Natural Medicine Clinic Publications

Yoga-Consider These Things

By Nancy Aagenes, ND

Here's the glitch: Many people tell me that they consider yoga a spiritual practice that is somehow in conflict with their own beliefs and commitments. I may have this conversation with a patient two or three times every week.

For me yoga is the best tool for staying flexible and comfortable in my body. For those of us who are sedentary by nature, yoga is a chance to enter the realm of movement and posture in a gentle soft and personal way. For those who have aches and pains from abuse or over activity, yoga is the best way I know of addressing these. For me it is a physical experience that quiets my mind and body-simply put, I feel better. Certainly that state of relaxation can be used to have my own conversations with God. But if I chose to have them at all they are mine and not dictated by anyone else's belief.

Personally my advice is to take a yoga class if you have had little or no previous instruction. Some try yoga from books or tapes and I'm sure that is better than none. Nonetheless, without a teacher present to help you correct postures and poses, you may not know you are doing it wrong, or even harmfully.

That's the glitch. Even those who want the stretching and strengthening that yoga provides, fear some ritual that might come with the territory. Because yoga is so useful to healing I have some things to say to those on every part of the spectrum of this discussion.

First, to yoga teachers. We are so lucky to have so many of you doing such good work in Helena. It is hard to overstate the importance of my own teacher, Rayene Lehmann, in my daily well being and health. I hear this sentiment from the students of many teachers. A huge thank you to every single one of you.

If you choose to incorporate an invocation at the beginning of a class or a closing ritual as you conclude that is a decision only you can make. If this part of the practice is integral for you in a significant way then that has to be your choice. Just please understand that it does keep away people who desperately need your teaching about how to hold and move their bodies.

Second, to those of you who need the exquisite stretching and movement and relaxation of yoga. It is hard for me to understand that honoring the prayer of another could be harmful to your own prayers. You might even want to translate the prayer into something that is meaningful and compatible with your own practice. It sure couldn't hurt us any to have one more circumstance to pray regularly with more people.

Yes, they use Sanskrit words to describe the poses. We use Mexican or Italian words when we order food, but that doesn't make us Mexican or Italian. It certainly doesn't make me not a Christian to use a language other than English.

A few years ago some hateful actions were taken against Jewish people in Billings. Remember that community responded by putting menorahs in every window. Menorahs were all over, in residences, businesses, and offices. All of the people who displayed that symbol weren't becoming Jewish. I'm not even sure what the symbol of a menorah is. I certainly wasn't concerned about my father's Christianity because he displayed a symbol of solidarity with those of another faith.

If you want to do yoga, believe it would be good for your health, and have this concern I suggest you call yoga teachers and talk with them before you make the decision. Ask them what, if any ritual, is involved with the class. Discuss it with your own spiritual leaders and with them find the honorable way to handle this situation.

Finally, this question where does it come from that yoga is some weird cultish practice? Somebody must be concerned about this or it wouldn't come up so often in my treatment room. If you are one of those who admonish others not to practice this wonderful form of healing and stretching the body, I want you to come talk with me about your belief. I want to understand these concerns at a deeper level because right now they make no sense to me.

A patient comes whose shoulders are like rocks, who has constant low back pain, who can't sleep in the night and aches going through life's daily activities. What could possible be wrong with helping that person deeply relax, stretch and strengthen their body?