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Does anyone else do yoga ?

hallowbonnie

hallowbonnie

Member
I remember doing it for a bit years ago but then quit ,now I do it everyday and love it.Its done so much for me mentally ,emotionally,physically etc.I know this is random but I guess after my divorce and abandonment from my family every good thing I have found ,that God has brought my way Im just so grateful for.Anyway if you dont do yoga what exercise or activity do you enjoy?How does it help you?
 
For exercise I have a elliptical (Also doubles as a place to hang cloths)

For emotional support, I focus on the Word of God, and spend time with God every morning.

Mike.
 
I took up Yoga early this year, and yes, I have something to say.

hallowbonnie said:
I remember doing it for a bit years ago but then quit ,now I do it everyday and love it.Its done so much for me mentally ,emotionally,physically etc.
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The reason it has done so much for you emotionally and mentally is because of what it does physically for you.

Health
This is what got me into Yoga. There is a reason so many successful people do yoga - you can't be positive, you can't be energetic, unless you feel well. This is why so many sales people are into yoga. The physical advantages it gives you, make all the difference in the world.

Yoga is very good for the body. Those who eat a largely veggie diet and do yoga tend to stay healthy - period. They also tend to live a LONG time.

Spiritual Concerns
The big problem with Yoga is the spiritual aspect. Yoga itself is not a religion, altho it is taught as a kind of religion or spiritual pursuit in many circles. And, (and I think this is because of the strong attitude against it in Christian circles) it has become a favorite of new-age practitioners. THEY will tell you that Yoga does you good because it "gets you in touch with the spirit realm" or that it "helps you tap energies you have never tapped before" (implying, at least in many people's minds, that this is a spiritual energy, but there is no spiritual energy there unless YOU put forth such effort - as in ANY pursuit.)

Yoga and Atheism
There was no way I was going to attend classes where I am told to "meditate on Gaia" or "listen for god" (because I would be pretty sure they weren't talking about the God I know). I ended up in a yoga class of, by, and for - atheists. Well, not really, but the fact is that most of the class is agnostic or atheist. As you can imagine, they don't want to hear about any overtly spiritual message. I knew this going in, I knew these people and this is what made me give it a try, cause the kind of skeptics that the three people I know who got me into it, I KNEW for a fact would not tolerate any "religious crap".

So, I went in knowing I would not be praying to gaia or mother earth or some eastern 'god'. And I was right. My teacher DOES talk about the energies in the body, but to her it's all about the energy from the food you eat and the tone of your muscles, etc.

And as for 'sun salutations', what is the message there? Well,' it's one I don't go along with, cause in my class we are taught that you do sun salutations because Yoga is to be done at sunrise (or when ever YOU get out of bed and start your day). I don't move well upon climbing out of bed. ;) Sure, SOME people teach that you are worshipping the sun. That is nonsense, the sun is no god, it is a fusion furnace, period.

The problem with Yoga is finding a class that is not run by a new-age kook. Fortunately, I found one.

So, what is Yoga?
Yoga is a system of stretching, with training in how to breathe during the exertion. The breathing is way more important than you will, at first, understand. Most doctors and physical therapists will tell you how good stretching and exercise is for you - Yoga is ALL stretching and exercise, while breathing properly. (To learn to breathe properly during yoga takes far longer than learning the routines - if you are the average student, five years in, you MIGHT have the breathing down right.
 
Skillet said:
I've been taught from when I was younger (I am stilli young but you get my point) that yoga is occult, so I don't really like the idea of doing it..
Some more very important information about yoga I really suggest that you read:
http://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/yoga-is-occult/

God bless,
Josh
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Lets look at that link. Now, I've got to fly back to Michigan for work tomorrow again (yes, on Sunday...) so I can't be here TOO long...
Quotes (text in bold) that follow come from the link.

Did you know that the Sun Salutation is worship to a sun goddess?
How so? The salutations are very easy stretches and are the first thing you do to get your heart rate up a bit and the blood flowing to avoid cramping. There is no such thing as "accidental worship". Worship is not just a movement or saying a few words - worship comes from the heart. Now, if someone IS into sun worship and intends to worship a fusion furnace, well, fine. Going to church does not make you a Christian and going thru the simple motions of a sun salutation does not mean you have worshiped a non-existent 'god'.

Yoga means “union” in Sanskrit.
Yea, so? In the english I speak, 'yoga' means exercise, stretching, cardio training and feeling better physically.

Yoga theory teaches that everything is divine and the goal is to reach union with Brahman, your higher self, God, or the universe, depending on what they are trying to sell you.
If you are in a class taught by a new-age hippie, then yes, you may very well be told something that loony.
I'd walk out of the class and never go back - but then, I'd never had gone to such a class in the first place.

The practice of Yoga, the positions and breathing prepares the body for the occult changes that will arouse the coiled power (Kundalini) at the base of spine.
This power can travel up the spine passing through the Chakras to the top of your head (Crown Chakra). It is the ultimate goal for the Kundalini (Serpent Power) to reach the brain.
Kookism of the highest form. NONE of this is medically supported, nor is there any scientific support for it. These are Hindu metaphysical beliefs, and they make no sense to any educated person. I mean, really, read those sentences again and ask yourself, "What does all that mean?" It means nothing, childish nonsense taught by ignorant, backward people in countries where education and knowledge, on average, are on the level of the late 19th century.

The “OM” which is repeated over and over again is to empty the mind of thought so that a new spirit can enter.
Now, THIS one I would be cautious of. Repeating any chants or mantras bothers me.

These hot currents that reach the brain center heat the brain, make the mind fickle, bring insomnia, brain disorder, insanity and incurable diseases. For the hot currents keep the mind wide awake and if a person does not know how to check the currents and to bring down the partly risen kundalini shakti to safer centers, one suffers terribly and it may ruin the whole life of a person or lead one to insanity. This is why we see many become insane, many get brain defects, and many others get some incurable diseases after deep sorrow.
Gopi Krishna, founder of one of the many kundalini research centers, records his own experience:
It was variable for many years, painful, obsessive, even fantasmic. I have passed through almost all the stages of different mediumistic, psychotic, and other types of mind; for some time I was hovering between sanity and insanity.

I have no idea what the above text is all about. I wanted to quote it so I am not accused of ignoring it, but the way the article reads - the author does not explain what his/her point is.

Even though one may desire only the physical or exercise of yoga, you can see how dangerous a practice it really is. The above kundalini symptoms are the extreme, this is duly noted, but nevertheless, many have noted a change of worldview, or a darkness that follows them because of their involvement into the occult spiritual realm. A commercial on TV shows a woman in a lotus position calmly looking at the ocean, and you may desire the relaxation but the truth is, (and the trainers don’t want you to know this), the problems can be overpowering. Consider some of these other manifestations. Fear, uncontrollable laughing or weeping, intervals of ecstasy, tremors, spasms, and violent shaking. The guru can often impart these manifestations in mass, to his students, leaving them writhing on the floor helpless.

This is intellectually dishonest. Is there anyone here who would buy into such a statement as the one I underlined? Actually, the whole paragraph is nonsense.

New-Age techniques almost always involve some form of meditation that is to bring you into a state of peace, enlightenment, open the door of physic knowledge, and can bring extraordinary power. But this power is an illusion of self-grandeur, it is occult, and very dangerous because the spirit you invite into your mind, is a demon or fallen angel.
Agreed. So stay away from such practices.

Christians need to know that we are not to delve into the spirit world.
Exactly right.

Deut 18:10-12 says “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…”
Agreed, but we are talking about Yoga here. See what the author did? He/she attached this obvious truth in order to imply that yoga is divination or sorcery, or that it can be used to interpret omens, or perhaps that Yoga has to do with consulting the dead.


In Yoga the self is God… In Christianity one denies self……… Choose now.
Again, in a new-age class, Yoga is sometimes taught as a religious thing. I would never sit thru that.
 
Yeah I do these videos off youtube and its very basic she does not talk about any energies or anything she is only telling you what move to make next.I would never do any of the energy talking stuff.I do breathing yoga which is mostly alot of deep breathing its very good for me.I dont do any kind of worshipping when im doing it im only moving and stretching and breathing.Pizzaguy i really appreciate you giving all the info you gave I meant for this to be a positive post.I dont believe it is occult unless you are involved in the occult ,I guess I kinda know that because I used to be in the occult years ago so I know the difference.BUt I do respect everyones opinion ,to each their own.
 
Yeah, to my understanding yoga does have origins from Buddhism. But overall, it's just a way to exercise. You don't have to do the stuff that looks like it's from another religion to you.
 
Yoga is to done only for one reason only. i.e., to attain mukthi, to unite with their god. The word yoga in Sanskrit itself means that.
The origin of yoga is not in Buddhism but Hinduism.
 
hallowbonnie said:
I do breathing yoga which is mostly alot of deep breathing its very good for me.I dont do any kind of worshipping when im doing it im only moving and stretching and breathing.
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I hate to quote from a pagan holy book but I believe it will help people to turn away from it.

This system of yoga for controlling the breathing process is called prāṇāyāma, and in the beginning it is practiced in the haṭha-yoga system through different sitting postures. All of these processes are recommended for controlling the senses and for advancement in spiritual realization. This practice involves controlling the airs within the body so as to reverse the directions of their passage. The apāna air goes downward, and the prāṇa air goes up. The prāṇāyāma-yogī practices breathing the opposite way until the currents are neutralized into pūraka. equilibrium. Offering the exhaled breath into the inhaled breath is called recaka. When both air currents are completely stopped, one is said to be in kumbhaka-yoga. By practice of kumbhaka-yoga one can increase the duration of life for perfection in spiritual realization. The intelligent yogī is interested in attaining perfection in one life, without waiting for the next. For by practicing kumbhaka-yoga. the yogīs increase the duration of life by many, many years. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person, however, being always situated in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, automatically becomes the controller of the senses. His senses, being always engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa, have no chance of becoming otherwise engaged. So at the end of life, he is naturally transferred to the transcendental plane of Lord Kṛṣṇa; consequently he makes no attempt to increase his longevity. He is at once raised to the platform of liberation, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26):

(Ref: http://vedabase.net/bg/4/29/)

You can't do a Hindu ritual and justify yourself as not worshiping because, neither prāṇāyāma nor kumbhaka-yoga requires you to worship anyone. The very act of doing it defines what you are trying to achieve. By practicing kumbhaka-yoga, are you trying to increase the duration of life for perfection in spiritual realization ? i.e, which spiritual realization ?

How simple it is to trust the Lord who made everything and has the ability to give you every goodness you need?
 
felix said:
Yoga is to done only for one reason only. i.e., to attain mukthi, to unite with their god
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Argh. Not this again.

Wrong. Yoga can be done in 2 ways:
  1. physical
  2. physical and spiritual

I like what pizzaguy said:
Pizzaguy said:
there is no spiritual energy there unless YOU put forth such effort - as in ANY pursuit.)
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Hey thank you edward ,I dont know how to go about just closing off this thread but maybe that would be a good idea.Think I wont post anything else here .
 
I apologize. I wasn't sure if I should have deleted my post or not after realizing you didn't want to encourage a debate.
 
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