Last week we talked about whether or not being Christian makes yoga a questionable activity. Luckily, the answer was ‘no’ across the board. What about some other concerns that you may have about giving that yoga class a try? Here is my chance to debunk some of your possible objections.
1. “I’m not flexible.” I hear this one at least once a week. I understand that some of the poses may look intimidating. The crazy thing is that no one goes into other group fitness classes expecting to do what the instructor can do right away. Absolutely none of us have any other choice but to start at the beginning. Just like strength, flexibility is achieved through practice.
2. “I had an embarrassing moment at a yoga class once.” My answer to this one is that no one is free of bodily functions. It’s good to laugh at ourselves once in awhile, too. Most likely, this won’t be something that happens every time or even every other time.
3. “I’m not in shape enough.” People don’t usually come right out and say it quite like that, but they do imply that they are somehow not good enough to show up to a class at all. Certainly, if we were already perfect, then we wouldn’t need gyms or studios in the first place!
4. “I’m not into all that chanting and meditation stuff.” Alright, well I can’t guarantee that you won’t be exposed to a little meditation once in awhile. The chanting is harder to come by especially if you are talking about going to the YMCA or another big gym. Most places stick to the physical aspects of yoga. If you’re really concerned about it, ask for a class description.
We are all intimidated by being in a room of people that we think know more about something than we do, but maybe not knowing is part of the fun. January 27, 2007 is Yoga Day USA. Many places will be sponsoring free or low cost yoga classes that day to encourage people to experience its benefits.
Does Yoga Conflict with Being a Christian?
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