Don't Drink the Kool-Aid

I may or may not have mentioned that I consider myself to be an itty yogini (itty bitty baby yogi).  I love yoga and I believe that yoga loves me too.  Honestly, when was the last time you actually THOUGHT about your breath?  I would venture to guess that it's been a while (if ever).  Yoga has taught me to be present, so much so that my mantra is "Here I am."  Right here, in this moment, enjoying every freaking second of it.  I used to teach yoga.  I practice yoga as often as I can.  I even have a tattoo of the word "BREATHE" in sanskrit on my wrist.  Yoga is a blessing to me and I personally believe, it can be to everyone that opens their heart to it.

Anyway, I have been taking a spin/yoga class at the YMCA lately.  In case you didn't know (I didn't), the YMCA is Christian based, although you don't have to be Christian to join.  I think that as long as you are not hurting anyone else, you should be able to believe whatever you'd like, we do live in America for crying out loud.  So in class today, the instructor was making a big hubbabaloo about yoga not being a religion, it's not a cult, yada yada yada.  Apparently, a local baptist preacher is telling the parish to not practice yoga as it will "make them question their beliefs," "yoga is a cult."  Wow, really??  Do I really live in a place that is so closed minded?  In a word, it made me sad.  Just sad that those folks will never open their hearts and minds enough to experience the peace that can come from a deep thoughtful breathe.  Sad that they will not experience the fulfillment of being completely present, of letting go of anything negative since those emotions just weigh us down.  So very sad, since those are the things that yoga has taught me.  I would venture to guess that I am a much more spiritual person from practicing yoga, than I was when I was going to church for three hours every Sunday.  Please, don't drink the Kool-Aid that the preacher is passing around, yoga is good and kind and love.  Namaste, Jen