What Yogis can learn from Christians…

Photo Courtesy of Lydia Wildes.

In one of my previous articles, I wrote about “What Christians can learn from Yoga.”  Basically my conclusion is that as a Christian, I know I am covered by grace and love, but that doesn’t mean I can be lazy and become complacent because Jesus Christ has already done all the work for me.  He DID die on the cross for my sins, but he still calls everyone to a life of servitude, and does NOT promise that it will be easy.  In this regard, Christians can learn from the Yogi’s the power of daily practice, ritual, and dedication. In order to fully live the life we’ve been called to, we have to dedicate ourselves to our “practice” of reading the bible, praying more, and spreading the news of Jesus Christ to all.

Since Christians have something to learn from the Yogi’s, its only fair that Yogi’s can have something to learn from Christians.  I am not here to try and debate which belief system is better, or to try and “shove” what I believe in my heart to be true to anyone else.  I am not smart enough or qualified enough to tell anyone one way is better than another.  All I can do is share my humble opinions and observances, and hope that something I have to say will resonate with someone.

Now, before I get into the nitty gritty of what I am trying to say, I need to clarify some things.  First off, we need to remember that there is a vast array of ways of “doing” Christianity.  There are about a gazzilion different denominations (including non-denominational), styles of worship, and church rituals out there. In fact, I don’t even like the word “Christian” because of some of the negative connotations that come along with it, as a result of some of the… interesting… ways that some groups, of “Christians” practice their faith. Humans are imperfect beings, and even the best of all Christians make mistakes sometimes.  Some people get turned off or burned by the Church because of the inevitable errors of some Christians, or because they have never experienced the true love and compassion that Christianity is really all about.  It’s not about going to church every Sunday, being nice, and saving yourself for marriage.  It’s not about having a religion or a label.  It is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, who died to set us free of all the stupid stuff we do, because of our imperfections.  Basically what I am trying to say is that while most all Christians believe in the same core fundamentals, there is some funky stuff mixed up in there too…

People interpret the bible in different ways.  And then, people find other people who interpret the bible or do things in the same way as them.  And thus, different types of churches are born.  Each doing things a little bit differently, but also the same in a lot of ways.  Yoga is actually not too different in this regard.  What started out as a practice for some gurus thousands of years ago to prepare themselves for meditation, has now morphed itself into about a gazzilion different types of Yoga.  There are those who swear by alignment, and others who scoff at those who practice or teach alignment based Yoga.  Some people really dig a kick-ass Vinyasa yoga practice, while some would rather just totally bliss out.  There are like these unspoken of divisions within the Yoga world, and I think it creates a lot of tension amongst certain circles.

While people do Yoga for all kinds of reasons, most “hardcore” Yogis would say that they practice to find more love within themselves, in order to find more love within others.  It is about being real, surrounding that awareness with more compassion, then taking that compassion, and spreading it through the world.

This is where I find a disconnect with in the Yoga community, in general, and where I think that Yogis can learn a little something from Christianity, in general.  One thing that Christians have got under control is the idea of selfless giving.  Church is free, because church members tithe faithfully.  Pastors and church employees are paid so that they can live and support their families, while doing full-time ministry and dedicating their lives to service.  I can think of countless stories of people stepping out and giving all they can in faith that God will provide and work through the money that they are giving.  But they give not because they have to in order to go church, but because they want to, in order to support something they believe in.

Yoga is about love, and spreading love, so my question is, why is Yoga so inaccessible to so many people? I realize that running a yoga studio is not a cheap endeavor, and in order to stay afloat, studios need to kick up the prices.  Yet, I also find it sad that there are so many people out there who don’t, or can’t, do Yoga because they can’t “afford it.”  I am not saying that all studios out there that make students pay for practice should stop charging and make it a free for all.  I realize that Yoga is also a business, and I love the studios I go to, even if I do have to pay.  What I do want to do is challenge the way things are done.

Just imagine. What if all yoga studios decided to make every class free, and invited everyone to come, because they believed Yoga was THAT important? What if they stopped charging completely, because they had that much trust that their yoga teachers would be supported.*  Think of all the lives they could impact, of all the potential students, who can’t go to Yoga regularly because of the cost, who would have a chance to really experience Yoga.  It works for churches, why not the Yoga studios?

Perhaps there is a bigger reason things are not like that, and honestly, I am quite content with Yoga being the way it is, because for me, Yoga is not a faith, but a tool/service that I am willing to pay for. However, I do think it is important to really question ourselves from time to time, and examine the way we do things, especially if we believe THAT whole-heartedly in a cause.  Even if Yoga never does get to the place being basically completely donation based, I think it is important for Yogis to find creative ways to spread Yoga to untouched communities, and work to make Yoga, in some form, accessible to all who want or need it. I don’t know what this may look like, but all I AM challenging yogis to examine whether they are really practicing out of selfish, or selfless desires.  Then, maybe do something just a bit crazy, something that could REALLY change the world.

*I don’t think that Yoga teachers should offer their services for free all the time, just as pastors are paid for a skill they possess, Yoga teachers should be paid as well.   Again, just questioning why things are the way they are.

What Christians can learn from yoga.

I feel like I am in an interesting position. I have been a dedicated follower of Christ for all my life, and have made it a point ever since I was old enough to understand God (in what little way I can understand God) to live every moment to glorify Him. And somehow, whether it has been God’s path for my life, or whether it has been the role of temptation… I have been led down the path of Yoga. Well whether or not I “should” be doing Yoga or not, it’s too late now because there is no going back. But alas, God can meet you wherever you are at… If you let Him. And I feel like God HAS met me, and is using Yoga to reveal some important things to me.

One thing that Eastern religion and yoga really emphasizes is the importance of the practice. The Yogis teach that in order to reach enlightenment (which is the whole goal of this path in the first place, right?) you must dedicate yourself daily to the different limbs of the practice. Then, once you have practiced long and hard enough, you eventually get all blissed out and everything is just fabulous.

I’m not here to place any judgement or say one way is right and one is wrong, cus really, who am I to say? All I have is what I know to be true in my heart, and that is that there is a living God who loves unconditionally, and who sent himself in the form of man to Earth, to suffer and die for the sake of the sins of the world.

Again,I don’t have all the answers, but learning more about, and practicing Yoga, has shown me a few things about my own relationship with God…

I think I fall into the same trap that I feel a lot of Christians fall into (whether they are aware of it or not. Do yoga and you become aware of a whole lot of things…). And this trap is also the very foundation of our beliefs: that we are saved by grace, and don’t have to do anything to make God love us more than He already does. Which is true. Yet somehow, in my mind at least, I let this give me permission to not do anything. Like to blow off reading my bible or praying or going to church or listening for that still small voice inside of me that, if I sit and listen to it, WILL totally guide me and give me everything I need to live a meaningful, joyful life.

And this is where Christians can learn so much from Yoga. Happiness takes work. The bible makes it clear that life is gonna suck, but the suckiness produces something inside of us that makes us stronger in the end (James 1:2-8). Meditation sucks. Yoga asana (the poses) suck. Practicing good karma can sometimes really suck too. But Yogis keep doing it because the end promise is better then any of the suck you have to go through to get there.

So what I have realized is how lazy I am when it comes to my spiritual walk, and how much this manifests in my life. Just believing is not enough. I know I am saved, and that is fine and dandy, but I am called to be the hands and feet of God. In order to do that I need to be plugged into Him. I need to choose one path, and stick to it. It is I, and I alone, who can make the conscious decision to do whatever it is I need to do to refocus myself on God. When I do this, every moment becomes purposeful and powerful, because I am walking in his promise that He will take care of me, and that is quite enough.

yoga:lifted

I just recently graduated from the Zuda Yoga Teacher Training Program, Phase 1.  Which was an amaaazing experience.  So now, I am officially a Yoga teacher!!!  WOOO HOOOO! *(save a few minor steps I need to finish up.)

I love yoga. And I love bringing it to other people.  I currently have one teaching gig, at a recovery center for people recovering from Alcohol/Substance abuse.  Which has been so cool to be able to offer something that really helps them with what they are going through.

But I am in the process of looking for more students/ somewhere to teach! Part of that process is marketing myself, so I had this AWESOME logo made for me by one of my friend’s friends.  It is totally me in the middle doing a headstand!

I decided to call my “brand” yoga:lifted for many reasons.  Which I will try and cover below.

1.  Yoga truly gives you a sense of “bliss” and a natural high.  No matter WHAT your ability, there is something beautiful and uplifting about this practice.

2.  I love inversions (handstands, headstands, forearm balance) and arm balances.  They’re just fun and cool.  And I believe everyone can approach these seemingly “crazy” poses and totally pull them off.  It takes courage, but it builds such confidence in the student when they finally get into crow pose, or kick up into handstand for the first time.  I want to be able to EVENTUALLY guide people to finding some of these poses, which I think is really a strength of mine.

3.  The whole point of yoga is the message.  And for me, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I want to share the message of grace, love and compassion, for ALL.  Thus the inspiration for a possible slogan for my “brand” is something along the lines of “The strength to soar” or “The strength to soar on wings like eagles.”  Coming from the bible verse Isaiah 40:28-31.

Anyways, I am still thinking about all this, and trying to set things up and start marketing myself SOMEHOW.  I do need ideas and some help though, so if you have any skills (website design, marketing, ect.) or connections (to teaching spaces, service projects looking for yoga…), or even if you just want some yoga, lets hook up!!

The design is way cool regardless of whatever comes of it….