Week 10: Styles

May 06, 2008 10:04 AM
QUESTION HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TOPIC
I'm not sure if I'm supposed to send out general questions like this that are off-topic, but I'm throwing a question out there to you who frequent this site, to see if you have some wisdom for me, since I've often enjoyed reading your widsom here. Here's my dealio (Shea, feel free to reprimand me if this isn't the intention of the site - I wouldn't want to cause a mass uproar):

I just started some yoga classes and truly love them and can tell a difference in my energy level and just all over feeling perty darn good for an old gal. I'm having a conflict with using the word "namaste" at the end o f the session. Does anyone have experience in yoga and whether or not it's okay, as a Christian, to use the term? I've looked on the internet and get conflicting messages. It's meaning seems to differ as well, but my instructor said it means something like "we are one". I'm going to talk to her more about it, but I was interested in you all's thoughts, particularly if someone has been through this struggle themselves. Thanks!!!

May 06, 2008 11:32 PM
I'm glad you wrote this, Shirl. I've had similar misgivings. I started playing an online game. At first, during a fight, I hesitated to hit the self-healing icon. I do avoid casting a spell; I die a lot in battle.
In my previous job, I met several Asians and I enjoy saying hi in Japanese and Mandarin. (I was told my Korean was low-class. Ouch.) When you think arigato you tend to nod your head. I read that this is a cultural thing and the reason is that you are bowing to the divinity in the other person. I never researched this to see if it is correct. I think you are right to approach yoga, or anything, in a thoughtful manner.
For me, it comes to this: Lord, I want to honor You in thought, word, and deed. Guide me in this.
You've brought up a great question. I wouldn't worry about going off-topic. Retrievers are sweet to get along with.