Sunday, November 23, 2008

"Yoga" Your Way, I'll go Mine!

There are times I am so glad I live in the good ole USA where freedom from religion is still allowed! Not that I am condemning the beliefs of others but at times they seem a little far reaching. The Christian conservative movement is an example in our country. In Malaysia it would seem to be the Muslims.

According to the BBC Islamic authorities have issued a fatwa telling the country's Muslims to avoid practicing yoga because of it's Hindu roots and because of that it may corrupt their thinking. Wow.

Here's my problem with that ruling. You see my "fat" wa-t-ever-you-want-to-call-it needs all the help it can get. Be it hip, pelvis, back or some combination of all three, the prescribed exercise routine I follow each and every day is all yoga based. So far it has been the only thing that has actually helped, even if only minimally. Nothing else has come close.

I really don't care if it's Hindu based, or even Muslim based, if it helps I'll take my chances. Just how deep breathing, gentle stretching and holding is going to corrupt my thinking is beyond my ability to understand. I guess though, it's the meditation part they find worrisome. You know, the part where you hold a position and meditate. Or think. That must be the part that potentially could corrupt. I usually lose myself in listening to my timer tick away the minutes. For some reason I rather enjoy the mindlessness of it and find it relaxing.

If I do meditate or think, like this morning, it was about whether or not I should write this post. I found that to be far more stressful than listening to the ticks. Stress is counterproductive but sometimes my mind does wander into thought. No matter how ill advised.

In explanation of Islam thinking, this was said, "Islam is a complete way of life. Islam is able to cater to the needs of Muslims; spiritual needs, intellectual needs and other needs, material needs. So there is no need to bring in elements from outside."

Just don't develop a bad back.

6 comments:

Sylvia K said...

I just don't understand religion period, be it Hindu, Muslim, or our own brands. Years ago I thought they were designed to spread understanding, compassion, love, generosity, and most of all PEACE! I don't see much of that in any of them. And what's wrong with meditation? or yoga? Nope, just don't understand!

Word Tosser said...

seems like 90% of wars are because of someone's God. Which sure makes you wonder.... Ireland...Prot. against Cath. the Mid East is several religions... yet each religion says theirs is a loving God. That it is peace... so why do they fight so much? No one has had the answer for over 2000 years, so guess we won't find it now either.

Rinkly Rimes said...

Religion tying us all up in knots! Like your picture! Great!

Word Tosser said...

Muslin won't like the picture...lol... not with the naked breast on the hip... lol

But it looks like me, when I get up. lol

John Dwyer said...

We seem to be on the same wave-length lately. I am just reading "God's Terrorists" by Charles Allen, C2006 which is really frightening. I just finished "Trinity" a week ago which also deals somewhat with religion and how many can be killed, starved, evicted, etc... I will send you my notes on "God's Terrorists" when I finish it.

Margie's Musings said...

Not all Christian religions are in favor of war and prejudice. My own church is a peace church. We opposed this war from the beginning and sent our objections in a letter to the president before he started the war.

Jesus taught peace and acceptance of all marginalized people. He also taught the building and even presence of God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.