...riptures in the world. The Vedas are a collection of hymns that praise a higher power and contains the oldest recorded history of yoga teachings. The Vedas required the practitioner to transcend human limitations, and reach a higher spiritual plane. In later years, texts known as the Brahmanas were written to explain the rituals and the hymns of the Vedas. Following this came the Aranyakas texts, which outlined the practice of Yogis living in the seclusion of the forest. This led to the beginning of India's medical tradition, known as Ayurveda. All in all, yoga transformed into a practice of health, harmony of the spirit, and a way of life.

The christian viewpoint is thus - if one opens the mind to clearer thinking and inner vision, they open the spirit to demonic possession. It is felt that yoga practice borders on occultism, and that opening one's mind and spirit to the benefit of yoga is both dangerous and against everything Christianity preaches. Christians believe that studying yoga is akin to practicing hinduism, and one cannot separate the philosophy of hinduism from their christian beliefs, regardless of the health benefit of yoga.

As a practicing Buddhist, I take issue with this viewpoint. To me, this smacks of tunnel vision and narrowmindedness. A christian is expected to open their heart and minds to Jesus, and to give in to the spirit of the Lord. They are expected to rely on blind faith, and to accept the word of God as the only truth in the world. A thinking person would find this hypocritical, for on the one hand Christians preach that Yoga must be avoided because opening the mind to clearer vision encourages the possibility of demonic possession, yet on the other hand preaches that o...more

What Should You do With a Yoga Book?

...If you are deciding which Yoga book to buy for your collection, choose a book that will captivate your imagination, and suit your needs. On the subject of reading Yoga books: It has been a life long passion for some of us. Yet, it is not the number of books you read, but how you apply them to your life and the lives of others around you, which makes a difference.

The practical application of what you learn is more important than the quantity of Yoga books you read. So, the question is: How will you put the knowledge you learn to good use? To take an extreme vie...more

Fitness fusion - Yoga And Pilates Address Mind And Body Needs

...Yoga and Pilates are two of the most prominent mind/body exercises around, but what sets them apart? You do them on the floor, they are often seen together in the holistic "mind-body" section of the exercise world, and both promise to be a mental and physical panacea. But, despite these similarities, yoga and Pilates spring from different schools of thought.

Yoga and Pilates: Defining Differences and Similarities

"Yoga was developed thousands of years ago and is based in spiritual practice of union, Eliza D. Morgan, YMCA fitness trainer and certified Pilates instructor said. "Pilates was developed within the last 100 years, more or less, by an individual named Joseph Pilates who invented machines and developed mat exercises that rehabilitate the body through mind/body coordination."

Pilates is mostly body oriented, and a session typically includes a short series of exercise sets with some mind-body focus, while yoga incorporates deep breathing and longer sets of exercises and intense mind introspection.

"In my opinion, yoga is a bit more se...more

Lifestyle Fitness, Improving Your Life Using Meditation And Yoga

...There are many ways to improve the quality of your life, but one that you may not have thought of is that of meditation. Some don't believe it can offer them benefits but there is one thing that meditation and yoga can definitely provide to you: the ability to relax.

Yoga is a great tool for both exercise and relaxation. Both meditation and yoga have been shown to provide improvements for those that are in need ...more

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