First, something you need to know about me. Actually, two things. I
believe in creation science, the more I learn (and the longer I live);
and grow fruit and vegetables; raise(d) chickens; and experience nature
at work; the more I do not believe evolution could be more then an idea.
Maybe we will move on to that topic on another day ... But for now, the
first thing you need to know about me is that I believe that God
created the earth, plants, animals, fish, birds and people - in six
days. Second, I am a yoga teacher, who has had several college science
and health courses, but I am not an expert in the medical field. I do
believe that we are not to live blindly. So, if I am going to teach
asana (the postures of yoga), then I need to be able to discern and
educate others in regards to what ideas align with my faith in Christ,
and what does not. Hence, this very long post.
Alright.
Now if you are still with me, let's move on. Sanskrit is an ancient
Indic language that is the language of Hinduism and the Vedas and is the
classical literary language of India. It is also the language often
used to describe different postures when you visit a yoga class.
For
today, I'm going to narrow the topic down to the chakras, and what you
really need to know about these popular wheels of energy. If you are
believer in Christ, who practices yoga under teachers who do not share a
faith in Christ, it doesn't mean you need to stay away from their
classes, it just means you need wisdom and discernment in what
philosophy they might be teaching.
When translated, chakras refer to a wheel or a disk, and signifies a
spinning energy center within our body. Depending upon your source, some
believe that the human body has over twenty chakras, and some as few as
three. Most of the time, if you have heard talk of the chakras, the
number mentioned was probably seven.These seven run along the vertical
line within the torso of the body (think around the spinal cord-ish).
The seven are as follows:
Muladhara (root wheel of energy)
svadhisthana (sacral wheel of energy)
manipura (naval wheel of energy)
anahata (heart wheel of energy)
vishudda (throat wheel of energy)
ajna (brow wheel of energy)
sahasrara (crown wheel of energy)
If
you notice, each Sanskrit word, when translated, tells you the location
of that particular chakra. What is even better then that a little bit
of knowledge is that each of these seven charkas are at locations of the
powerful glands that comprise our endocrine system.
Now
for a bit of science. The endocrine system is a network of glands which
both produce and secrete hormones directly into our bloodstream. In
other words, these tiny glands work together and with the nervous system
to help keep balance within our bodies. Remember homeostasis? Our
bodies are constantly striving for stability and balance within itself.
If you ever have heard the story of creation, you may remember that when
God created the world, and humans, they were perfect. Designed not to
die. The original bodies were perfect - then entered sin into the world,
and death became something that would be a part of life, since then our
bodies have been striving to find perfect again. So, if even one, tiny
gland produces too much or too little of a hormone, then the body can
move into a state of disruption, impairing function of the body systems.
(Think hyper or hypothyroid issues, diabetes, fight or flight: all are
related back to your hormones.)
Chakras are not the
glands of the endocrine system, rather they are balls of conscious
energy that interact with our endocrine and nervous system. They are not
described as physical, instead they are thought to be part of our
consciousness.
Chakras are energy. Genesis 2:7 (ESV) states "then
the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." God's
breath brought man to life. We are full of energy. God created us that
way. Remember, He created us perfectly, in the beginning there was no
sin. There is nothing wrong with energy. There is also nothing wrong
with understanding our endocrine system. God's work is amazing. Spend a
few minutes learning the importance of how our parasympathetic and
sympathetic nervous system help our bodies work for our good, or at
times,against us—and God will only get more incredible.
What is wrong, is when that study of energy becomes greater then our desire to know God. So,
as far as the Chakras go: these balls of energy were brought into the
limelight in India, within Hinduism. Hinduism is not yoga. However,
parts of the yogic community share similar beliefs with Hinduism and
believe that the universe is identical to divinity (the Creator is the
mind or soul of the universe).
The Bible teaches that
God is omnipresent. God's presence is everywhere—but He created the
universe - He isn't the universe. God is greater then the wheels of
energy that affect my endocrine and nervous system. He created them. He
is God. He is who we are to desire to know, more then if our root chakra
is more open then our throat chakra. So, if mudras (special hand
positions) are taught in class, or Sanskrit sounds are introduced.
Before you take part-find out what they represent.
For
example: Om (or Aum) is a Sankrit sound/symbol often used at the
beginning or end of a class. Om represents both the manifest and
unmanifest aspects of God within the Hindu faith. I have yet to see God
call Himself by Om in the Bible. Therefore, I do not say Om when it has
been taught, I say a prayer, or another name I know God uses to describe
Himself.
If we have accepted Christ; and follow God
the Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit; and if we give His Holy Spirit
room to move and grow within our being - we do not need to walk in fear
that other beliefs are bigger then our God. King Solomon says in Proverbs 1:7
(ESV) -"that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
If you desire more health, wisdom and boldness—as a believer in
Christ—that doesn't come from the study of the chakras, that comes from
knowing God, and putting on His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18).
