Bristol church bans yoga

[tru_m.a.c]

A church has banned yoga classes from its hall after ruling it conflicts with the Christian faith.

Naomi Hayama has been teaching yoga at St Michael's Church Centre on Gloucester Road in Bristol twice a week for nine years.

But despite paying to lease the hall for the popular classes she's been told to go.

"Students at the class and those in the parish are both shocked and astonished by this decision," Naomi told ITV News. "Some parishioners have now been informed but none were consulted about this. I'm very upset."

Ms Hayama says no-one from the church has ever attended one of her classes which she insists are purely for exercise.

"Yoga is not a religion and is not in conflict with the Christian faith," she adds. "People from many religious faiths including Christianity as well as non-religious people attend these yoga classes."

But in a letter from the PCC (Parochial Parish Council) for Bishopston and St Andrews, the teacher is told: "We understand that its (yoga) roots lie in thinking that is not compatible with the Christian faith."

It goes on:

The PCC recently passed a resolution stating that we would no longer take either new or continuing bookings for groups practising 'alternative spiritualities'.

– PAROCHIAL PARISH COUNCIL FOR BISHOPSTON AND ST ANDREWS

http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2015-02-09/bristol-church-bans-yoga/?

 

[88m3]

What's next? They're going to ban weaves?

 

[unit321]

There are two parts of yoga. The physical exercise and stretching parts. And the spiritual/religious ideals of yoga. The spiritual aspects of yoga are rooted in Indian religions and because of that, it is not aligned with Christian beliefs. But really, they can kick them out for any reason. It's their property.

 

[newworldafro]

Yall think Muslims do yoga?

 

[gho3st]

Yall think Muslims do yoga?

no but they are pyrotechnic experts shyt is like a kekkei genkai

 

[ReturnOfJudah]

Church did the right thing. Yoga has Hindu religious roots

 

[kevm3]

Makes sense. Yoga is really a spiritual practice, but the west took it and turned it into some form of physical exercise.

 

[joeychizzle]

Call being twisted into pretzel shapes spiritual brehs.
Look at me I can do a handstand, I'm closer to god!!

 

[CHL]

these religous zealots have a mental disorder

 

[Brown_Pride]

Makes sense. Yoga is really a spiritual practice, but the west took it and turned it into some form of physical exercise.

to me, as a Christian, one should have enough wherewithal to distinguish between the two. GO to the class, if it's spiritual then sure ban it, that only make sense. If it's a physical class only then how is doing something that is healthy bad for you? I do yoga and ironically enough use that time to reflect, PRAY, and commune with god.

The shyt's just a little myopic IMHO.

 

[rapbeats]

these religous zealots have a mental disorder

do they really. or is there more to yoga then most of you realize?

Yoga and Hinduism

Woven into more than eight thousand years of civilisation, yoga is the name for all the Indian paths of self-transcendence. Today's Western yoga can trace the origin of its philosophy and many practices from the spiritual tradition of Hinduism and its great sages.


At its essence, yoga is spirituality. Although all yogis are not Hindus, many familiar words, visual images and practices started thousands of years ago with the rise of Hinduism. The earliest beginnings of yoga are also the beginnings of Hinduism, its first written records are the scriptures of Hinduism, and its spiritual goal the same as in Hinduism. Throughout its long and rich history, yoga has been the pathway for individuals to connect with the core of their innermost being.

well i'll be...I think that church was right. Hinduism does not line up with Christianity.

What can happen with yoga is you start off as a beginner, just learning the poses/stretches the better you get at it, the deeper you MAY get into it. deeper means you're going into the more spiritual side of it. Its a natural journey for people that get deep into it. next thing you know, you start agreeing with principles of Hinduism. Well right there you're already off if you are a christian.

 

[rapbeats]

to me, as a Christian, one should have enough wherewithal to distinguish between the two. GO to the class, if it's spiritual then sure ban it, that only make sense. If it's a physical class only then how is doing something that is healthy bad for you? I do yoga and ironically enough use that time to reflect, PRAY, and commune with god.

The shyt's just a little myopic IMHO.

no, read my post. its always spiritual in essence. so youre some what wrong from the jump and you dont even know it. this is how you can be tricked into adding things from that religion into your overall christian world view or thought process. and thats not a good thing per the bible. or at worse you jump ship and go all the way hindu

 

[Brown_Pride]

no, read my post. its always spiritual in essence. so youre some what wrong from the jump and you dont even know it. this is how you can be tricked into adding things from that religion into your overall christian world view or thought process. and thats not a good thing per the bible. or at worse you jump ship and go all the way hindu

omg YOU'RE RIGHT. Why i was stretching this morning and found myself worshiping elephants and cows.

Thanks brother.

 

[unit321]

to me, as a Christian, one should have enough wherewithal to distinguish between the two. GO to the class, if it's spiritual then sure ban it, that only make sense. If it's a physical class only then how is doing something that is healthy bad for you? I do yoga and ironically enough use that time to reflect, PRAY, and commune with god.

The shyt's just a little myopic IMHO.

Well, much like Asian martial arts, there are aspects of Buddism while practicing that martial art, especially the mediation parts.
You can do actual Buddist-type meditation or just do your own thing. So in yoga, you could try to follow Hindu meditation while yoga-ing or you could meditate on non-Hindu stuff.
But what that church is doing isn't myopic at all. Not every yoga practitioner, such as yourself, is doing the real Hindu-style yoga, but the teachers are, especially the turban wearing ones.

 

[tmonster]

Call being twisted into pretzel shapes spiritual brehs.
Look at me I can do a handstand, I'm closer to god!!