Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Namaskar Patel,

I'm very curious about the answers you get from the other teachers on this forum, but there are many theories for the reasons why Yoga styles based on movement flourish in the west.

Devout practitioners of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam already engage in daily prayer. In Paulji's writings, he mentions people who practice Bhakti and don't realise it. Regardless of religious orientation, if you pray, chant, or practice mantra, you are practising Bhakti Yoga.

Practitioners of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam can practice "exercises" without making a religious conversion. This may seem like a joke, but I am serious. Some people have a religious take on Yoga. Hence, the reason for Christian Yoga. The final result is this stirs up Christian and Hindu fundamenntalists.

The Christian fundamentalist says you are praying to the devil, while the Hindu fundamentalist says you have no right to practice Yoga unless you are a Hindu. The Yogini who practices Yoga Boot Ballet wonders, "What is the big to do?" There are many diverse opinions about Yoga, but we know that Yoga heals you inside and out.

It will be some time before Bhakti is popular, because people of all faiths have to evolve in their tolerance of each other. Killing each other is not a solution for our differences, but it happens. This is why some countries ban anything related to spiritual health from government buildings.

Peace,

Vanessa