“Prejudice? Wrote a song about it…”

I can’t believe it has been this long since my last blog. My personal commitment to you is to blog at least once per week. It isn’t that I don’t have anything to say, I have had some technical issues. Now, all resolved, I am on the blogging road again. I really appreciate and look forward to your comments, too. Thank you!

As a yoga teacher in the midwest, I have occasionally come across people who think that yoga is some evil “devil” practice that would entice them to go towards the “dark side”, or better yet, a cult. Certain religions have no understanding of yoga and feel that this practice could only open dangerous doors.

I have been practicing yoga for over 8 years. It has brought so much joy and peace within my life and the lives of the people I know that regularly practice. Granted, there are so many practices like physical exercise, weight loss, and other life changing events that can impact your life for the better, yoga has done that for me.

Recently, a media company, I have been working with for about a year, asked not to continue our working relationship due to the fact that “yoga” did not follow their faith even though this company never attended one of my classes, asked me to explain my yoga practice, or asked me about my personal faith. Of course, this was not necessary on my part for a working relationship.

I was initially shocked because I have not felt this kind of response on this level in my life. A wave of emotions ran across my body, anger about this e-mail I received, worry that I had done something wrong, feelings of self worth arose, wonder about my faith and what I believe in, questions about this type of prejudice….it was an opportunity to examine my beliefs closer.

This was a great teaching moment to my own children as we were able to discuss this at great length over dinner. My oldest son said, “This doesn’t make sense. Even though their faith says to be open to all religions, they are not open to ours?” I said, “That is correct!” I made it clear by being a person of faith doesn’t mean that you lose your rational thinking process. You have to feel spirituality in your heart and soul! You pray to God in a way that feels appropriate to you. For me, yoga, at times, can be a spiritual practice.

After I sorted through my own emotions, I felt some kind of respect for this firm at the courage it took to write an e-mail to me like this, and to dismiss my business based on faith. Yet, I realized the ignorance of them understanding the essence of yoga. I allowed myself to feel emotions of life feeling unfair, or reflecting on people in years passed that have felt these same emotions on a bigger scale like an entire race for hundreds of years. Needless to say, it felt “yucky”! It reminded me of this song,Free Your Mind. We must all FREE OUR MINDS of prejudices. WE may not even realize we hold them, yet once examined closer, they are there. Do you consider one group of people as always being “wealthy”? responsible for crime? Find yourself sitting in a different location in a movie because of certain people sitting in seats you would like? Consider your own religious beliefs. Are you open to all religions, yet your actions show different? Really examine religious beliefs, personal beliefs, as well as, the “non-negotiables” in your own life.

Personally, I am a Christian woman of faith that is a practicing yogi. I am a mom, wife and daughter. I believe and respect other people of faith regardless of their formalized religions without judgement. For all the yogis out there, where does yoga fit into your spirituality? Does it? Does your religious beliefs conflict with your spiritual beliefs?

oooo, hot topics, the comments should be good for this one. Thanks and many blessings to you all!

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