In defense of yoga

Be forewarned, this is a rant. If you don't want to hear it, don't read it.

Dear KENS 5, 

What is going on there? Do you realize how incredibly insulting your promo "Is yoga the path to hell" is to an entire culture. There is a group of human beings for which the practice of yoga is a spiritual one. Do you understand that? I'm not talking about people such as myself who practice yoga mostly for the health benefits. I'm talking about those that the religious leaders in your story would accuse of trying to seduce us with their deep breathing and incredibly flexible demons.

Now, I'm not at all surprised that some would try to demonize something different than their accepted path of enlightenment or salvation. We see this everyday and fear is rampant. I mean, what's one more religious leader condemning people of a different tradition? Even though, and since you are talking about Christians in your promo, my understanding is that Christ himself spent most of his recorded time criticizing hypocrites of his own faith while exemplifying love towards people of other traditions.

But, that's beside my point.

What really disgusts me is that a news organization would add to such condemnation by suggesting a "dark side" to yoga. It's at worst prejudiced and at best ignorant. Forgetting that you should be unbiased, if you are somehow trying to support the views of some denomination of Christianity, perhaps consider, in that respect, love and compassion should far outweigh fear and intolerance. People who spiritually practice yoga are human beings we live among in this world and I think they deserve more consideration than your promo would suggest. I also think you owe the community an apology for your contribution to the fear and, possibly hatred, spread by your suggestions. But, who knows, I've been practicing yoga for about 12 years now. Maybe I'm possessed.

Laura Marie

 

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

 

 

 

Posted via email from Laura Marie Blogs