So I've been doing a lot of yoga lately. I love it. It's calming and peaceful. It's a great stretch after a hard workout. It begins my Thursdays just right...I moved seminary back a half hour so I could go to the class at 5:15. When she tells us to clear our minds I pray. The woman who teaches the class is active in her own Christian church and her messages ones of gratitude, forgiveness, being non-judgemental especially of ourselves. I've received many answers to prayers during this time because I'm focusing my thoughts and spirit towards my Heavenly Father. Then my husband mentioned an article he stumbled across on the internet about how yoga and Christianity are incompatible because Hindus believe in "pantheism" blah...blah...blah. Here's the Link.
I have a problem with his premise. And, I don't think I'm just justifying. Instead of searching out reasons to judge and seeking differences I seek to meld others' truths to my own. I don't seek oneness with Bhramin, I seek guidence from the Spirit. I may not be seeking to "transcend" the physical to reach the spiritual...I'm seeking to master the physical. I believe that Heavenly Father gave us these bodies to use and master. Yoga helps me fulfill that purpose. To me, reaching "oneness" with Atman (as the Hindus would call it) is the same as conforming my will to that of the Father's. Since all I have to offer my Father in Heaven is my agency, I see yoga as a medium for doing that. I pray to show my gratitude for my body. I discover my inperfections and work to strengthen that which is weak. I seek to master this physical body as my Father in Heaven has. That is what makes me more divine. Unlike the Hindus, I only have one life to accomplish this task. ;P
I think Mr. Gleghorn needs a hobby to fill his time of seeking for differences in peoples spirtuality. Maybe he should take up yoga.
