Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Yoga as a spiritual path
The Universe has a way of bombarding us with issues over and over again until we become astute enough to take notice. Over the last few weeks I've been inundated with the idea of conflicting beliefs...within and without and enmeshed within yoga philosophy and tradition. As a seeker deepens his/her practice, more questions arise. I've found that I need to express my questions in the form of class themes and focus. Whether this is in good or bad form, I don't really know...but I do know that it's been creating a little bit of chaos and tension within my teaching venues. Some may know that I teach outside of the studio...in "gyms." I began my yoga practice and started my yoga teaching in the gym environment (as I'm sure most of us teachers have...at least in Spokane)...what is the most challenging for me, as I've deepened my study and practice of yoga, is "taming" my teaching for these type of arenas. As I carry a theme from a studio class into a "gym" class I've been confronted by people who are "offended" by stanzas taken from ancient sacred texts (such as the Sutras, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita) believing that they are in conflict with their Christianity. It simply isn't so. As demonstrated by the late Paramahansa Yogananda in his, "Autobiography of a Yogi"...the concepts within the Vedic texts hold a seed within the sacred texts of all the world's religions. Yogananda quoted biblical scriptures frequently within his book...and, in fact, was a scholar of the Western bible. Yoga is a spiritual path...not a religion. It excludes no one and includes everyone. Love is the basis. Reunion/communion with the "Divine" (fill in the name of your Higher Power here) is the intention. I am a new seeker. I am a student. I learn as much during my seat as the teacher from the class as I do when I participate as a student. I am continually humbled by the understanding that I am unable to "know" anything until I've actually experienced it. I don't teach yoga...I teach the search for yoga as I am, myself, seeking it.
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2 comments:
Kim, Please know that so many people value your class, I especially do even if I haven't been able to make it the last few weeks... You are a gift to many of us and I am sorry your feeling the pressure at the gym. Please continue teaching how you see fit, it's very valuable to most of us and I love your style and passion for yoga!
I hear ya, sista!! You're on a powerful and amazing path, and what you are doing is in great form. The people who can use what you have to teach will come back, whether in a studio or in a gym. I'm super proud of you for bringing 'true yoga' into the gym. Most of us (myself included) were/are afraid to do just that. Kudos to you, Kim. Love, Sara.
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