For Christians Lent is a season to focus on their spiritual selves and the sacrifice their Lord made for them. During Lent many Christians give up something they consider to be a vice in order to experience suffering, add something that will bring them closer to God, give time or money to help others, participate in prayer and penance, and abstain from eating meat on Friday.
Embracing the yoga practice during the Lenten Season can help us better understand the meaning of Lent and why the above mentioned practices are observed. In the Yoga books we are told that accepting pain as help for purification, study of spiritual books, and surrender to God is Yoga in action. Self discipline - according to ancient yogis is the way to a clear mind that is focused on God - not our own "sufferings", and this is the path to bliss.
According to Yoga, when we accept our pain or discomfort- we acknowledge this as help for purifying the mind, just like during Lents, when we give up our vices. We know that it is human nature to engage in things that give us pleasure. When we abstain from those - our mind is steady and strong and clear. As in the Lenten practice - we can also add things into our lives that bring us closer to God. Giving our time and money - with a joyful heart. It is also a great time to commit to a yoga practice as part of sacrifice.
The more we learn the more we understand that Yoga is much more than just postures , just as Lent is much more than just giving something up for 40 days. By embracing this and committing, we understand and strengthen our faith and our lives.
Embracing the yoga practice during the Lenten Season can help us better understand the meaning of Lent and why the above mentioned practices are observed. In the Yoga books we are told that accepting pain as help for purification, study of spiritual books, and surrender to God is Yoga in action. Self discipline - according to ancient yogis is the way to a clear mind that is focused on God - not our own "sufferings", and this is the path to bliss.
According to Yoga, when we accept our pain or discomfort- we acknowledge this as help for purifying the mind, just like during Lents, when we give up our vices. We know that it is human nature to engage in things that give us pleasure. When we abstain from those - our mind is steady and strong and clear. As in the Lenten practice - we can also add things into our lives that bring us closer to God. Giving our time and money - with a joyful heart. It is also a great time to commit to a yoga practice as part of sacrifice.
The more we learn the more we understand that Yoga is much more than just postures , just as Lent is much more than just giving something up for 40 days. By embracing this and committing, we understand and strengthen our faith and our lives.