Four years ago, due to a previous injury, I was not able to do my traditional exercises. I had gained weight (still have it) but wanted to move. I went to try a yoga class. When I arrived, I felt intimidated by the idea of the unknown and of course my weight. I never got out of the car and left feeling disappointed in myself. However, all the signs were sending me to yoga. One of them was my daughter who called me to share her experience at a yoga class she had been attending. She said it would help me. I knew then that I was meant to try a yoga class, at least once. So, I braved up again, and this time I walked into the yoga studio.
Inside I found a very young lady, ironically, too perky for my style. After welcoming me and filling out the paperwork, I was led to the back room where she introduced me to the props I could use during the practice. She handed blocks to “bring the floor up to me”, and straps to extend my arms so I could keep the right posture while doing sitting folds. As she did this, she also explained, in her annoying perky way, that my practice is my own. If I feel I need to rest do so by doing a child pose and resume the practice when I feel ready again. She kept repeating that others have been practicing yoga for a longer time and I should not compare myself to them. “I will give cues for different levels, take what is most comfortable and modify as needed”.
I was mind-blown after the class began with a centering meditation. How long was it? Five, or eight minutes? I don’t know. Soon after, gentle movements were cued. The flow of the sequences was carefully curated so that it would allow proper body alignment. We were seated on the floor and gently and very naturally we were led to go into “table-top”, “down dog” and eventually into standing. “Lead with your heart” was the phrase I heard often (and since I have adopted it).
I felt exhausted as the forward flows led into sun salutations. Time for a break into child pose… what a relief; I could now catch my breath before more poses were called.
Toward the end, we were cued back onto the floor. There I lay feeling the exertion of my first yoga class. The soft calming music allowed me to appreciate the Savasana and final meditation.
I was impressed with the class as I compared it with the regular gym sessions. There was no yelling, no competition, just movement, accompanied by breath and the clearing of the mind, yet my body felt the exertion.
After experiencing this I opened my mind to a new way of exercising that was inclusive, non-competitive, and a vessel for spiritual growth. I was already immersed in the healing arts, and yoga would complement my life journey in ways that I would never experience.
I wrote the above a year ago after a Facebook friend post that described yoga as a demonic practice. This was my rebuttal, yet I never posted it.
This week a similar post by a stranger crossed my path. It also categorized Yoga and Meditation as demonic practices. Yet there was no substantial proof of it (just like the one from last year). The words resonated with judgment, yet there was no evidence to prove the accusation.
There is a common ground that these individuals have in common, they are Christian leaders, both with a high profile in their social environment.
One thing I want to disclose before I move forward, that is Christian, I have also been closed-minded, and judgmental. I am sure that I still am, yet have now become curious and learn about what is different. My holistic and spiritual practice is a combined result of the desire to understand myself, divine intervention, and curiosity.
My experience with yoga came as a result of not only an injury but also as a result of a healing practice that I had been practicing for a while. A healing practice that brought me the ability to experience mindfulness and awareness of my spiritual need to grow and connect with my body. As I heal my body, my mind and spirit need to release the energies and yoga helps it by moving the body. Yoga, meditation, and energy healing include breath work, which helps calm the nervous system, includes introspection, which helps identify those uncomfortable feelings and experiences that need to be addressed and it also includes the healing of relationships. The health of the individual involved in these practices improves significantly as well as their mindset.
Strengthening of relationships and self-esteem also come as a result of these practices. So, what is so demonic about yoga? To this day I have not found the dark side of it, but if there is one, please feel free to share.
Yoga and the new age movement concepts are not new to humanity. This includes energy healing and meditation. The truth is that these are old practices. A lot of it comes from ancient cultures and their healing and spiritual practices. These cultures are full of wisdom just like the wisdom from the Bible. I may be wrong, but I believe these spiritual practices remain pure (for the most part) as they have not fallen in the hands of human interpretation the way the Bible has. However, when you take a close look at the teachings of the Bible and let’s say the Sanskrit, you will see that they have a lot in common.
It is my purpose to inspire curiosity, respect, and excitement to open up to different and new ways to experience an improved life. I embrace my Christian upbringing and teachings and enhance them with the loving, inclusive, and healing experiences of yoga, meditation, and energy healing as they all connect and blend making this life journey powerful and limitless allowing personal and spiritual growth of the SELF.
Contact Mari Méndez at light@healingfirefly.com or book a free call healingfirefly.as.me/connect
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