Promoting a Christian Alternative To Yoga-" a dangerous practice for the Christian"

[krsna]

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/onlineCDA/PFVersion.jsp?article=http://

10.81.141.122/news/181_1366576,0050.htm

 

NEW YORK, USA, May 18, 2005: A former American practitioner of yoga has

cast the fitness regime in a narrow Hindu religious context and offered

a "Christian alternative" says this article in the Hindustan Times

(based on a report in Christianity Today magazine). "From experience I

can say that yoga is a dangerous practice for the Christian and leads

seekers away from God rather than to him. You may say, 'Well, I'm not

doing any of the meditation stuff. I'm just following the exercises.'

It is impossible, however, to separate the subtleties of yoga, the

technique from yoga the religion. I know because I taught and practised

hatha yoga for years," said Laurette Willis. "Those who think yoga is

little more than a series of stress-relieving stretching exercises may

be surprised to learn about the true foundation of the

multibillion-dollar yoga craze in North America. There are an estimated

15-20 million people practising yoga in the US and over 50,000 yoga

instructors offering classes at approximately 20,000 locations," says

Willis. (HPI adds: Willis is a professional actor, motivational speaker

and standup comedienne whose website is

http://www.laurettewillis.com/.)

 

Over the last several decades, she says, yoga has been embraced by the

mainstream of society--and even the Christian church. "We don't often

think of other religions having missionaries, but the philosophy and

practice of yoga have been primary tools of Hindu 'missionaries' to

America since 'Indian priest and mystic' Swami Vivekananda introduced

yoga to the West at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago," Willis writes.

Willis offers an intriguing perspective on pranayama, one of the

fundamental techniques of yoga that teaches breathing well. "Yoga's

breathing techniques (pranayama) may seem stress-relieving, yet they

can be an open door to psychic influences, as is the customary

relaxation period at the end of a yoga session. Before becoming a

Christian, I remember numerous instances of 'travelling outside my

body' during yoga relaxation periods. I wonder who--or what--checked in

when I checked out?" she says. Citing an unnamed staff member of a yoga

academy, Willis adds, "I've received some stunning confirmation from an

unlikely source. A staff member of an east coast Classical Yoga Academy

wrote to me, 'Yes, all of yoga is Hinduism. Everyone should be aware of

this fact.'" In February 2001 Willis said the idea for a Christian

alternative to yoga came "from the Lord."

[Guest guest]

Whoops, watch those Hindus they are in like a candle and out like the plough asana!

Before you know it you may even be enlightened if you meditate, or open up the doors of perception.

Of course you can't do that unless it is attributed to Jesus. So beware the Yogis are coming to get you and your children, mystic mesmerizers and prana thieves dressed in white, chanting spells to control your mind.

[theist]

She is concerned that some astral entity will take over her body during relaxation if she exteriorizes her astra form. So the answer is always remember the Lord and stay focused with chanting and prayer even when one is in the astral form. That way if you meet anyone they will likely be angels.

 

But there is real danger in the yoga studios that goes beyond her concerns and even the superficiality of doing yooga to keep your buns looking good. And that is the danger of absorbing mayavadi nonsense which permeates those places.

 

Lord Caitanyas devotees should also avoid such association. I remember reading about some Krsna Bhaktas starting some hatha-yoga classes in LA. A good and healthy preaching tool. Dovetail it. I wonder how that worked out. i hope they are still going.

[Guest guest]

Just what makes you so sure that advaita isn't at least partly true??

 

And if you don't believe in your own experiences when doing yoga, what would you do yoga for?

 

What makes you so staunch in your beliefs?

 

 

[Kulapavana]

to most "born again (and again...)" Christians, yoga = New Age = Devil's work.

 

dont read too much into it.

 

Yoga is as Vedic as it gets, and please try to remeber that or you will risk becoming as narrow-minded as these Christians.

[Kulapavana]

the christian alternative to yoga has always been the aerobics /images/graemlins/wink.gif (what dance routine would Jesus do?)

[Guest guest]

what makes you so staunch in your beliefs?

 

Vaishnavas love Christians who call them 'heathens', devil-worshppers etc. But they call advaita 'mayavada nonsense', even though the mayavadis have never abused them the way christians do. Seems like Vaishnavas are masochistic.

[Guest guest]

I always got a little uncomfortable or even embarrassed with those little positive affirmations at the end of a Yoga session, some of them come up with some pretty gooey stuff. I wish they'd just stick to the asanas and leave it up to the individual what they are thinking or experiencing. I mean you might not want to be a bird flying thru a rainbow dropping seeds of love to everyone below, then diving into the ocean of light..

I would chant gayatri to redirect my mind.

[theist]

>>>Just what makes you so sure that advaita isn't at least partly true??<<<

 

I am sure that it is partly true. But a monotheist of any standing should not be influenced by impersonalism.

 

>>>And if you don't believe in your own experiences when doing yoga, what would you do yoga for?<<<

 

As far as my own experiences go the one's I have had to this point I would rather not put to much trust in. One should do yoga to enter into transcendental life. Why trust any experience prior to that point?

 

Christians were taught a form of karma/bhakti yoga by Christ. Anything else would be excellent health practice but they should avoid the philosophy at most of these places as should we all.

 

What makes you so staunch in your beliefs?

 

Beliefs. I have lost faith in so-called beliefs. I don't know who I am which proves I am not God, that is one thing I can be staunch in. However the tendancy to try and pretend His position seems to die out slowly. So I am really not to stauch in that even.

 

But one doesn't have to be very far along to see that advaita's conclusions are to the vaisnava's what a fig is to a banyan tree.