How weird is it to admit you are a Christian among other yogis. Do some yogis think a Christian practicing yoga is funny or peculiar? Here is a perspective from the web on the ongoing acceptance of compatibility between Christian spirituality and yoga
Confessing that you’re a Christian in certain circles can be harmful to your social life. Yoga circles? Watch conversation come to a complete stop. Tired of talking? Wanna take a breather? Just intimate that you’re a Christian. You can almost hear the breath being drawn in like very bad ujjayi breathing.
via The Kiss Of Death | De Die In Diem.
This is something I am continuing to explore as a pastor and yoga teacher. I find that if I lead with pastor/Christian the conversation comes to a halt. If I lead with an awareness of yoga philosophy (ex. the eight limbs, sutras, yamas, niyamas) then the conversations doesn’t grind to a halt when my spiritual practice is revealed.
Much of the response of some in the Christian community is born out of fear. But the scriptures teach we have not been given a spirit of fear or timidity but power and self discipline. Which is more compatible with yoga than the fear based response.
There are a growing number of Christians practicing yoga and becoming yoga teachers I hope can grow into a healthy part of the yoga community.
