Yoga not religious says yoga guru

[Guest guest]

Yoga is just a healthier way of life

The Times of India

Sep 4, 2007

Nicole Dastur

 

Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga,

Kundalini Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Mantra Yoga... the list

goes on and on. For most Indians (and for many in the West

as well), the practice of yoga has almost become a way of

life. A healthier life.

 

Yet, two churches in Britain have recently banned a group

from conducting yoga classes [....].

 

Even though the practice did originate in India centuries ago

(the word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Yuj'

which means to 'unite', the union being that of the

individual with the Universal Spirit, or God), does that

make it more Hindu in ideology? [....]

 

Yoga guru and teacher to a host of celebrities, Bharat

Thakur, maintains that yoga is, in essence, simply a more

holistic approach to life and has no religious leanings.

" Yoga is about attaining a blissful state of being. Agree that

it was invented by a Hindu, but that was by default. [....]

 

" Which is why yoga has not become a religion or a cult,

despite its popularity. In fact, in yoga, there is no word

called 'God', " said Thakur.

 

Actress Vidya Malavade (goal-keeper in the film Chak De

India ), who is also a yoga instructor, is shocked at this ban.

" Yoga has absolutely no connection with religion. It's a way

of life, a means to finding a balance between the mind and

the body. The word 'Yogacharya' itself means 'a way of

living'. Yes, it originated from Sanskrit philosophy, but

today, it's popular across the world not because of its

origins but because of its functionality. It's the form, the

technique that people want to learn, not necessarily its

philosophy! " [....]

 

Renowned spiritual leader, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi

Shankar, also regrets the ban. " [....] Practices such as yoga

which promote health and happiness can never be against

any true religion. Yoga has been diluted by many and

marketed as a mere physical exercise. "

 

Staunch follower of yoga, actress Tisca Chopra, is also of

the opinion that only prejudiced minds can think this way

and said, " Yoga promotes good health, not religious

propaganda. This is the equivalent of saying lighting candles

promotes Christianity! " Ami Patel, Art of Living teacher

said that to restrict yoga to a particular religion is limited

thinking. " Yoga goes beyond boundaries, it is followed all

over the world. It belongs to the whole world - that is the

kind of broad vision the practice of yoga gives. Everybody

leads a stressful life today, whether one is a Hindu, Muslim

or Christian. The benefits of yoga affect everyone, "

explained Ami. [....]

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Yoga_is_just_a

_healthier_way_of_life/articleshow/2334177.cms

or

http://tinyurl.com/2y32lh

 

, " msbauju " <msbauju wrote:

>

> Indian gurus condemn banning of Yoga by British

> churches

>

> Varanasi /Haridwar/New Delhi, Sep 1, 2007

> DailyIndia.com

>

> Yoga teachers in India on Saturday condemned the

> decision by two British churches to ban teaching of yoga

> in church halls.

>

> The yoga teachers say that the ancient physical and

> mental discipline is an art of living and not a religious

> practice.

> [....]

>

> http://www.dailyindia.com/show/170453.php/Indian-

> gurus-condemn-banning-of-Yoga-by-British-churches

> or

> http://tinyurl.com/2hm6s3

>