I had this conversation a week ago using my other account. Same kinds of issues - is yoga exercise or a religion?
I think that it really varies depending on the teacher. Most people on that message threat seemed to have only gone to non-religious yoga classes and couldn't understand how anyone would have a problem with it.
My personal experience is that I've tried it twice. The first time, I was doing my undergrad. I was expecting to learn stretching and flexibility. Instead, it focused on "emptying our minds" which I thought was ironic considering I was paying thousands of dollars to fill my mind.
The second (about 14 years later) had us chant something in an Indian language. When I asked what exactly we were chanting, the instructor couldn't tell me and I refused to chant something when I didn't know what it meant.
I wish I'd had better experiences, but the two I had are the reason why I am a Pilates girl. Same focus on flexiblity and core stretch and zero percent chance of Eastern spirituality. I do have a ton of friends who do yoga, both inside and outside of Christianity, but I just can't into yoga.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 03:50 pm (UTC)I think that it really varies depending on the teacher. Most people on that message threat seemed to have only gone to non-religious yoga classes and couldn't understand how anyone would have a problem with it.
My personal experience is that I've tried it twice. The first time, I was doing my undergrad. I was expecting to learn stretching and flexibility. Instead, it focused on "emptying our minds" which I thought was ironic considering I was paying thousands of dollars to fill my mind.
The second (about 14 years later) had us chant something in an Indian language. When I asked what exactly we were chanting, the instructor couldn't tell me and I refused to chant something when I didn't know what it meant.
I wish I'd had better experiences, but the two I had are the reason why I am a Pilates girl. Same focus on flexiblity and core stretch and zero percent chance of Eastern spirituality. I do have a ton of friends who do yoga, both inside and outside of Christianity, but I just can't into yoga.