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Adenia Linker
IP: 65.42.87.179 Sep 20, 06 - 2:27 PM |
Tefilah in Motion
Our rabbi, (conservative shul) has asked me to prepare a program, "Tefilah in Motion", to be included in our Shabbat services. While I am excited that this door has opened, I'm nervous just the same. He has asked me not to use the words yoga, energy or light. These restrictions may seem harmless on the surface, but my yoga practice is all about energy and light. I believe his concerns are founded in the debate between worshipping G-d vs. worshipping energy, (based on an article he wrote critizing some Kabbalahist's focus on energy). I'm eager to engage in this work, however, looking for support from those who have already implemented a yoga program within their community. In Peace, Adenia Chicago |
Avivah
 IP: 69.111.73.182 Sep 28th, 2006 - 5:08 PM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
Hi Adenia, How exciting for you. Your rabbi is overcoming a huge hurdle (his own resistance to an integrated prayer practice) to make this invitation. He apparently thinks yoga is paganism because it is brought to us via Hinduism. You could explain that yoga predates Hinduism by millenia, or that even the Hindus believe in one universal G-d (with many manifestations, similar to our Sfirot system). But I don't think he wants to be convinced. So I say, play along. Example: You know it's a child's pose and I know it's a child's pose, but if you call it a yod, and talk about the mystical properties of the yod (as the first letter in G-d's name, it's the tiny pinhole starting place from which all change grows, etc. Do you have Ginsbergh's The Alef-Beit?) then no one but yoga freaks like us will be the wiser. And about light, I don't say "picture a white light." I say "picture the Shechina, the feminine, sheltering presence of G-d, pouring in with each breath. Let the Shechina bring you openness, free you from tight places." Then we sing "Min hameitzar karati Ya, anani vamerchav Ya" (that is, from the narrow/troubled place, I called Hashem; Hashem answered me and widened/unburdened me). I'm interested in hearing what movements you will incorporate into your prayer service. The obvious, of course, are a forward bend at "Modim Anachnu Lach" and an extended child's pose at "Anachnu Korim". (I know I'm using shorthand, please tell me if you need more explanation.) A blessed New Year, Avivah Los Angeles |
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Reisha Golden
IP: 71.105.248.78 Oct 24th, 2006 - 1:09 PM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
I will often use the words: Divine presence or like Avivah wrote the Shechinah. Yoga means union, transalted into Hebrew - Yichud - the bringing together of the masculine and feminine or the transcendent with the imminent, which is what prayer, meditation and yoga have in common. |
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Estelle
IP: 86.9.59.28 Oct 26th, 2006 - 4:34 PM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
Hi - some years ago when I first started to teach I encountered the same situation - namely that the organisation (in this instance a very orthodox one) did not want me to use the word "yoga" - only - exercise, breathing and relaxation. At the time I thought long and hard about it and because I loved and respected yoga so much I thought I couldn't agree to launch a class omitting the word yoga when that was precisely what it was going to be. I felt I wasn't honouring it. Several years on - I still think this way, but now I would look at the benefits that would be bestowed upon the recipients in the class and feel that yoga itself was not going to be dishonoured by my not using that word to describe the process - it is much bigger than that! I know that if I were to give a class withholding the name now - it would be fine - the participants would feel the results that would speak for themselves and so give confidence and assurance and anyone conditioned to respond adversely in the first instance - and change their perception so that ultimately they felt they could use the word yoga with their newfound confidence in the practice. Incidentally, there is a helpful little video on YouTube - featuring Marcus Freed (who studied at yeshivah and has been encourged in his work of Bibliyoga by his rabb) - here is the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eHt9PDdZNzA&search=bibliyoga Om shanti and shalom - Estelle - Facilitator for Yoga Mosaic UK |
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Marcus Freed
IP: 80.43.63.204 Nov 27th, 2006 - 7:56 AM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
Adenia This is all a bit silly. The word Zohar means 'light', 'radiance', 'splendour' and so forth. The whole of the kabbalah is based on concepts of God's light. We talk about God's light in the blessings before the morning Shema. Genesis talks about the creation of light. Your rabbi doesn't want you to use the word light? One wonders if he should be using the title 'Rabbi'... Marcus |
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Marcus Freed
IP: 80.43.63.204 Nov 28th, 2006 - 6:01 AM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
Hi Adenia Hopefully this will be a bit more helpful. I spoke with Rabbi Dovid Ebner, my rabbi in Jerusalem who is the Rosh Yeshiva (Head of Academy) of Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi. He said; "the yoga exercises that are done in the west don't make it into avodah zarah [idolatory]. You are quite safe". If it's any help for your rabbi, he can contact Rabbi Ebner at www.yehatzvi.org/. Another source would be Rabbi Yehoshua Engleman via Yakar in Jerusalem. A final counter to your rabbi is that the word yoga is incredibly similar to 'Echad' as in the end of Shema. It's all about combining and making one. With respect to your rabbi, perhaps he should go to a yoga class outside of the shul context to get to know what it's really about and experience it all? best wishes and good luck! Marcus |
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Clive Margolis
IP: 82.25.194.248 Nov 29th, 2006 - 1:02 PM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
The restriction on mentioning yoga doesn't seem harmless to me. It seems to me that your rabbi might feel threatened by yoga, and that yoga and Judaism are in competition. Surely by agreeing to not mention yoga you'd be reinforcing that view, or at least not challenging it. Similarly the ban on the words 'light' and 'energy'. Rambam teaches that we cannot possibly conceive of God's form, then why are light and energy any less valid than other ways of relating to God? If it were me, I'd see it as trying to control my own message too much. "Tefilah in motion" - yes - so long as you don't acknowledge where you got it from? !!!" |
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Rafi
IP: 169.133.140.6 Jan 16th, 2007 - 11:59 AM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
One way to logically incorporate movement into the davening is during the 13 blessings that begin with "who gave the rooster the binah to distinguish between day and night" - at "matir asurim" (releases the bound) - do wide swings with the arms; spinal twists at "zokeif k'fufim" (straightens the bent)touch the toes at "roka ha aretz al ha mayim" (who spreads earth on the waters) do stepping motions in place. I also recite p'tach Eliahu from memory during my regular morning practice, and it's language about "Chesed is the right arm, Gevurah is the left arm, Tiferet is the body, etc..." fits perfectly with my vinyasa. An excellent way to work pranayama into the davening is this: Apply as a general rule that you will always inhale through the nostrils, filling the lungs to capacity, and that in the verbalization process of the davening, you purge your lungs completely. This dramatically changes the pacing and kavanah. Adon Olam, Yigdal, Ana B'Koach, Ashrei, and Yedid Nefesh work perfectly for deep, regular breath cycles, because each line is the same length. Once you get the hang of it, the entire davening session becomes a pranayama session - be careful you don't start levitating - it's a whole new experience. I'm interested in any comments about this. Thanks! B'H Rafi these sites of mine expand on these ideas: http://ifdawn.com/yoga http://torahveda.org |
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Avivah
IP: 71.156.55.138 Jan 23rd, 2008 - 7:59 AM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
The idea of asking you not to use the word "light" has been bothering me ever since I read this message last year. I just came across a video on a Kabbalah Web site that explains the meaning of "light" in Jewish mysticism. Here is the link: http://kab.tv/?item=1128 What is Light in Kabbalah? Rav Michael Laitman, PhD explains what is Light in Kabbalah, and how one studying Kabbalah draws the Light for the sake of ״reforming״ or ״correcting״ one׳s ego. |
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Reisha Golden
IP: 71.107.206.111 Feb 4th, 2008 - 12:12 PM |
Re: Tefilah in Motion
God has many aspects, one of which is energy, one is light, one may be destruction. When we encounter hashem we encounter the universe and beyond. Everything is hashem. HAshem is the source of all, including yoga, including energy, including light. The shefa or flow can be experienced in many forms on the physical plane, one of which is in the form of light. It is important to understand that Hashem is more than the physical plane, more than energy, more than light. But we as humans may experience some aspects of Hashem through visualizing God's light. |
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