So, why is the practice such a threat to even the most influential of conservative leaders? Perhaps it is because these tenets of yoga teach listening to oneself before listening to large institutions like churches, creating the possibility for dissent or activism. Perhaps the philosophy of trusting and loving oneself cultivates contentment in people, contradicting the cultural paradigms in the United States, which promote constant consumerism and a desire for what we do not have. Maybe yoga’s emphasis on the need to live in the present challenges the archaic concept of the American dream of continuously striving for a better future. Maybe yoga’s 5,000 year life span scares prominent Christians because it provides an alternative worldview free of fear-based rhetoric. Maybe it is a worldview that millennials are beginning to favor over the extremism pervading religious discourse today. Maybe yoga’s continued success in the Western world signifies a slow shift in our consciousness, to a more mindful existence. Or maybe, like Harry Potter, yoga really is demonic.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 01:27:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015