- Dear Friends,
I am often questioned as to the religious aspect of yoga. As one student
offered “I heard it is very self-centered “. Yes, it is self –centered in the fact that
we are reaching within ourselves, to uncover the true nature of our being. We
often think of ourselves as human beings, having spiritual experiences through
the physical, mental , emotional, events of our lives. But , if we consider ourselves
spiritual beings, having human experiences , our perspective changes .
Yoga has no dogma. Where ever your spiritual connections are rooted, your
religion and beliefs are respected and honored. Yoga is simply a vehicle to
explore, and for some, challenge the physical being as well as our mental and
emotional being through postures ( asana ) , breathing exercise (pranayama ) ,
and meditation (dhyana ).
Namaste’ , is a Sanskrit word and a gesture heard and seen in yoga class.
It's meaning is simple, yet deep and profound. It means to recognize the divinity of
another. Literally, "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. “I bow to
you”. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the spirit in one by the spirit or soul in
another. It is these qualities that give those who come to yoga a deeper
experience if they choose . It is a reminder that we are all the same , from the
same origin . We are all connected, regardless of our religious or spiritual beliefs.
In native American “Orenda” has a similar meaning, “breath of the invisible,
that which connects all “. It is the purpose of Orenda Yoga & healing Arts to be a
bridge to connect us all in peace and health.
