What is Yoga?
Hatha Yoga
is a Hindu prayer practice, in which people worship the deities and creatures of the divine realm by shaping themselves
into poses named after them, and meditating on them. Liberal Hindu teachers brought the tradition to the West in the late
1800s, teaching it to non-Hindus as an effective form of exercise and relaxation. While traditional Hindus consider the practice
a secret to be studied by Hindus alone, and are offended by the misuse of the word "yoga" as exercise, most people
in the West know it as a great workout with Hindu roots.
Gentle Yoga?
Restorative Yoga
teaches us to know ourselves from the inside. Its passive,
reclining poses; breathwork and long holds invite us to trust that we are safe to relax deeply, and can experience real change.
It's perfect
for yoga beginners, seniors and those returning to exercise, but athletes love it too.
Jewish Yoga? The Torah commands Jews to avoid "foreign worship,"
but says nothing against movement that is spiritual and health-giving. So what exactly is it about Yoga that Jews should avoid?
Like Judaism, Hinduism considers
words to be the essence of faith. Thus it is through the words of Hinduism, the Sanskrit names for poses and meditations, that
Yoga retains its Eastern theology. At Gentle Jewish Yoga, we meld movement with Hebrew letters, words and prayers. This has
the dual benefit of offering a spiritual practice that is kosher* and resonant for Jews, while showing deep respect for the
Hindu faith from which the movement tradition is derived.
*Orthodox Rabbi Tzvi Freeman of Chabad.com agrees
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