpoint. To me, this smacks of tunnel vision and narrowmindedness. A Christian is anticipated to open their heart and minds to Jesus, and to succumb to the spirit of the Lord. They are anticipated to count on blind faith, and to accept the word of God as the only reality worldwide. A believing person would find this hypocritical, for on the one hand Christians preach that Yoga must be avoided due to the fact that opening the mind to clearer vision encourages the possibility of demonic ownership, yet on the other hand preaches that one should open the mind and heart to accept Jesus into their lives. Opening one's heart and mind is precisely that-- whether it is to check out one's self, or to accept Jesus into their lives. If, as Christians preach, we are open to demonic belongings if we look inside ourselves and open the mind to all the possibilities, how then can we safely open our hearts to the idea of Christianity? Exists a gatekeeper who makes this decision when we do so that determines what path we are to follow? I believe not ...
For the record, I was raised in a Christian household. My dad was the deacon of a little Baptist church in the farming neighborhood where we lived. My mom, who taught us kids to question everything, moved from the Baptist neighborhood to the Assembly of God churches, and was ostracized by my father. I think that to her passing away day, she resented my daddy for this narrowmindedness. Life is a matter of choice, and my mom thought that we are not needed to operate under the impression of blind faith, however to do what is best to us as an individual. And it is why I walk the Noble 8 Folded Course. It is just a matter of choice, and questioning whatever in this universe.
I think that the practice of yoga is an advantage. It provides us with fantastic health benefits, clearer vision, and consistency in our souls. And in this day and age, what else exists? Whether we be Christians, Muslims, or Buddhists, we should not disrespect the feelings and ideas of others, their rights to practice as they want, or try to press our views down other individuals's throats. To live in consistency is exactly that ...