Yoga is a holistic health practice that serves everyone irrespective of the age, gender, caste or creed. But off late, a new type of yoga that is aimed specifically at the Christians has garnered increasing popularity in the United States. Let us understand the basic purpose of this Christian yoga and how it is different from the conventional yoga.
Why Christian yoga?
The need for a yoga practice that is meant to suit only a particular religious group is not understandable to many. Well, the reason for the formation of this yoga practice lies in religious beliefs and values.
Yoga, as we all know, is essentially a practice of Hinduism. There are certain yoga poses or even mantras that have their roots in the religion. In fact, some poses even make use of devotional chants that are inherent to Hinduism. Besides, most part of yoga practice makes use of Sanskrit terminology, which is also an integral aspect of the religion.
There are some devout Christians who are unable to follow the dictats of another religion. Following the conventions of another religion will drift them away from their religion is what most of them feel. This need to stick to their own religion paved way for the birth of Christian yoga.
Further on, yoga is a practice that works on both the body and the mind. There are many people who use yoga to strengthen their spiritual side. Christian yoga proves to be a perfect solution here in. it enables individuals to establish a deeper relationship with Christian faith and foster their bond with their religion.
What to expect in a Christian yoga class?
Ideally, a Christian yoga class begins with meditation. This meditation is based on the teaching from the Bible. A call and response chanting drawn from a scripture may also be used at the beginning of the class.
The yoga poses in a Christian yoga class are quite similar to that in a conventional yoga class. However, the only difference between the two is that the former focuses more on a spiritual connection. Also, the spiritual focus is Christian belief. The primary aim of this type of yoga is to strengthen belief in one's religion.
You may also find music being used in certain Christian yoga classes.
Where can I find Christian yoga?
Though Christian yoga has garnered a great deal on popularity, you may not be able to find a Christian yoga class very easily. However, this type of yoga is usually offered at faith based locations such as churches and Christian schools. However, there may be some yoga studios that offer this kind of yoga practice. You may even seek the help of certain Christian yoga videos that are easily available online.
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