Pope says Yoga is against christianity but American christian students learning

Yoga in Chennai
Sunday, January 20, 2008
For a group of American students visiting India on an education tour, one of the
biggest charms has been learning Yoga at a Chennai college here.

Belonging to the Elmhurst College, this group of 20 students along with their two
college professors has enrolled themselves for the yoga classes at Madras
Christian College.

Under the stewardship of Yoga instructor Gopinath, these American students are
finding the Yogic exercises and postures very attractive. These students spend
three hours a day practicing various techniques and movements taught by their
Guru.

"It's quite an amazing experience. We get up early in the morning and a group of
us get instructed by the yoga master. It is very rejuvenating. It's a great start
to the day and keeps us energetic throughout the day," said Hoshua Reonman, one of
the students.

These students say that yoga sessions are a great rejuvenating experience that
have helped them relieve themselves from physical and mental stress. They lament
that ignorance about Yoga in the U.S.

"It's just a great experience for all of us and its something most of us will be
taking along to the U.S. We will try to spread knowledge about Yoga because it's
something that most of our friends, family and relatives don't really grasp. They
don't understand it out there. So it will be a good experience for us to take this
to our families in the U.S.," Reonman added.

Every day, the yoga class commences at 6 o'clock.

These enthusiastic students have already learnt almost 20 yogic postures. Their
Yoga instructor is also happy teaching them some of the advanced yogic exercises
which include-- Sarvangasana, Dhanuasana, Pujangajana, Pavanamuktasana and
Chakrasna. "All the 20 students have taken out time to be here. In the two
beginning sessions, I taught them basics. When I found out that they were more
advanced in learning, I taught them Saravanasanas, Bhujangasanas, Dhanurasanas and
Halasanas. All these are very difficult asanas," said Gopinath, the Yoga
instructor.

The accompanying teachers of these students said that besides learning yoga, the
Indian tour has offered them an opportunity to understand the culture, its
traditions and diversity. All of them are delighted to learn the physical and
spiritual practice on the land of Yoga's origin.

"The students got an opportunity to learn yoga and to practise yoga in the land of
its origin. They can understand people of the country, its diversity and how yoga
and India has really influenced the entire world," said Paul Parker, American
teacher.

Yoga has emerged as one of the biggest captivation for a large number of people
from across the India and abroad. It could happen due to widespread awareness
about positive impact of the ancient Indian practice on the physical and mental
faculties of a large number of people.

Famous Indian monk Swami Vivekananda first introduced yoga to American society in
late nineteenth century.
ANI