| You shouldn't practice yoga because it is Hinduism, and | | | | palms together as a salutation, called Pranamasana |
| it is an outdated practice. Yoga is harmful to the mind | | | | (bowing pose), the two thumbs are directly in front of |
| and it can lead to hallucinations and unwanted | | | | the sternum, elbows straight to the sides, with head |
| experiences which may lead you further away from | | | | straight. If you stand in this posture for long with eyes |
| the ethics of your religion. Yoga is a prayer to Hindu | | | | closed and concentrate only on your breath, you will |
| Gods and thus must not be practised by Christians | | | | realise a sense of tranquillity setting in your mind, a |
| and Muslims. Yoga is something totally dangerous, and | | | | peace in the heart within a few minutes. It helps you |
| can lead to various psychological reactions and can | | | | concentrate better. |
| completely throw the practitioner out of balance. | | | | Kurmasana, known as the tortoise pose is also a |
| I read somewhere on the net these lines. While, | | | | posture where one has to sit on the floor and spread |
| doctrinally, yoga is an ancient outdated attempt to | | | | their legs out wide in opposite directions and place their |
| attain divine union, practically, this fact means little to a | | | | hands under the legs, on their respective sides, and |
| lukewarm laity that is hungry for access to spiritual | | | | bend with the face forward touching the floor, and try |
| experiences that they believe (erroneously) their own | | | | making the body completely flat, just like a tortoise. |
| tradition denies them. Our goal must not only be to | | | | There is no doubt rising over here, if this posture is a |
| point out the hazards of yogic philosophy and practice, | | | | prayer to a Hindu God. Certainly not, its just a posture |
| but to replace any false concepts and influences by | | | | practiced for certain benefits for the glands and |
| offering seekers the true Living Water that is the | | | | organs which will feel the pressure of the forward |
| gospel and love of Jesus Christ. | | | | bending, and also the stretching of the spine. |
| There are many controversies surrounding the | | | | Further on, the article went on saying, (not exact |
| practice of yoga. Many self-professed Gurus are | | | | words) This friend is a Holy Spirit filled tongue speaking, |
| there who proclaim to know everything, and they go | | | | Charismatic Catholic who carries out different mission |
| about teaching nonsense, while the true Gurus who | | | | works. She has daily close communion with God. She |
| have authentic knowledge, get tarnished with the rest. | | | | said she clearly sensed that Holy Spirit prevented her |
| It's the same with all religions. There are true Catholics | | | | to do certain movements. In her prayers she realized |
| and Protestants, also Islamists and Buddhists, along | | | | there was evil force behind yoga, and the Holy Spirit |
| with Hindus who respect other faiths, and also believe | | | | asked her to stop. So she quitted yoga.This statement |
| that every religion is important and all religions lead to | | | | is totally horrendous and baseless. There are millions of |
| the One and only - the Absolute. | | | | people practising yoga around the world, so should we |
| Now, I would like to go in the meaning of religion. I've | | | | say that the evil spirit is forcing mankind into something |
| studied in school and also many books where it is | | | | dangerous? Yoga is a holistic practice for good health |
| stated that the word religion is derived from the Greek | | | | of the body, mind and soul. It integrates all three. The |
| phrase Re ligare, which means to bind or to reconnect. | | | | word yoga itself means union, to integrate. In fact, |
| If yoga is religion, and helps you reconnect with the lost | | | | yoga is to unite oneself with the Holy Spirit. |
| Self, certainly I guess its dangerous for many people. | | | | There is enough scientific evidence to prove that yoga |
| No....no. You should not practice it. As the article stated | | | | balances the hormonal secretions in the body and also |
| above, if yoga is a prayer to the Hindu Gods, I am | | | | regulates the metabolism, improves blood circulation, |
| sorry, I have been practicing yoga for 8 years, and I | | | | increases concentration and also calms the mind. The |
| haven't worshipped any Hindu God in particular while | | | | power of yoga is such it can even force people to get |
| practicing Yoga. I have been reading many books on | | | | rid of addictions. I have known people who smoked a |
| spiritualism and philosophies, but I am not sure, if a | | | | minimum of 5 cigarettes a day and sometimes even |
| practice like yoga which talks about devotion and | | | | up to 15, also smoked joints. Today, after years of |
| honesty and cleanliness and non-stealing, which are | | | | practice, they have completely quit the addiction. The |
| necessary prior to practicing the yogic postures could | | | | science of yoga is vast, and if you venture into one |
| be stated as an outdated practice. | | | | section of this ancient science, it will open up new |
| Could we talk about all religious scriptures in the same | | | | possibilities and also new branches which we haven't |
| manner as what various faiths and cults involve in | | | | been aware have already been there and haven't |
| finger pointing at each other and try showing the | | | | looked into them. |
| others small, while they are trying to be big? What is | | | | I agree, when we do the Sun Salutation practice, there |
| dangerous and what is not dangerous? Who can tell | | | | are mantras involved for each posture. But mantras |
| us that? That's a big question mark. Misinterpretation of | | | | are also scientific and there is nothing evil or bewitching |
| religious scriptures and blind following of any faith is the | | | | about them. A mantra is a sacred syllable in Sanskrit, |
| most dangerous fact we are facing today, which is | | | | discovered by the ancient seers of India, for certain |
| leading to more and more religious wars. | | | | benefits. The benefits are for the body, mind and soul. |
| I am really sorry to point these things out, but none of it | | | | When a mantra is spoken or chanted a number of |
| is true. As a non-biased, liberal and spiritual person, I | | | | times, it creates energy around one self. The vibration |
| have read about all religions, and have learned to | | | | of each syllable resonates with different nerve centres |
| respect every faith. | | | | of the body. Especially, it works on the spinal cord, right |
| I further read somewhere, The movements and | | | | from the base of the spine to the cerebrum activating |
| gestures are actually the worship gestures to Hindu | | | | the different nerve plexus. In short, the mantra |
| gods. This is absolutely something totally... a frivolous | | | | combined with the Sun Salutation which involves |
| conclusion, with complete lack of evidence. First and | | | | stretching and bending the body in various movements |
| foremost, yoga is started with the Sun Salutation. The | | | | synchronizing with inhalation and exhalation |
| Sun Salutation is a practice derived by ancient yogis of | | | | simultaneously, not just activates different nerve |
| India based on certain experimentations and research | | | | centres but also, removes blockages in the veins, and |
| which they carried out, in which, the different postures | | | | enhances better blood circulation to the heart, and also, |
| are nothing but forms and shapes of different animals | | | | burns excess calories and removes, toxins through |
| and also different forms of nature. In the Sun | | | | sweating. |
| Salutation, we have certain ways of stretching our | | | | I am sure there are enough articles on yoga, and yoga |
| bodies, which is very similar to dogs and other animals. | | | | has gained enough popularity around the world today |
| For example, the dog stretches its body with its head | | | | and many people have benefited from it and still |
| facing upwards and the whole body inclining forwards | | | | continue to do so. By doing various breath control |
| in a downward angle, and once, it stretches with its | | | | techniques even I have sensed enough relief from |
| head facing the ground, with its hind legs stretching | | | | nasal blockage. Students of my master have been |
| backwards. Similarly, we have the same posture, in the | | | | cured from Cancer. There is no need to mention, as |
| Sun Salutation, where we once stretch ourselves once | | | | there are so many therapy centres round the globe |
| forward with our body bending forward and head | | | | which are providing good cure to various ailments. If |
| facing upwards to the sky, and then bending back | | | | yoga is a practice which could create clarity of the |
| again, forming the posture of a mountain. Now, this is in | | | | mind, and cure illnesses, oh my God, these experiences |
| no way, a prayer to Hindu Gods. When Hindus pray, | | | | could really damage you all the more. Maybe, it may |
| they only pray, they don't do yoga. Even, the style of | | | | force you to throw away all the pills prescribed by |
| prayer is scientific and holistic. When Hindus, hold both | | | | your doctor. |